PEG vs. VST: Public Service Enterprise vs. Vistra Stock Comparison
How do Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Vistra (VST) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but PEG is classified in Multi-Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
| Profile Item | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. | Vistra Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Multi-Utilities | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Multi-Utilities | Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders |
| Market Capitalization | 36.20 billion USD | 42.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1980 | October 5, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -6.86% | -30.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 10.69% | 57.95% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.38% | 49.55% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vistra (VST) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Public Service Enterprise (PEG) is defensive at 0.47 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.73% | 53.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.47 | 1.38 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.29% | -48.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.44M | 5.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.60 | -0.64 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.82 | -0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Public Service Enterprise (PEG) earns 10.28% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.
PEG
Utilities industry group
10.28%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- PEG
- 10.28%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
VST
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
- VST
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 14.32% and Vistra (VST) at 13.15% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
PEG
Utilities industry group
14.32%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- PEG
- 14.32%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
VST
Utilities industry group
13.15%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- VST
- 13.15%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 21.29% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
PEG
Utilities industry group
21.29%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- PEG
- 21.29%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
VST
Utilities industry group
31.12%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- VST
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.28% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.93% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.32% | 13.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.29% | 31.12% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 32.12% | 41.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 18.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Vistra (VST) at 2.98% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 19.21% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Vistra (VST) at -69.98% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.25% | 2.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 7.48% | 8.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 19.21% | -69.98% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 27.05% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Public Service Enterprise (PEG) shows current ratio of 1.01 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.
PEG
Utilities industry group
1.01
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- PEG
- 1.01
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
VST
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
- VST
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 1.48 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Vistra (VST) at 3.73 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
PEG
Utilities industry group
1.48
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- PEG
- 1.48
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
VST
Utilities industry group
3.73
- VST
- 3.73
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.01 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.48 | 3.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.86 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 3.61% offers top-quartile income, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% sits in the bottom quartile — a wide gap in cash returned to shareholders.
PEG
Utilities industry group
3.61%
- Max
- 6.66%
- PEG
- 3.61%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST
Utilities industry group
0.20%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- VST
- 0.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vistra (VST) at 15.35% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 74.58% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on PEG’s side.
PEG
Utilities industry group
74.58%
- Max
- 113.04%
- PEG
- 74.58%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST
Utilities industry group
15.35%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- VST
- 15.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.61% | 0.20% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 74.58% | 15.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 20.51 and Vistra (VST) at 16.80 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
PEG
Utilities industry group
20.51
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- PEG
- 20.51
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
VST
Utilities industry group
16.80
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- VST
- 16.80
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.93 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
PEG
Utilities industry group
2.93
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- PEG
- 2.93
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
VST
Utilities industry group
2.05
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- VST
- 2.05
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Public Service Enterprise (PEG) at 2.08 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Vistra (VST) at 16.10 prices above its benchmark range — VST looks rich relative to book.
PEG
Utilities industry group
2.08
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- PEG
- 2.08
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
VST
Utilities industry group
16.10
- VST
- 16.10
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PEG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.51 | 16.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.93 | 2.05 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.08 | 16.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -0.90% | -- |