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PNW vs. VST: Pinnacle West Capital vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) 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

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but PNW is classified in Electric Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

Company profile comparison for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemPNWVST
NamePinnacle West Capital CorporationVistra Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization12.63 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PNW
VST
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Total Return (1Y)24.23%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.78%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)15.87%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PNW
VST
GSPC
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Vistra (VST) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) is defensive at 0.48 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.21%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.481.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.02%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.28M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PNW and VST are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.16-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.77-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) earns 9.09% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

PNW

Utilities industry group

9.09%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PNW
9.09%
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
--
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PNW is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59% 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

11.59%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PNW
11.59%
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%
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 31.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PNW

Utilities industry group

31.70%

Max
53.83%
PNW
31.70%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
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%
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
ROE (TTM)9.09%--
ROA (TTM)2.36%--
Net Margin (TTM)11.59%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)31.70%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.84%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Vistra (VST) at 2.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Vistra (VST) at -69.98% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.20%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.28%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.63%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.83%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) shows current ratio of 0.71 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

PNW

Utilities industry group

0.71

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
PNW
0.71
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
--
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; PNW is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but VST is more stretched: Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Vistra (VST) at 3.73 is above its industry benchmark range.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.26

Max
2.63
PNW
2.26
Q3
1.77
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
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.71--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.263.73
Net Debt / EBITDA7.67--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 3.51% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

PNW

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
PNW
3.51%
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%
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Vistra (VST) at 15.35% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

PNW

Utilities industry group

68.42%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
PNW
68.42%
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%
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.51%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)68.42%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

19.59

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
PNW
19.59
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
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
PNW
2.21
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
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 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.

PNW

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
PNW
1.69
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
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Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPNWVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.5916.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.212.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.6916.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.90%--