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SBS vs. VST: Sabesp vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Sabesp (SBS) 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

Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but SBS is classified in Water Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

Vistra (VST) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemSBSVST
NameCompanhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADRVistra Corp.
Country/RegionBrazilUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryWater UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryWater UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization16.96 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 10, 2002October 5, 2016
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SBS
VST
GSPC
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Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Total Return (1Y)-3.72%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)28.33%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)32.85%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SBS
VST
GSPC
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Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.80%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.761.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.59%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.85M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SBS 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.22-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Sabesp (SBS) earns 16.27% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max
17.99%
SBS
16.27%
Q3
12.01%
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
--
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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; SBS is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 13.15%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max
28.78%
SBS
17.52%
Q3
17.30%
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%
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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
SBS
29.28%
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
ROE (TTM)16.27%--
ROA (TTM)8.08%--
Net Margin (TTM)17.52%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.28%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.96%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% 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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Neither side shows strong earnings momentum: Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% sits in the bottom EPS growth quartile, and Vistra (VST) at -69.98% is weaker still, below its industry range.

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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.39%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)19.98%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-11.79%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)40.65%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Sabesp (SBS) shows current ratio of 1.22 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max
1.90
SBS
1.22
Q3
1.17
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
--
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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; SBS is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
SBS
0.99
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.22--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.993.73
Net Debt / EBITDA2.30--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Vistra (VST) reports a yield of 0.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
SBS
0.00%
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
SBS
35.95%
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.95%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Vistra (VST) at 16.80 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
SBS
11.73
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Vistra (VST) at 2.05 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
SBS
0.41
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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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
SBS
1.84
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
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Sabesp (SBS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricSBSVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.7316.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.412.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.8416.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-62.11%--