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TLN vs. VST: Talen Energy vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Talen Energy (TLN) 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

Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST) are both classified in the Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders sub-industry within the broader Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemTLNVST
NameTalen Energy CorporationVistra Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization14.73 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 2, 2023October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

TLN
VST
GSPC
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Talen Energy (TLN) 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 Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Total Return (1Y)-6.63%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)88.64%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)58.28%53.39%
Beta (5Y)1.531.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-36.72%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.01M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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TLN 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 Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.19-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.26-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Vistra (VST) has no ROE value reported for this period; Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative figure of -16.54%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

TLN

Utilities industry group

-16.54%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
TLN
-16.54%

VST

Utilities industry group

--

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
VST
--
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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; TLN is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative net margin of -5.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Vistra (VST) reports 13.15%, ranking against industry peers normally.

TLN

Utilities industry group

-5.67%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
TLN
-5.67%

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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Talen Energy (TLN) at 17.35% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

TLN

Utilities industry group

17.35%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
TLN
17.35%
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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
ROE (TTM)-16.54%--
ROA (TTM)0.88%--
Net Margin (TTM)-5.67%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.35%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.67%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Talen Energy (TLN) at 26.68% 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.

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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Talen Energy (TLN) at -127.11% and Vistra (VST) at -69.98% fall below their industry ranges for EPS growth — per-share earnings on both sides are losing ground to virtually every peer.

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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)26.68%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.87%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-127.11%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Talen Energy (TLN) shows current ratio of 0.89 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.89

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
TLN
0.89
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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; TLN is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Debt sits unusually high against shareholders’ equity for both Talen Energy (TLN) at 5.97 and Vistra (VST) at 3.73 — each debt-to-equity ratio is above its industry benchmark range.

TLN

Utilities industry group

5.97

TLN
5.97
Max
2.63
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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.89--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)5.973.73
Net Debt / EBITDA13.69--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) 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.

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Vistra (VST) reports a payout of 15.35%, ranking against industry peers normally.

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
TLN
0.00%
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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Vistra (VST) trades at 16.80 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Talen Energy (TLN) has no P/E ratio this period.

TLN

Utilities industry group

--

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
TLN
--

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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): TLN does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; VST is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Talen Energy (TLN) at 3.29 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

TLN

Utilities industry group

3.29

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
TLN
3.29
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
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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Talen Energy (TLN) at 10.14 and Vistra (VST) at 16.10 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

TLN

Utilities industry group

10.14

TLN
10.14
Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
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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Talen Energy (TLN) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Talen Energy (TLN) and Vistra (VST)
MetricTLNVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)--16.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.292.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.1416.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.39%--