VST vs. WTRG: Vistra vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile Item	VST	WTRG
Name	Vistra Corp.	Essential Utilities Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers	Water Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders	Water Utilities
Market Capitalization	42.31 billion USD	13.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 5, 2016	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

VST

WTRG

GSPC

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG), 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 Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Total Return (1Y)	-30.09%	19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	57.95%	13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	49.55%	2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

VST

WTRG

GSPC

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG), 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 Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). 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 Essential Utilities (WTRG) is defensive at 0.61 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.39%	22.14%
Beta (5Y)	1.38	0.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-48.80%	-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.98M	2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

VST and WTRG 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 Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.64	0.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.86	1.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Essential Utilities (WTRG) earns 8.13% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

VST

Utilities industry group

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%
VST: --

WTRG

Utilities industry group

8.13%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
WTRG: 8.13%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; WTRG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.79% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 13.15%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

VST

Utilities industry group

13.15%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
VST: 13.15%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

21.79%

Max: 28.78%
WTRG: 21.79%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 38.94% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 31.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

VST

Utilities industry group

31.12%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
VST: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

38.94%

Max: 53.83%
WTRG: 38.94%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
ROE (TTM)	--	8.13%
ROA (TTM)	--	3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.15%	21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)	31.12%	38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)	41.52%	57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% 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.

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.38% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Vistra (VST) at -69.98% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.98%	18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.92%	2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-69.98%	1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Essential Utilities (WTRG) shows current ratio of 0.40 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

VST

Utilities industry group

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29
VST: --

WTRG

Utilities industry group

0.40

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
WTRG: 0.40
Min: 0.29

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; WTRG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 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.

VST

Utilities industry group

3.73

VST: 3.73
Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.23

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
WTRG: 1.23
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	0.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.73	1.23
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	6.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

VST

Utilities industry group

0.20%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
VST: 0.20%
Min: 0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.01%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
WTRG: 3.01%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 15.35% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 69.42% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on WTRG’s side.

VST

Utilities industry group

15.35%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
VST: 15.35%
Min: 0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

69.42%

Max: 113.04%
WTRG: 69.42%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.20%	3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	15.35%	69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Vistra (VST) at 16.80 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

VST

Utilities industry group

16.80

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
VST: 16.80
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

WTRG

Utilities industry group

22.73

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
WTRG: 22.73
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 2.05 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 5.01 sits in the pricier quartile — WTRG costs more per dollar of sales.

VST

Utilities industry group

2.05

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
VST: 2.05
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

5.01

Max: 6.35
WTRG: 5.01
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.83 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.

VST

Utilities industry group

16.10

VST: 16.10
Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.83

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
WTRG: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Vistra (VST) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Vistra (VST) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	VST	WTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	16.80	22.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.05	5.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	16.10	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	-5.45%