- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Moss Landing Today
By the People, for the People
Vistra Stock Lags Industry Despite Acquisitions and Data Center Demand
Vistra's shares underperformed the industry in the past 6 months due to an accident at its Moss Landing battery storage facility, but rising clean energy demand and strategic acquisitions could reshape the outlook.
Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:07am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Shares of Vistra Corp. (VST) have lost 9.5% in the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry's rally of 17.5% and the Zacks Utilities sector's growth of 14.7%. Vistra's performance was weighed down by an accident at its 300-MW Moss Landing battery storage facility, which forced the site offline. However, the company is well-positioned to benefit from growing demand for clean electricity across its markets, fueled by the rapid expansion of data centers and rising electrification in the Permian Basin. Vistra has also signed a deal to acquire Cogentrix Energy, adding 10 modern natural gas-fired plants with nearly 5,500 MW of capacity.
Why it matters
Vistra's diversified, multi-fuel generation mix and emphasis on cleaner energy sources align with the evolving energy landscape, and the company's ongoing additions of clean energy assets further strengthen its growth prospects. However, the Moss Landing incident partially offset gains from recent acquisitions and rising data-center demand, highlighting the importance of operational reliability in the utility industry.
The details
The accident at Vistra's Moss Landing battery storage facility forced a 300-MW unit offline, weighing on earnings, reducing the benefits from acquisitions and growing data-center demand, and increasing regulatory and operational scrutiny. Despite this setback, Vistra is well-positioned to serve increasing commercial and industrial demand and support long-term growth in the clean energy transition, with 41,000 MW of diversified capacity spanning gas, nuclear, coal, solar and storage. The company's acquisition of Cogentrix Energy further strengthens its ability to meet rising customer demand in core markets.
- In the past six months, Vistra's shares have lost 9.5%.
- In 2025, Vistra's performance was hindered by an accident at the Moss Landing battery storage facility, which forced a 300-MW unit offline.
The players
Vistra Corp.
An American energy company that generates and sells electricity and natural gas. Vistra has a diversified generation mix and is focused on expanding its clean energy portfolio.
Cogentrix Energy
A company that Vistra has signed a definitive agreement to acquire, adding 10 modern natural gas-fired plants with nearly 5,500 MW of capacity.
What’s next
The company expects to fully utilize the remaining $2.2 billion under its current share repurchase authorization by the end of 2027.
The takeaway
Despite the setback at Moss Landing, Vistra's diversified generation mix, strategic acquisitions, and focus on clean energy position the company well to capitalize on growing demand for electricity across its markets. However, new investors should monitor the stock and wait for a favorable entry point given the current premium valuation.
