What Just Happened To Vistra Stock

For questions about this article or underlying research, email [email protected].

Vistra (VST) stock rose 10.6% on Friday, November 6, 2026, while the S&P 500 gained 0.3%. The stock climbed the day the company reported its third-quarter 2026 results, and peer NRG Energy rose 9.6% during the same session. So what did Vistra report on November 6?

Vistra Posted A Record Quarter, Raised Its Outlook Midpoint

Vistra's main profit measure is adjusted EBITDA, management's figure for profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. That metric reached $2.378 billion in the third quarter. Management called the result a company record, coming in more than 50% above the third quarter of 2025.

Vistra's power plants generated most of that total. The generation business delivered $2.280 billion of adjusted EBITDA, compared with $1.544 billion a year earlier. Management said the gain came mainly from average realized prices more than 10% higher per megawatt hour, higher capacity revenue, better dispatch of its flexible gas plants, the restart of Martin Lake Unit 1 and assets bought from Lotus in the fourth quarter of 2025. Reported net income was $1.14 billion. The company said $559 million of that figure came from an unrealized gain on hedges expected to settle in future years.

Management also narrowed its 2026 range for adjusted EBITDA to $7.1 billion to $7.5 billion. This new midpoint sits higher than the original range's. That original range, reaffirmed after the second quarter, was $6.8 billion to $7.6 billion, so the midpoint rose from $7.2 billion to $7.3 billion. The company provided a first range for 2027 of $7.7 billion to $8.5 billion. That 2027 range includes the Cogentrix acquisition, which closed on October 30, and a power purchase agreement with Meta for the Perry nuclear plant.

Two Of Vistra's Five Peers Rose The Same Day

Constellation Energy was the peer that rose with NRG Energy, gaining 4.3%. NextEra Energy, Southern and Duke Energy all fell. Utility stocks as a group did not join in: the utilities sector fund XLU slipped 0.4% the same session. The rise belonged to Vistra and part of its peer list, not to the utilities sector.

Vistra Stock Remains Far Below Last Year's High

A rise this large is rare for Vistra. In the past year, only one other session brought a gain as big: October 6, 2026, at 10.8%. This jump followed two days of falls, 13.8% on November 4 and 6.2% on November 5. Seeking Alpha tied the November 4 fall to a Texas governor's race upset that raised policy doubts about data center growth. At $112.89, the November 5 close was the stock's lowest of the past year.

Over the past twelve months, Vistra stock lost 33.7%, while the S&P 500 returned 9.8%. Its highest close in that time was $191.00 on November 7, 2025, compared with $124.80 at the November 6 close. A large part of the slide occurred in the past month. From October 8 to November 6, the stock fell 20.1%, against a 4.9% drop for the S&P 500.

When Vistra reports its fourth-quarter 2026 results, full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA against that narrowed range is the figure to watch.

Still Holding Vistra After The Drop?

Selling a fallen stock can still bring a tax bill if you bought long ago, and holding keeps the risk. A free 30-minute strategy review with our partner advisory firm covers a floor under a large position and a lower-tax unwind.

Map My Exit Options

Spot an error or want more like this? Tell us in 10 seconds.