Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)vsVistra Corp. (VST)
ATO
Atmos Energy Corporation
$163.19
-0.98%
UTILITIES · Cap: $28.40B
VST
Vistra Corp.
$148.38
+0.90%
UTILITIES · Cap: $49.36B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Vistra Corp. generates 290% more annual revenue ($19.21B vs $4.92B). ATO leads profitability with a 28.5% profit margin vs 11.6%. VST appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.38. ATO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 66/100 (B-).
ATO
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
VST
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 37.2%
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 23.3% YoY
Growing faster than its price suggests
Every $100 of equity generates 40 in profit
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
4.8% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Trading at 16.6x book value
Weak financial health signals
Revenue declined 5.5%
Earnings declined 6.2%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : ATO
The strongest argument for ATO centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 28.5% and operating margin at 37.2%.
Bull Case : VST
The strongest argument for VST centers on PEG Ratio, Return on Equity. PEG of 0.38 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : ATO
The primary concerns for ATO are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : VST
The primary concerns for VST are Price/Book, Piotroski F-Score, Revenue Growth. Debt-to-equity of 3.63 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
ATO profiles as a value stock while VST is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
VST carries more volatility with a beta of 1.41 — expect wider price swings.
ATO is growing revenue faster at 4.8% — sustainability is the question.
VST generates stronger free cash flow (133M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
ATO scores higher overall (66/100 vs 54/100), backed by strong 28.5% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Atmos Energy Corporation
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the United States' largest natural-gas-only distributors.
Vistra Corp.
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS · USA
Vistra Corp. The company is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
Visit Website →Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS Stocks
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