Why did VST's Q2 2024 earnings fall short?

Vistra Corp. (VST) experienced a shortfall in its Q2 2024 earnings, with earnings per share (EPS) coming in at $0.9, compared to a projected $0.11, reflecting an 89.32% decrease from the same quarter last year. This shortfall can be attributed to several factors:

1. Unexpected Increase in Expenses: Vistra faced unexpected increases in certain expenses, which negatively impacted its earnings. For instance, the company recorded a $19 million increase in expenses related to its coal and industrial plant operations.
2. Decrease in Power Prices: The average power prices in the UK, where Vistra operates, decreased by 1.2% during the period, resulting in lower revenue for the company's power generation segment.
3. Challenging Market Conditions: The energy market was marked by challenging conditions, with volatile fuel prices and limited availability of certain fuels, which affected Vistra's operations and profitability.

In summary, Vistra's Q2 2024 earnings fell short due to a combination of unexpected expenses, decrease in power prices and challenging market conditions.