Jefferies Raises Vistra (VST) Target to $241, Maintaining 'Buy' Rating

Jefferies has raised its target price for Vistra (VST) from $145 to $241, a 66.21% increase, maintaining a "Buy" rating. Analysts have consistently shown positive sentiment toward the stock, with recent upgrades and price target increases from UBS, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs. Vistra is a leading power producer and retail energy provider in the US, with 41 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, natural gas, solar, and energy storage assets.

Jefferies has significantly increased its target price for Vistra Energy (VST) to $241, a substantial 66.21% increase from its previous target of $145. The analyst firm maintains a "Buy" rating for the stock, reflecting a positive outlook on the company's future prospects.

The new price target, set by Julien Dumoulin-Smith from Jefferies, comes amidst a wave of positive sentiment from other analysts. UBS, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs have all recently upgraded their ratings and price targets for VST. For instance, UBS set a target of $230.0, Morgan Stanley at $186.0, and Goldman Sachs at $164.0, with these upgrades occurring over the past six months.

Vistra Energy is a leading power producer and retail energy provider in the United States, with a diversified portfolio of 41 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, natural gas, solar, and energy storage assets. The company's strong financial health, as indicated by a GREAT financial health score of 3.18 and impressive revenue growth of 35.02% over the last twelve months, has been a key factor in analysts' positive assessments.

Despite a recent earnings miss in Q2 2025, where earnings per share (EPS) fell short by 42.86% and revenue missed expectations by 16.99%, Vistra reaffirmed its 2025 guidance. The company's strategic acquisitions and project developments continue to drive future growth, with a focus on bolstering its diversified energy portfolio.

The stock's recent performance has been robust, with a 173.5% gain over the past year and 46.12% year-to-date (YTD) returns. However, the stock appears slightly overvalued based on InvestingPro's Fair Value calculations, trading near its 52-week high of $216.85 before the earnings release.

Vistra's CEO, Jim Burke, expressed confidence in the company's assets and team, highlighting the structural shift in electricity consumption and the company's strong year-to-date results. The company's outlook remains positive, with projections for adjusted EBITDA between $5.5 billion and $6.1 billion and adjusted free cash flow between $3.0 billion and $3.6 billion for 2025.

Investors should remain cautious, as market volatility, economic uncertainty, regulatory changes, and operational disruptions could impact future earnings. Nevertheless, Vistra's strong fundamentals and strategic initiatives provide a solid foundation for long-term growth.

References:

[1] https://www.quiverquant.com/news/New+Analyst+Forecast%3A+%24VST+Given+%24241.0+Price+Target

[2] https://au.investing.com/news/transcripts/earnings-call-transcript-vistra-energy-q2-2025-misses-expectations-93CH-3966465