This Was a Top Stock of 2024. What Do Analysts Think of It Now?
Main points
- Vistra stock was one of the S&P 500’s biggest gainers last year, rising nearly 19% through the first three trading days of 2025.
- The power plant operator agrees with industry peers that new data centers will drive more power demand.
- Analysts mostly rate Vistra stock a “buy,” even as the stock more than triples in value in 2024.
view(visual effects) stock is one of the biggest winners in 2024 and is already off to a positive start in 2025, up nearly 19% exist the first three trading days this year.
The energy company’s shares more than tripled in value last yearset a Number hits record high Along the way. Vistra Is One of Several Utility Stocks Gaining in 2024 Analysts stress How artificial intelligence and the massive energy demands of data centers are driving growth in a historically dormant industry.
Going into the new year, all five analysts tracked by Visible Alpha rate Vistra stock a Buy, but the $147.20 average price target suggests some analysts expect the stock to grow from its current price of about $164. Price pullback. Fifteen of the 17 analysts tracked by FactSet Research have a “buy” or “overweight” rating, with an average price target of more than $170.
Morgan Stanley gives Vistra a “high conviction” buy rating
In a report last month, Morgan Stanley analysts named Vistra and Constellation Energy (CEG) enter the new year with two of their “High Conviction Overweight” ratings. They pointed to the possibility of Vistra striking a new data center deal at its Comanche Peak nuclear power plant in Texas and providing “strategic options” for its natural gas generation fleet.
Analysts note that regulatory uncertainty has recently clouded the outlook for nuclear power and data centers. In November, the Commonwealth Regulators block a deal Between Amazon (Amazon) and Talen Energy (TLN). Morgan Stanley analysts expect regulatory clarity later this year and said Vistra could be the first power provider they track to sign a data center deal in 2025.
In November, Jefferies analysts raised their price target to $167 from $143 and said they expected a data center deal in late 2024 or the first quarter of this year.
Vistra shares rose 0.9% on Monday, with a return of nearly 19% in the first three trading days of the year.