Vistra Reports First Quarter 2025 Results
- Strong Q1 2025 Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $1,240 million, up $430 million YoY
- Comprehensive hedging program with 100% of 2025 and 90% of 2026 generation volumes hedged
- Robust share repurchase execution with $5.2 billion completed, reducing shares outstanding by 30%
- Significant liquidity position of $3.9 billion
- Expansion of clean energy portfolio with new solar and storage projects totaling over 650 MW
- Q1 2025 GAAP Net Loss of $(268) million, down from $18 million profit in Q1 2024
- Unrealized mark-to-market losses on derivative positions due to increased energy prices
Insights
Vistra reports Q1 net loss but strong adjusted EBITDA growth (+53% YoY), reaffirms 2025 guidance, with robust hedging providing earnings visibility despite energy market volatility.
Vistra's Q1 2025 results showcase the important distinction between accounting metrics and operational performance. The company posted a GAAP Net Loss of
This apparent contradiction stems primarily from unrealized mark-to-market losses on derivative positions as energy prices increased in forward periods. These are non-cash accounting adjustments rather than operational issues, which explains why management confidently reaffirmed their full-year guidance.
Segment performance reveals comprehensive strength across Vistra's business model. The Retail segment demonstrated the most dramatic improvement, swinging from a
Vistra's comprehensive hedging program serves as a key stabilizing factor in volatile energy markets. With approximately
Capital allocation continues to prioritize shareholder returns, with approximately
While advancing its financial objectives, Vistra is simultaneously expanding its clean energy portfolio with strategic investments in solar and energy storage, including significant power purchase agreements with Amazon (200 MW) and Microsoft (405 MW).
The company maintains robust financial flexibility with approximately
Earnings Release Highlights
- GAAP first quarter 2025 Net Loss of
and Cash Flow from Operations of$(268) million .$599 million - Net Loss from Ongoing Operations1 of
and Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA1 of$(200) million .$1,240 million - Reaffirmed 2025 Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA1 and Ongoing Operations Adjusted FCFbG1 guidance ranges of
to$5.5 billion and$6.1 billion to$3.0 billion , respectively.$3.6 billion - Continued line of sight for 2026 Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA1 midpoint opportunity2 of more than
.$6 billion
"The Vistra team kicked off 2025 with another strong quarter of business performance. We reliably produced electricity during multiple winter storms across the country, delivering the energy our customers needed," said Jim Burke, president and chief executive officer of Vistra. "Our plants achieved commercial availability of approximately
Burke concluded, "Through our integrated business model, Vistra remains well-positioned to create sustained, long-term value. Importantly, as the markets continue to evolve, our purpose does not change. Our team is focused on 'lighting up lives, powering a better way forward' by generating reliable and affordable electricity, delivering innovative solutions to the customers and the communities we serve, while providing strong financial performance to our shareholders. We are excited to be part of the solution in meeting the coming power demand growth and look forward to executing on the exciting opportunities ahead."
Summary of Financial Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 | |||
(Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Net income (loss) | $ (268) | $ 18 | |
Ongoing operations net income (loss) | $ (200) | $ 43 | |
Ongoing operations Adjusted EBITDA | $ 1,240 | $ 810 | |
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment | |||
Retail | $ 184 | $ (28) | |
$ 490 | $ 429 | ||
East | $ 514 | $ 367 | |
West | $ 62 | $ 56 | |
Corporate and Other | $ (10) | $ (14) | |
Asset Closure | $ (24) | $ (20) |
For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, Vistra reported Net Loss of
Guidance | |
($ in millions) | Reaffirmed 2025 Guidance Ranges |
Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA | |
Ongoing Operations Adjusted FCFbG |
As of May 2, 2025, Vistra had hedged approximately
Share Repurchase Program
As of May 2, 2025:
- Vistra executed
~ in share repurchases since November 2021.$5.2 billion - Vistra had ~339.3 million shares outstanding, representing a ~
30% reduction of the amount of the shares outstanding on Nov. 2, 2021. ~ of the share repurchase authorization remains available, which we expect to complete by year-end 2026.$1.5 billion dollars
Clean Energy Investments
Vistra continues to strategically and cost-effectively grow its fleet of zero-carbon resources, focusing on solar, energy storage, and nuclear. During the first quarter, the company advanced these efforts by:
- Mobilizing for construction on our third Illinois Coal to Solar & Energy Storage Initiative project at our Newton Power Plant; the solar-plus-storage facility will total 52 MW.
- Progressing with construction in support of two power purchase agreements at new solar facilities, together totaling over 600 MW, with two of the world's leading technology companies - 200 MW with Amazon in
Texas and 405 MW with Microsoft inIllinois .
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2025, Vistra had total available liquidity of approximately
Earnings Webcast
Vistra will host a webcast today, May 7, 2025, beginning at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT) to discuss these results and related matters. The live webcast and the accompanying slides that will be discussed on the call can be accessed via Vistra's website at www.vistracorp.com under "Investor Relations" and then "Events & Presentations." Participants can also listen by phone by registering here prior to the start time of the call to receive a conference call dial-in number. A replay of the webcast will be available on Vistra's website for one year following the live event.
About Vistra
Vistra (NYSE: VST) is a leading, Fortune 500 integrated retail electricity and power generation company that provides essential resources to customers, businesses, and communities from
1 Ongoing Operations excludes the Asset Closure segment. Net Income (Loss) from Ongoing Operations, Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA, and Ongoing Operations Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth are non-GAAP financial measures. Any reference to "Ongoing Operations Adjusted FCFbG" is a reference to Ongoing Operations Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth. See the "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" tables for further detail. Total segment information may not tie due to rounding. |
2 Midpoint opportunities are not intended to be guidance and represent only our estimate of potential opportunities for Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA in 2026 based on market curves as of November 4, 2024. Actual results could vary and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and factors, including power price market movements and our hedging strategy. We have not provided a quantitative reconciliation of Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA opportunities for 2026 to GAAP net income (loss) because we cannot, without unreasonable effort, calculate certain reconciling items with confidence due to the variability, complexity, and limited visibility of the adjusting items that would be excluded from Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA in such out year periods. |
About Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Items Affecting Comparability
"Adjusted EBITDA" (EBITDA as adjusted for unrealized gains or losses from hedging activities, tax receivable agreement impacts, reorganization items, and certain other items described from time to time in Vistra's earnings releases), "Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth" (or "Adjusted FCFbG") (cash from operating activities excluding changes in margin deposits and working capital and adjusted for capital expenditures (including capital expenditures for growth investments), other net investment activities, and other items described from time to time in Vistra's earnings releases), "Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA" (adjusted EBITDA less adjusted EBITDA from Asset Closure segment), "Net Income (Loss) from Ongoing Operations" (net income less net income from Asset Closure segment), and "Ongoing Operations Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth" or "Ongoing Operations Adjusted FCFbG" (adjusted free cash flow before growth less cash flow from operating activities from Asset Closure segment before growth) are "non-GAAP financial measures." A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in Vistra's consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Vistra's non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
Vistra uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance and believes that analysis of its business by external users is enhanced by visibility to both Net Income prepared in accordance with GAAP and Adjusted EBITDA. Vistra uses Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth as a measure of liquidity and performance, and believes it is a useful metric to assess current performance in the period and that analysis of capital available to allocate for debt service, growth, and return of capital to stockholders is supported by disclosure of both cash provided by (used in) operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP as well as Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth. Vistra uses Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance and Ongoing Operations Adjusted Free Cash Flow before Growth as a measure of liquidity and performance, and Vistra's management and board of directors have found it informative to view the Asset Closure segment as separate and distinct from Vistra's ongoing operations. Vistra uses Net Income (Loss) from Ongoing Operations as a non-GAAP measure that is most comparable to the GAAP measure Net Income (Loss) in order to illustrate the company's Net Income (Loss) excluding the effects of the Asset Closure segment, as well as a measure to compare to Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA. The schedules attached to this earnings release reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information presented herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Vistra Corp. ("Vistra") operates and beliefs of and assumptions made by Vistra's management, involve risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance, that could significantly affect the financial results of Vistra. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that are presented herein, or in response to questions or otherwise, that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as activities related to our financial or operational projections including financial condition and cash flows, projected synergy, value lever and net debt targets, capital allocation, capital expenditures, liquidity, projected Adjusted EBITDA to free cash flow conversion rate, dividend policy, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, future acquisitions or dispositions, development or operation of power generation assets, market and industry developments and the growth of our businesses and operations, including potential large load center opportunities (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases, or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature, including, but not limited to: "intends," "plans," "will likely," "unlikely," "believe," "confident", "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "will," "shall," "should," "could," "may," "might," "predict," "project," "forecast," "target," "potential," "goal," "objective," "guidance" and "outlook"), are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Vistra believes that in making any such forward-looking statement, Vistra's expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such forward-looking statement involves uncertainties and risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in or implied by any such forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions (including changes in interest rates) or changes in political conditions or federal or state laws and regulations; (ii) the ability of Vistra to execute upon its contemplated strategic, capital allocation, performance, and cost-saving initiatives and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; (iii) actions by credit ratings agencies; (iv) the severity, magnitude and duration of extreme weather events, contingencies and uncertainties relating thereto, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, and the resulting effects on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; and (v) those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Vistra from time to time, including the uncertainties and risks discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in Vistra's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only at the date on which it is made, and except as may be required by law, Vistra will not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them; nor can Vistra assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
VISTRA CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Operating revenues | $ 3,933 | $ 3,054 | |
Fuel, purchased power costs, and delivery fees | (2,447) | (1,716) | |
Operating costs | (693) | (498) | |
Depreciation and amortization | (522) | (403) | |
Selling, general, and administrative expenses | (391) | (351) | |
Operating income (loss) | (120) | 86 | |
Other income (deductions), net | (5) | 87 | |
Interest expense and related charges | (319) | (170) | |
Impacts of Tax Receivable Agreement | — | (5) | |
Net income (loss) before income taxes | (444) | (2) | |
Income tax benefit | 176 | 20 | |
Net income (loss) | $ (268) | $ 18 | |
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest | — | (53) | |
Net loss attributable to Vistra | $ (268) | $ (35) | |
Cumulative dividends attributable to preferred stock | (49) | (49) | |
Net loss attributable to Vistra common stock | $ (317) | $ (84) |
VISTRA CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||
2025 | 2024 | ||
Cash flows — operating activities: | |||
Net income (loss) | $ (268) | $ 18 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities: | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 772 | 555 | |
Deferred income tax benefit, net | (185) | (23) | |
Unrealized net loss from mark-to-market valuations of commodities | 567 | 176 | |
Unrealized net (gain) loss from mark-to-market valuations of interest rate swaps | 48 | (47) | |
Unrealized net (gain) loss from nuclear decommissioning trusts | 15 | (28) | |
Asset retirement obligation accretion expense | 34 | 19 | |
Bad debt expense | 44 | 36 | |
Stock-based compensation expense | 21 | 21 | |
Other, net | 57 | (28) | |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||
Margin deposits, net | (217) | 128 | |
Accrued interest | 51 | (3) | |
Accrued taxes | (109) | (111) | |
Accrued employee incentive | (177) | (169) | |
Other operating assets and liabilities | (54) | (232) | |
Cash provided by operating activities | 599 | 312 | |
Cash flows — investing activities: | |||
Capital expenditures, including nuclear fuel purchases and LTSA prepayments | (768) | (465) | |
Energy Harbor acquisition (net of cash acquired) | — | (3,070) | |
Proceeds from sales of nuclear decommissioning trust fund securities | 2,107 | 214 | |
Investments in nuclear decommissioning trust fund securities | (2,112) | (220) | |
Proceeds from sales of environmental allowances | 21 | 17 | |
Purchases of environmental allowances | (307) | (131) | |
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, including nuclear fuel | — | 127 | |
Other, net | (2) | — | |
Cash used in investing activities | (1,061) | (3,528) | |
Cash flows — financing activities: | |||
Issuances of long-term debt | — | 700 | |
Repayments/repurchases of debt | (6) | (756) | |
Net borrowings (repayments) under accounts receivable financing | 332 | 875 | |
Borrowings under Commodity-Linked Facility | — | 500 | |
Stock repurchases | (337) | (291) | |
Dividends paid to common stockholders | (83) | (77) | |
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders | (21) | — | |
Tax withholding on stock based compensation | (50) | (12) | |
TRA Repurchase and tender offer — return of capital | — | (122) | |
Other, net | 1 | (24) | |
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (164) | 793 | |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (626) | (2,423) | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — beginning balance | 1,222 | 3,539 | |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — ending balance | $ 596 | $ 1,116 |
VISTRA CORP. | |||||||||||||||
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS - ADJUSTED EBITDA | |||||||||||||||
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||||||||||||||
Retail | East | West | Eliminations / | Ongoing | Asset | Vistra Corp. | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 1,132 | $ (720) | $ (490) | $ 77 | $ (199) | $ (200) | $ (68) | $ (268) | |||||||
Income tax benefit | — | — | — | — | (176) | (176) | — | (176) | |||||||
Interest expense and related charges (a) | 18 | (14) | (12) | (1) | 327 | 318 | 1 | 319 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization (b) | 23 | 181 | 396 | 15 | 19 | 634 | (1) | 633 | |||||||
EBITDA before Adjustments | 1,173 | (553) | (106) | 91 | (29) | 576 | (68) | 508 | |||||||
Unrealized net (gain) loss resulting from hedging transactions | (997) | 1,030 | 567 | (32) | — | 568 | (1) | 567 | |||||||
Purchase accounting impacts | — | — | 14 | — | — | 14 | — | 14 | |||||||
Non-cash compensation expenses | — | — | — | — | 21 | 21 | — | 21 | |||||||
Transition and merger expenses | — | — | 1 | — | 17 | 18 | — | 18 | |||||||
Decommissioning-related activities (c) | — | 5 | 35 | — | — | 40 | 46 | 86 | |||||||
Other, net | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | (19) | 3 | (1) | 2 | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ 184 | $ 490 | $ 514 | $ 62 | $ (10) | $ 1,240 | $ (24) | $ 1,216 |
___________ | |
(a) | Includes |
(b) | Includes nuclear fuel amortization of |
(c) | Represents net of all NDT income (loss) of the PJM nuclear facilities and all ARO and environmental remediation expenses. |
VISTRA CORP. | |||||||||||||||
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS - ADJUSTED EBITDA | |||||||||||||||
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||||||||||||||
Retail | East | West | Eliminations / | Ongoing | Asset | Vistra Corp. | |||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ 561 | $ (336) | $ (173) | $ 168 | $ (177) | $ 43 | $ (25) | $ 18 | |||||||
Income tax benefit | — | — | — | — | (20) | (20) | — | (20) | |||||||
Interest expense and related charges (a) | 6 | (10) | 1 | — | 172 | 169 | 1 | 170 | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization (b) | 23 | 160 | 233 | 14 | 16 | 446 | 7 | 453 | |||||||
EBITDA before Adjustments | 590 | (186) | 61 | 182 | (9) | 638 | (17) | 621 | |||||||
Unrealized net (gain) loss resulting from hedging transactions | (623) | 604 | 328 | (129) | — | 180 | (4) | 176 | |||||||
Purchase accounting impacts | (2) | — | (2) | — | (14) | (18) | — | (18) | |||||||
Impacts of Tax Receivable Agreement (c) | — | — | — | — | (5) | (5) | — | (5) | |||||||
Non-cash compensation expenses | — | — | — | — | 21 | 21 | — | 21 | |||||||
Transition and merger expenses | 1 | — | 4 | — | 28 | 33 | — | 33 | |||||||
Decommissioning-related activities (d) | — | 6 | (25) | — | — | (19) | — | (19) | |||||||
ERP system implementation | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | |||||||
Other, net | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | (41) | (26) | 1 | (25) | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ (28) | $ 429 | $ 367 | $ 56 | $ (14) | $ 810 | $ (20) | $ 790 |
___________ | |
(a) | Includes |
(b) | Includes nuclear fuel amortization of |
(c) | Includes |
(d) | Represents net of all NDT income (loss), ARO accretion expense for operating assets, and ARO remeasurement impacts for operating assets. |
VISTRA CORP. - NON-GAAP RECONCILIATIONS 2025 GUIDANCE1 | |||||||||||
(Unaudited) (Millions of Dollars) | |||||||||||
Ongoing Operations | Asset Closure | Vistra Corp. Consolidated | |||||||||
Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | ||||||
Net Income (loss) | $ (90) | $ (90) | $ 2,220 | ||||||||
Income tax expense | 620 | 750 | — | — | 620 | 750 | |||||
Interest expense and related charges (a) | 1,070 | 1,070 | — | — | 1,070 | 1,070 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization (b) | 2,180 | 2,180 | — | — | 2,180 | 2,180 | |||||
EBITDA before Adjustments | $ (90) | $ (90) | $ 6,090 | ||||||||
Unrealized net (gain) loss resulting from hedging transactions | (872) | (872) | (2) | (2) | (874) | (874) | |||||
Fresh start/purchase accounting impacts | (5) | (5) | — | — | (5) | (5) | |||||
Non-cash compensation expenses | 135 | 135 | — | — | 135 | 135 | |||||
Transition and merger expenses | 35 | 35 | — | — | 35 | 35 | |||||
Decommissioning activities (c) | 48 | 48 | — | — | 48 | 48 | |||||
ERP system implementation expenses | 11 | 11 | — | — | 11 | 11 | |||||
Interest income | (45) | (45) | — | — | (45) | (45) | |||||
Other, net | 13 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 15 | |||||
Adjusted EBITDA guidance | $ (90) | $ (90) | $ 5,410 | ||||||||
Interest paid, net | (1,098) | (1,098) | — | — | (1,098) | (1,098) | |||||
Tax (paid) / received | (111) | (111) | — | — | (111) | (111) | |||||
Change in working capital, margin deposits, and accrued environmental allowance obligations | 595 | 595 | — | — | 595 | 595 | |||||
Reclamation and remediation | (53) | (53) | (90) | (90) | (143) | (143) | |||||
ERP system implementation expenditures | (39) | (39) | — | — | (39) | (39) | |||||
Other changes in other operating assets and liabilities | (164) | (164) | (10) | (10) | (174) | (174) | |||||
Cash provided by operating activities | $ (190) | $ (190) | $ 4,440 | ||||||||
Capital expenditures including nuclear fuel purchases and LTSA prepayments | (1,221) | (1,221) | — | — | (1,221) | (1,221) | |||||
Other net investing activities | (20) | (20) | — | — | (20) | (20) | |||||
Change in working capital, margin deposits, and accrued environmental allowance obligations | (595) | (595) | — | — | (595) | (595) | |||||
Transition and merger expenditures | 56 | 56 | — | — | 56 | 56 | |||||
Interest on noncontrolling interest repurchase obligation | 111 | 111 | — | — | 111 | 111 | |||||
ERP implementation expenditures | 39 | 39 | — | — | 39 | 39 | |||||
Adjusted free cash flow before growth guidance | $ (190) | $ (190) | $ 2,810 |
____________ | |
Regulation G Table for 2025 Guidance prepared as of Nov. 7, 2024, based on market curves as of Nov. 4, 2024. | |
(a) | Includes |
(b) | Includes nuclear fuel amortization of |
(c) | Represents net of all NDT (income) loss of the PJM nuclear facilities, ARO accretion expense for operating assets and ARO remeasurement impacts for operating assets. |
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SOURCE Vistra Corp