This is Zack Fuss. Today we are breaking down Vistra Corp. Vistra is an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company, through its subsidiaries, is involved in electricity generation and wholesale and retail energy sales to commercial, municipal and residential customers across the U.S. The company serves 4 million Americans across 20 states producing 37,000 megawatts of capacity, enough to power 20 million homes.

To break down Vistra, I'm joined by John DeGulis, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Sound Shore Management. We go through the dramatic evolution of the industry, the acquisition track record of Vistra, and zoom out on the broader electricity production & distribution business and history in the United States. Please enjoy this conversation on Vistra Corp.

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Show Notes

(00:02:52) - (First question) - A brief history of Vistra

(00:10:57) - An overview of Vistra’s business model 

(00:14:11) - Navigating the value chain of merchant power from generation to retail and how Vistra positions itself within the industry

(00:27:28) - The contrast between financial analysis and consumer perspectives and Vistra’s strategic cash flow allocation toward renewables and shareholder returns

(00:32:49) - The limitations when charging for electricity utilities 

(00:35:23) - A breakdown of Vistra Vision, the allocation of profits from traditional energy generation for growth in renewable energy

(00:39:29) - Vistra’s management team and the key players 

(00:42:58) - Vistra’s potential expansion plans into solar, wind and nuclear 

(00:46:30) - How Vistra could be an integral part of the nation's energy transition to low or no-carbon electricity

(00:49:28) - The lessons learned from studying Vistra