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Vistra Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Ongoing EBITDA grew sharply: Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA was $1,767 million against $1,349 million a year earlier. Management attributes the rise mainly to realized energy and capacity prices and three months of Lotus plants. Source
  • Net income fell on derivative losses: Net income was $305 million against $327 million. Unrealized mark-to-market losses on derivatives rose $488 million, mostly offset by higher realized prices and capacity revenue. Source
  • East and Texas adjusted EBITDA rose: East reached $642 million against $418 million, and Texas $311 million against $142 million, for the quarter. Source
  • Hedge coverage stays high across years: Hedged shares of expected generation were about 100% for 2026, 94% for 2027 and 72% for 2028, up from 98%, 89% and 65% at May 1. Source
  • Fleet kept high availability in heat: During recent extreme heat in Texas and PJM, commercial availability was 97% or greater across the fleet. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose, capex up: Six-month cash from operations was $2,222 million against $1,171 million. Capital expenditures were $1,572 million against $1,458 million. Source
  • Liquidity reached about $6.3 billion: Total available liquidity was about $6,295 million, against $4,173 million at March 31, including $4,408 million of corporate revolver availability. Source
  • Cogentrix acquisition still pending: Management said it continued advancing the pending Cogentrix acquisition alongside its other strategic initiatives. Source

“these results reflect the hard work and dedication of our people.”

Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA Source2026 full year$6,800 - $7,600 millionKept
Ongoing Operations Adjusted FCFbG Source2026 full year$3,925 - $4,725 millionKept
Ongoing Operations net income (loss) Source2026 full year$3,100 - $3,730 millionKept
Capital expenditures including nuclear fuel purchases and LTSA prepayments Source2026 full year$1,536 millionKept
Cash provided by operating activities, Ongoing Operations Source2026 full year$5,998 - $6,798 millionKept
Share repurchases, remaining authorization Sourcethrough year-end 2027~$1.2 billion remaining

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: 2026 Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted FCFbG ranges reaffirmed, unchanged from the first quarter. Source
  • New: Announced Helix Digital Infrastructure with KKR, KIA and NVIDIA; Vistra initial commitment of up to $1.0 billion. Source
  • New: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval received for the pending Cogentrix Energy acquisition. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Ongoing EBITDA grew sharply: Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA was $1,767 million against $1,349 million a year earlier. Management attributes the rise mainly to realized energy and capacity prices and three months of Lotus plants. Source
  • Net income fell on derivative losses: Net income was $305 million against $327 million. Unrealized mark-to-market losses on derivatives rose $488 million, mostly offset by higher realized prices and capacity revenue. Source
  • First-half Ongoing EBITDA rose: Six-month Ongoing Operations Adjusted EBITDA was $3,261 million against $2,589 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Six-month net income higher year over year: Net income attributable to Vistra was $1,334 million for the six months against $59 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and retail

  • East and Texas adjusted EBITDA rose: East reached $642 million against $418 million, and Texas $311 million against $142 million, for the quarter. Source
  • Retail adjusted EBITDA compared with last year: Retail was $773 million against $756 million for the quarter, and $841 million against $940 million for the six months. Source
  • West up, Corporate and Other loss wider: West was $68 million against $49 million. Corporate and Other was $(27) million against $(16) million. Source
  • Asset Closure loss excluded from ongoing: Asset Closure adjusted EBITDA was $(23) million against $(17) million, and it sits outside the Ongoing Operations figures. Source

“We also announced an important investment to further position Vistra for long-term growth.”

Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra

Hedging, revenue and costs

  • Hedge coverage stays high across years: Hedged shares of expected generation were about 100% for 2026, 94% for 2027 and 72% for 2028, up from 98%, 89% and 65% at May 1. Source
  • Revenue and fuel costs both declined: Operating revenues were $4,017 million against $4,250 million. Fuel, purchased power and delivery fees were $1,774 million against $1,974 million. Source
  • Operating costs up, depreciation down: Operating costs were $853 million against $733 million. Depreciation and amortization fell to $445 million from $541 million. Source
  • Interest and tax expense increased: Interest expense was $312 million against $303 million. Income tax expense was $122 million against $76 million. Source

Fleet operations and recognition

  • Fleet kept high availability in heat: During recent extreme heat in Texas and PJM, commercial availability was 97% or greater across the fleet. Source
  • Martin Lake insurance gain in Texas: Texas recorded $48 million of insurance income from the Martin Lake property damage insurance recovery in the quarter. Source
  • Moss Landing proceeds booked in Asset Closure: Six-month Asset Closure insurance income was $6 million from Moss Landing business interruption proceeds, bringing total insurance income to $54 million. Source
  • Second year on Best Companies list: Vistra earned its second consecutive distinction as one of U.S. News & World Report's Best Companies to Work For. Source

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Operating cash flow rose, capex up: Six-month cash from operations was $2,222 million against $1,171 million. Capital expenditures were $1,572 million against $1,458 million. Source
  • Liquidity reached about $6.3 billion: Total available liquidity was about $6,295 million, against $4,173 million at March 31, including $4,408 million of corporate revolver availability. Source
  • Share count down about 30% since 2021: Vistra executed about $6.5 billion of repurchases since November 2021 and had about 336 million shares outstanding, against about 337 million at May 1. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends paid in half-year: Six-month stock repurchases were $709 million against $589 million. Common dividends were $154 million and preferred dividends $96 million. Source
  • Debt issuances and repayments both rose: Six-month debt issuances were $6,422 million against $209 million. Repayments and repurchases of debt were $3,859 million against $757 million. Source

Strategy and growth projects

  • Permian gas and solar projects advancing: Management named construction of two Permian Basin gas units and development of solar facilities, including Oak Hill 2 and Pulaski, as current work. Source
  • Guidance excludes Cogentrix and Meta benefits: The 2026 guidance ranges and the 2027 midpoint estimate do not include potential benefits from Cogentrix or the signed Meta agreements. Source
  • Cogentrix acquisition still pending: Management said it continued advancing the pending Cogentrix acquisition alongside its other strategic initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 August 2026

  • Meta contracts contribute from 2027: Portions of the signed Meta power purchase agreements are expected to add to Adjusted EBITDA in 2027. Source
  • Focus on fleet and strategy: Management said it remains focused on safely and reliably operating the fleet and advancing strategy through the rest of the year. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: GAAP net income includes an unrealized hedge loss of $472 million on positions expected to settle in future years. Source
  • External: Management cites dynamic market conditions facing its commercial and retail teams. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management ties the reaffirmed 2026 guidance ranges to the coverage of the hedging program. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.