A O Smith Corp vs Vistra Corp — how do they compare? A O Smith Corp trades at $62.67 (market cap $8.65B), while Vistra Corp trades at $146.33 (market cap $48.64B). The key difference: Vistra Corp is far larger — about 5.6× A O Smith Corp's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays the higher dividend (2.26%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AOS | VST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $8.65B | $48.64B |
Sector | Industrials | Technology |
52-Week High | $80.47 | $217.92 |
52-Week Low | $55.78 | $134.71 |
Enterprise Value | $9.15B | $70.58B |
Dividend Yield | 2.26% | 0.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
A. O. Smith Corporation (AOS) trades at $62.47, showing modest daily gains. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals, though RSI levels suggest potential near-term overbought conditions. Fundamentally, the company maintains solid profitability with a net income margin of 13.15% and ROE of 27.13%, supported by consistent revenue around $3.8 billion. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, but Q1 2026 was a miss, reflecting some volatility. A quarterly dividend of $0.36 provides income appeal.
The outlook for AOS is cautiously optimistic, with a consensus price target of $67.25 implying upside potential. Strengths include robust cash flow from operations and high return metrics. Key risks involve exposure to input cost pressures, competitive markets, and mixed quarterly earnings performance. Investor sentiment is balanced, with analyst ratings leaning Hold. The stock presents a value opportunity for those comfortable with industrial sector cyclicality.
VST trades at $146.36, up 2.44% with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings with $1.767 billion adjusted EBITDA, beating expectations, while maintaining 2026 guidance. Valuation metrics show a P/E of 24.44 and robust profitability with 75.73% ROE, though recent earnings have been inconsistent with two misses in the last four quarters.
VST presents a compelling growth story driven by data center power demand and nuclear assets, with 90.9% analyst buy ratings and a $239.75 price target suggesting 64% upside. Key risks include ERCOT pricing volatility and hedging losses, while institutional interest remains strong with recent strategic acquisitions positioning the company for AI infrastructure growth.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →Vistra is a leading integrated retail electricity and power generation company that serves as a critical infrastructure provider for the digital economy. It operates a diversified portfolio of zero-carbon nuclear and renewable assets alongside a massive, flexible natural gas fleet, positioning it as an indispensable partner for energy-intensive AI data centers and industrial electrification.
Read more on VST →