COMPARE · Data as of August 21, 2026
TLN vs VST
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. TLN scored 54.4, VST scored 73.8 — VST leads.
Compare another set
TLN
Talen Energy Corporation
54.4
$314.46 · $15.1B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
19.4
VST leads
VST
Vistra Corp.
73.8
$136.21 · $45.7B
fundamentals as of
At a glance · who leads each dimension, on the model's own rules
- Fastest growthTLN+108.9%
- Strongest balance sheetVST3.73
- Highest qualityVST65 / 100
Side by side · every name on one set of axes
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
TLN
stronger →← stronger
VST
27
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
65
68
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
88
87
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
70
VST is stronger on 2 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
TLN
VST
$568mC+
FCF
$2.3bB
+108.9%A
Rev
+18.6%B+
5.84D
D/E
3.73D
3.8xC
P/S
—
—
PEG
0.41A
—
P/E
23.0xC+
Winner per row is the stronger grade; where grades tie, the better figure breaks it. A true tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
TLN
VST
75% above
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
17% above
~31%/yr
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~19%/yr
-56%
1-yr DCF upside
-34%
-43%
5-yr DCF upside
-14%
-18%
10-yr DCF upside
+25%
These two disagree on this pair: the Value pillar ranks cheapness against sector peers, while price-vs-fair-value is an absolute read. A name can be the better value in its sector and still the dearer one on cash flows.
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
TLN
Why this score
- Diluting shareholders
VST
No notable signals flagged.
The companies
TLNTalen Energy Corporation
Why now
Utilities - Independent Power Producers · market cap $15.1b. Down 30% from 52-week high of $451.28 — deep drawdown territory. Revenue growing +109% — in hypergrowth territory. 16 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $465.50 (implying +48% upside).
Moat
Turnaround / out-of-favor name — GAAP-unprofitable for now, so the durability case is forward-looking: it rests on a recovery (margin normalization, a cyclical upturn or restructuring) or an un-monetized asset (IP / network effects / first-mover position) rather than on current reported results.
Risk
D/E 5.84 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Currently unprofitable (margin -5.6%) — path to GAAP profitability is the core thesis risk. Down 30% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up.
VSTVistra Corp.
Why now
Utilities - Independent Power Producers · market cap $45.7b. Down 38% from 52-week high of $219.82 — deep drawdown territory. Revenue growing +19%, comfortably above the S&P median. PEG 0.41 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 18 sell-side analysts rate this a Strong Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $219.72 (implying +61% upside).
Moat
ROE 40% — top-decile capital efficiency. Either pricing leverage, low capital intensity, or aggressive buybacks; the durability story depends on which. FCF converts 102% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
D/E 3.73 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer. Down 38% from the 52-week high — the market is pricing in something the screen can't see; verify the bear case before sizing up. Beta 1.43 implies above-market volatility — position-size to the drawdowns this name will produce in a market correction, not to its bull-case return.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.
Where TLN and VST diverge
On the headline score the gap is 19.4 points in favor of VST. They get there differently, though — each leads on a different pillar, so the better pick depends on which you weight.
- QualityTLN 27.2 · VST 64.8VST +37.6
- GrowthTLN 68.1 · VST 88.3VST +20.2
- ValueTLN 87.0 · VST 70.2TLN +16.8
Pillars run 0–100 against sector peers, so a score is a statement about a company relative to its own industry rather than to the other name here. A wide Value gap usually means the market already prices the difference in quality or growth — which is the trade-off this comparison comes down to.