Leading S&P 500 stock Vistra stumbled Friday following news of a fire at an energy-storage battery facility at the company's Moss Landing power plant in Monterey County, Calif.
The fire began late Thursday, with a Vistra spokesperson telling Politico they were not yet sure of the fire's cause. Vistra owns the natural gas-fueled Moss Landing power plant, as well as the lithium-ion battery energy storage facility on the site.
Vistra stock declined 1.8% to 170.87 during market action on Friday, retreating after a 26% gain so far in January. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 stock jumped more than 5% to 170.52, breaking out above a traditional 168.67 buy point. Vistra was added to IBD SwingTrader on Jan. 14.
Investors should be aware that MarketSurge analysis identifies the current base as a late-stage base, a factor that can raise the amount of risk associated with a breakout.
Guggenheim analysts on Friday wrote that the California fire will not be a "material issue" for Vistra, if it is fully contained, and that the selloff on the news could be a buying opportunity.
The firm highlighted reports indicating that the fire had not spread from the Phase 1 part of the company's Moss Landing complex, and points out Vistra has property and business interruption insurance.
Guggenheim has a buy rating on VST with a 177 price target.
Vistra announced it completed a recent expansion of the Moss Landing energy storage facility on Aug. 1, 2023, claiming it can store 750 megawatts of energy, and the largest of its kind in the world. The battery facility was damaged during an accident with a malfunctioning heat detector in 2021. Meanwhile, there was also a fire in 2022 at an adjoining battery plant owned by Pacific Gas & Electric and supplied by Tesla.
Last year, Vistra stock rocketed 258%, placing it among the top S&P 500 stocks and the best 100 stocks of 2024.
Vistra stock has a 97 Composite Rating out of 99. Additionally, the S&P 500 stock has a 98 Relative Strength Rating and a 48 EPS Rating out of 99.
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