Hyperscalers are spending massive amounts of capital on building data centers. According to Goldman Sachs Research, global AI investments could top $1 trillion this year, with more to come. This massive deployment of capital and build-out of modern data centers, where server racks require significantly more power and cooling, has citizens concerned about the impact on the power grid. <\/p>\n Regulated utilities<\/a> operate under a cost-of-service model, meaning they earn a legally capped return on equity (ROE), which averages roughly 10%, on their investments. This helps keep energy prices stable for households and other consumers and prevents price gouging, given utilities’ territorial monopolies in their regions. <\/p>\n As a result, regulated utilities’ upside from the electricity boom is more capped. Meanwhile, independent power producers (IPPs), like Vistra, own power generation assets but don’t own the power grid infrastructure, such as high-voltage transmission lines, that delivers that power. Instead, Vistra sells its power directly into wholesale markets<\/a>, allowing it to benefit from spikes in wholesale power prices. <\/p>\n Vistra has inked major deals with hyperscalers <\/p>\n Vistra also has the flexibility to enter into long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with hyperscalers. Last November, it signed a 20-year PPA, with a 20-year extension option, with Amazon Web Services for 1,200 megawatts (MW) of carbon-free power. In January 2026, it added to its hyperscaler deals with a 20-year PPA with Meta Platforms, supplying 2,609 megawatts (MW) of power from its nuclear sites. <\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n The move provides long-term cash flow visibility by shifting capital risk onto hyperscalers. For example, Vistra’s agreement with Meta is structured around nuclear life extensions and uprates that expand power-generating capacity. Because Meta is funding this expansion, the deal satisfies political “Bring Your Own Power” mandates sought by regulators. <\/p>\n Building on its extensive energy assets, Vistra announced a deal to acquire Cogentrix Energy earlier this year. The acquisition adds 10 natural gas plants with roughly 5,500 MW of capacity in key regions across the U.S., and is expected to close later this year. <\/p>\n What’s next for Vistra <\/p>\n Vistra stands to benefit from another major tailwind. In June, Vistra, along with KKR, Nvidia, and Kuwait Investment Authority, announced the launch of Helix Digital Infrastructure. Helix aims to facilitate the development of AI data centers and is backed by $10 billion in investments. As part of this venture, Vistra becomes Helix’s preferred power provider. <\/p>\n Looking ahead, analysts covering Vistra stock project its earnings per share (EPS) to be $10.56 in 2027 and $12.36 in 2028. With Vistra’s stock down 38% from its 52-week high, it is now priced at just 12 times next year’s projected earnings. <\/p>\n For investors looking for exposure to data centers’ growing demand for electricity, Vistra is one solid stock to buy to capitalize on this long-term growth. <\/p>\n Should you buy stock in Vistra right now? <\/p>\n Before you buy stock in Vistra, consider this: <\/p>\n The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the\u00a010 best stocks<\/a> for investors to buy now\u2026 and Vistra wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. <\/p>\n Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,\u00a0you’d have $429,223!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,317,883!* <\/p>\n Now, it’s worth noting\u00a0Stock Advisor’s total average return is 965% \u2014 a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500.\u00a0Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with\u00a0Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. <\/p>\n See the 10 stocks \u00bb<\/a> <\/p>\n *Stock Advisor returns as of August 23, 2026. <\/p>\n Courtney Carlsen<\/a> has positions in Goldman Sachs Group, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Vistra. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Goldman Sachs Group, KKR, Meta Platforms, Nvidia, and Vistra. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/a> Image source: Getty Images. The AI power boom supercharges Vistra’s business model <\/p>\n