Vistra Corp.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Feb 27, 2026.
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FY2025 · Filed Feb 27, 2026
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16. Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefits (OPEB) Plans
- PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (OPEB) PLANS
Vistra is the plan sponsor of the Vistra Retirement Plan (the Retirement Plan), which provides benefits to eligible employees of its subsidiaries. Oncor is a participant in the Retirement Plan. Effective January 1, 2018, Vistra entered into a contractual arrangement with Oncor whereby the costs associated with providing OPEB coverage for certain retirees (Split Participants) whose employment included service with both the regulated businesses of Oncor (or its predecessors) and the non-regulated businesses of Vistra (or its predecessors) are split between Oncor and Vistra. As Vistra accounts for its interests in the Retirement Plan as a multiple employer plan, only Vistra's share of the plan assets and obligations are reported in the pension benefit information presented below. The Retirement Plan is a qualified defined benefit pension plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), and is subject to the provisions of ERISA. The Retirement Plan provides benefits to participants under one of two formulas: (i) a Cash Balance Formula under which participants earn monthly contribution credits based on their compensation and a combination of their age and years of service, plus monthly interest credits or (ii) a Traditional Retirement Plan Formula based on years of service and the average earnings of the three years of highest earnings. Under the Cash Balance Formula, future increases in earnings will not apply to prior service costs. It is our policy to fund the Retirement Plan assets only to the extent required under existing federal regulations. Since 2012, the Retirement Plan has been closed to new participants and the only participants who remain in the Retirement Plan are employees who were active prior to 2012, including retired collective bargaining unit employees. Accordingly, ongoing expenses associated with the Retirement plan are immaterial, including expenses associated with pensions plans acquired from Dynegy and Energy Harbor.
Vistra and our participating subsidiaries offer other postretirement employee benefits (OPEB) in the form of certain health care and life insurance benefits to eligible retirees and their eligible dependents. The retiree contributions required for such coverage vary based on a formula depending on the retiree's age and years of service.
Pension and OPEB Costs
The following table summarizes the total benefit costs of our pension and OPEB plans for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. The individual components of benefit costs, including service cost, interest cost, expected return on assets and the net amortization of unrecognized amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income were immaterial.
| Year Ended December 31, | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| (in millions) | |||
| Pension costs | $6 | $9 | $9 |
| OPEB costs | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Total benefit costs recognized as expense | $10 | $14 | $14 |
Market-Related Value of Assets Held in Pension Benefit Trusts
We use the calculated value method to determine the market-related value of the assets held in the trust for purposes of calculating pension costs. We include all gains or losses in the market-related value of assets over a rolling four-year period. Each year,25% of such gains and losses for the current year and for each of the preceding three years is included in the market-related value. Each year, the market-related value of assets is increased for contributions to the plan and investment income and is decreased for benefit payments and expenses for that year.
Detailed Information Regarding Pension Plans and OPEB Benefits
The following information is based on a December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 measurement dates:
| Retirement Plan · OPEB Plans | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations at Period End: | ||||||
| Discount rate | 5.39% | 5.63% | 4.97% | 5.36% | 5.62% | 4.98% |
| Expected rate of compensation increase (Vistra Plan) | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.64% | |||
| Expected rate of compensation increase (Dynegy Plan) | 4.68% | 4.46% | ||||
| Interest crediting rate for cash balance plans | 4.50% | 3.75% | 3.50% | |||
| Retirement Plan · OPEB Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| (in millions, except percentages) | ||||
| Change in Pension and Postretirement Benefit Obligations: | ||||
| Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period | $409 | $425 | $99 | $108 |
| Acquisitions | — | 23 | — | — |
| Service cost | 2 | 2 | — | 1 |
| Interest cost | 22 | 21 | 5 | 5 |
| Participant contributions | — | — | 3 | 3 |
| Actuarial (gain) loss | 13 | (24) | 3 | (7) |
| Benefits paid | (33) | (38) | (12) | (11) |
| Projected benefit obligation at end of year | $413 | $409 | $98 | $99 |
| Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year | $412 | $408 | $— | $— |
| Change in Plan Assets: | ||||
| Fair value of assets at beginning of period | $285 | $285 | $10 | $12 |
| Acquisitions | — | 18 | — | — |
| Employer contributions | 29 | 19 | 8 | 8 |
| Participant contributions | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| Actual gain on assets | 31 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Transfers | — | — | — | (2) |
| Benefits paid | (33) | (38) | (12) | (11) |
| Fair value of assets at end of year | $312 | $285 | $10 | $10 |
| Funded Status: | ||||
| Projected benefit obligation | $(413) | $(409) | $(98) | $(99) |
| Fair value of assets | 312 | 285 | 10 | 10 |
| Funded status at end of year | $(101) | $(124) | $(88) | $(89) |
| Retirement Plan · OPEB Plans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet Consist of: | ||||
| Investments | $1 | $1 | $2 | $2 |
| Other current liabilities | — | — | (8) | (8) |
| Other noncurrent liabilities | (102) | (125) | (82) | (83) |
| Net liability recognized | $(101) | $(124) | $(88) | $(89) |
| Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Consist of: | ||||
| Net actuarial gain | $(4) | $(5) | $(19) | $(22) |
| Prior services cost | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Net actuarial gain and prior service cost | $(4) | $(5) | $(18) | $(21) |
Fair Value Measurement of Pension and OPEB Plan Assets
Retirement Plan
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, all of the Retirement Plan assets were measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) except as noted and consisted of the following:
| December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (in millions) | ||
| Asset Category: | ||
| Cash commingled trusts | $8 | $6 |
| Equity securities: | ||
| Global equities | 95 | 86 |
| Fixed income securities: | ||
| Corporate bonds (a) | 79 | 79 |
| Government bonds | 55 | 42 |
| Other (b) | 29 | 28 |
| Real estate | 29 | 27 |
| Hedge funds | 17 | 17 |
| Total assets measured at net asset value | $312 | $285 |
(a)Substantially all corporate bonds are rated investment grade by a major ratings agency such as Moody's.
(b)Consists primarily of high-yield bonds, emerging market debt, bank loans, securitized bonds and private investment grade fixed income.
OPEB Plans
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Vistra OPEB plan assets measured at fair value totaled $10 million and $10 million, respectively. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, assets consisted of $6 million and $7 million, respectively, of commingled funds valued at net asset value and $4 million and $3 million, respectively, of municipal bond, short- and medium-duration bond, and cash equivalent mutual funds classified as Level 1.
Pension Plans with Projected Benefit Obligations (PBO) and Accumulated Benefit Obligations (ABO) in Excess of Plan Assets
The following table provides information regarding pension plans with PBO and ABO in excess of the fair value of plan assets.
| December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| (in millions) | ||
| Pension Plans with PBO and ABO in Excess of Plan Assets: | ||
| Projected benefit obligations | $413 | $409 |
| Accumulated benefit obligation | $412 | $408 |
| Plan assets | $312 | $285 |
Retirement Plan Investment Strategy and Asset Allocations
Our investment objective for the Retirement Plan is to invest in a suitable mix of assets to meet the future benefit obligations at an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the volatility of contributions. Fixed income securities held primarily consist of corporate bonds from a diversified range of companies, U.S. Treasuries and agency securities, and money market instruments. Equity securities are held to enhance returns by participating in a wide range of investment opportunities. International equity securities are used to further diversify the equity portfolio and may include investments in both developed and emerging markets. Real estate, hedge funds, and credit strategies (primarily high yield bonds and emerging market debt) provide additional portfolio diversification and return potential.
The target asset allocation ranges of pension plan investments by asset category are as follows:
| Retirement Plan | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Allocation Ranges | |||||||||
| Asset Category: · Vistra Plan · Dynegy Plan · Energy Harbor Plan | |||||||||
| Fixed income securities | 50% | - | 70% | 40% | - | 50% | 52% | - | 72% |
| Global equity securities | 20% | - | 28% | 28% | - | 38% | 22% | - | 30% |
| Real estate | 2% | - | 6% | 4% | - | 8% | 4% | - | 8% |
| Credit strategies | 2% | - | 6% | 4% | - | 8% | 3% | - | 7% |
| Hedge funds | 2% | - | 6% | 4% | - | 8% | 1% | - | 2% |
| Infrastructure funds | 2% | - | 6% | 4% | - | 8% | |||
Retirement Plan Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Assets Assumption
The Retirement Plan strategic asset allocation is determined in conjunction with the plan's advisors and utilizes a comprehensive Asset-Liability modeling approach to evaluate potential long-term outcomes of various investment strategies. The study incorporates long-term rate of return assumptions for each asset class based on historical and future expected asset class returns, current market conditions, rate of inflation, current prospects for economic growth, and taking into account the diversification benefits of investing in multiple asset classes and potential benefits of employing active investment management.
| Retirement Plan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Long-Term Rate of Return | |||
| Asset Class: | Vistra Plan | Dynegy Plan | Energy Harbor Plan |
| Fixed income securities | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.3% |
| Global equity securities | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% |
| Real estate | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Credit strategies | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Hedge funds | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% |
| Infrastructure funds | 8.0% | 8.0% | |
| Weighted average | 6.1% | 6.0% | 5.8% |
Benefit Plan Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates
The following tables provide information regarding the assumed health care cost trend rates.
| December 31, | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates-Not Medicare Eligible: | ||
| Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year | 7.00% | 7.00% |
| Rate to which the cost trend is expected to decline (the ultimate trend rate) | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate | 2035 | 2034 |
| Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates-Medicare Eligible: | ||
| Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year (Vistra Plan) | 10.00% | 15.70% |
| Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year (Split-Participant Plan) | 9.90% | 13.80% |
| Rate to which the cost trend is expected to decline (the ultimate trend rate) | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate | 2035 | 2034 |
Significant Concentrations of Risk
The plans' investments are exposed to risks such as interest rate, capital market and credit risks. We seek to optimize return on investment consistent with levels of liquidity and investment risk which are prudent and reasonable, given prevailing capital market conditions and other factors specific to us. While we recognize the importance of return, investments will be diversified in order to minimize the risk of large losses unless, under the circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so. There are also various restrictions and guidelines in place including limitations on types of investments allowed and portfolio weightings for certain investment securities to assist in the mitigation of the risk of large losses.
Assumed Discount Rate
We selected the assumed discount rates using the Aon AA Above Median yield curve, which is based on corporate bond yields and at December 31, 2025 consisted of 542 corporate bonds with an average rating of AA using Moody's, S&P and Fitch ratings.
Contributions
Contributions to the Retirement Plan for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 totaled $29 million, $19 million, andzero, respectively, and contributions in 2026 are expected to total $13 million. OPEB plan funding for each of the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 totaled $8 million, $8 million, and $9 million, respectively, and funding in 2026 is expected to total $8 million.
Future Benefit Payments
Estimated future benefit payments to beneficiaries are as follows:
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031-2035 | |||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension benefits | $35 | $43 | $32 | $32 | $32 | $148 | ||||
| OPEB | $9 | $9 | $8 | $8 | $8 | $36 | ||||
Qualified Savings Plans
Our employees may participate in a qualified savings plan (the Thrift Plan). This plan is a participant-directed defined contribution plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code and is subject to the provisions of ERISA. Under the terms of the Thrift Plan, employees who do not earn more than the IRS threshold compensation limit used to determine highly compensated employees may contribute, through pre-tax salary deferrals and/or after-tax payroll deductions, the lesser of 75% of their regular salary or wages or the maximum amount permitted under applicable law. Employees who earn more than such threshold may contribute from 1% to 20% of their regular salary or wages. Employer matching contributions are also made in an amount equal to 100% (75% for employees covered under the traditional formula in the Retirement Plan) of the first 6% of employee contributions. Employer matching contributions are made in cash and may be allocated by participants to any of the plan's investment options.
Aggregate employer contributions to the qualified savings plans totaled $45 million, $46 million, and $33 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.