Was Jim Cramer Right Admitting He Underestimated Vistra (VST)’s AI Power Potential?

We recently published a list of Jim Cramer Nailed These 11 Stock Predictions. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses.

In that older episode, Jim Cramer revisited Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) after a viewer question and admitted he had previously underestimated the stock. He discussed the company’s transformation into a clean energy powerhouse and its pivotal role in powering AI data centers, a theme he believed was just beginning to take off at the time. Here’s his full older analysis:

“We actually got a call about this one before and it even turned into a homework assignment, but while I was generally positive on the story, I clearly wasn’t bullish enough. Nobody’s been bullish enough on this one. […]

Right now, we’re in the midst of an enormous AI infrastructure buildout… meaning tons and tons of data centers that practically devour electricity… and that’s where the independent power producers come in—especially the ones that can provide clean energy like Vistra or Constellation Energy. […]

That AI data center power demand story is a huge driver of the stock’s strength. Vistra stock has been such a juggernaut. Everything else flows from there. […]

Ideally, you wait for a pullback in these incredibly hot stocks before starting a position, but I’m certainly not going to tell you that the rallies are over. […]

Let me give you the bottom line here: we weren’t bullish enough on Vistra. We just weren’t. It’s an excellent story… gives you exposure to one of the best themes in the market right now. I know after working on this piece, I’m thinking about the same thing for my Charitable Trust.”

Solar panel workers installing a new farm for clean energy generation.

Cramer admitted he had underestimated Vistra and turned bullish just in time — the stock is up a huge +96.40%.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is a power generation and retail electricity company with a growing portfolio of nuclear, solar, and battery storage assets serving U.S. energy markets.

Interestingly, Cramer recently admitted that he doesn’t like energy stocks anymore. Here are his comments from April 9:

“Now, see, I never really, really care right now, honestly for the energy trade, because then Microsoft will say that it’s closing a data center. No one will like the group. So let’s stay away from the energy trade. It’s too much second derivative, so to speak.”

Overall, VST ranks 3rd on our list of stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. While we acknowledge the potential of VST as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.