Core Insights - Mr. Mavroudis is a professional portfolio manager with a focus on risk management and in-depth financial market analysis [1] - He has successfully navigated major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the PSI [1] - Mr. Mavroudis is the CEO of FAST FINANCE Investment Services, a registered Greek company [1] Company Profile - FAST FINANCE Investment Services is registered with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission [1] - The company specializes in managing institutional and private portfolios globally across various financial instruments [1] - Mr. Mavroudis holds multiple advanced degrees and certifications, enhancing the company's credibility in financial management [1] Professional Background - Mr. Mavroudis has published three books on investments and writes daily articles for reputable financial media [1] - He is a certified portfolio manager and analyst for financial instruments, as well as a specialist in derivatives and securities market-making [1] - His educational background includes an MSc in Financial and Banking Management, an LLM in Law, and a BSc in Economics, graduating as valedictorian [1]

Industry Overview - The AI-powered data center industry is experiencing significant growth, with nuclear energy emerging as a key solution to meet rising global electricity demand and transition to cleaner energy sources [1] - President Donald Trump has issued four executive orders to modernize the U.S. nuclear sector, aiming to increase nuclear capacity from approximately 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050 [2] Company Performance - Mirion Technologies Inc. reported adjusted EPS of $0.11 and revenues of $222.9 million, exceeding estimates by 4.2% [6][10] - BWX Technologies Inc. achieved adjusted EPS of $1.02 and revenues of $764.04 million, surpassing estimates by 6.7% [12][10] - GE Vernova Inc. posted quarterly earnings of $1.86 per share and revenues of $9.11 billion, exceeding estimates by 3.3% [24][10] Future Outlook - Mirion Technologies expects revenue growth of 7% to 9% year-over-year in 2025, with adjusted EPS projected at $0.48 to $0.52 [7] - BWX Technologies anticipates total revenues of $3.1 billion in 2025, an increase from the previous estimate of $3 billion [12] - GE Vernova forecasts 2025 revenues to trend toward the upper end of $36–37 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin projected to grow to 8–9% [25] Market Demand and Trends - The demand for nuclear energy is significantly boosting the need for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the sector [3] - Mirion Technologies is focusing on digital innovation in radiation safety solutions, partnering with Westinghouse Electric Company [9] - BWX Technologies is benefiting from strong bookings and government contracts, with a total backlog reaching $6 billion, up 70% year-over-year [17] Strategic Initiatives - Mirion Technologies is expanding its reach in next-generation nuclear energy by collaborating with small modular reactor developers [8] - BWX Technologies is working with the U.S. government on advanced nuclear reactor projects and has secured new contracts in the defense market [19] - GE Vernova is enhancing its nuclear power business through collaborations for the deployment of its BWX-300 small modular reactors [28][29]

Core Viewpoint - Nuclear energy stocks, particularly BWX Technologies, are gaining attention due to strong earnings and potential involvement in lunar nuclear reactor projects [1][3][4]. Group 1: Company Performance - BWX Technologies reported strong Q2 earnings, significantly beating Wall Street expectations, which contributed to an 18% increase in stock price on August 5 [3][4]. - The company increased its full-year 2025 guidance for both sales and adjusted earnings per share [4]. - BWX has achieved a 62% return in 2025, highlighting its strong performance compared to other nuclear stocks [2]. Group 2: Market Sentiment and Future Prospects - Sean Duffy, Acting NASA Administrator, expressed ambitions to establish a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, which has sparked interest in BWX as a potential supplier [5][6]. - BWX's Government Operations segment, which focuses on nuclear propulsion systems, generated 77% of its total revenue in Q2, indicating strong ties to government contracts [7]. - Analysts have a bearish outlook on BWX, with a consensus price target of approximately $142, suggesting a potential downside of nearly 21% from its August 12 closing price [10][11]. Group 3: Long-Term Opportunities - Despite short-term bearish sentiment, the potential for lunar nuclear reactors presents a long-term opportunity for BWX, as indicated by Duffy's comments on extending human presence to the Moon and Mars [12]. - BWX has an existing relationship with NASA, having previously secured an $18.8 million deal, which positions it favorably for future contracts related to lunar projects [8][9]. - The market may be undervaluing BWX's long-term prospects, as the ambitions for lunar energy could extend beyond the immediate future [12][13].

Core Viewpoint - The nuclear power sector experienced a decline on Thursday, with notable drops in stock prices for several companies in the industry [1] Company Summaries - Duke Energy (DUK.US) saw a decrease of 0.69% in its stock price [1] - BWX Technologies (BWXT.US) reported a decline of 0.87% [1] - Oklo Inc (OKLO.US) experienced a significant drop of over 6.9% [1] - NuScale Power (SMR.US) fell by more than 5.3% [1]

Group 1 - The Value Lab focuses on long-only value investment strategies, aiming to identify mispriced international equities with a target portfolio yield of approximately 4% [1][2] - The SPDR® Bloomberg International Treasury Bond ETF (BWX) is highlighted as a higher-duration international government bond portfolio, with a significant allocation towards Japanese bonds, which are known for high debt rates [2] - The Valkyrie Trading Society consists of analysts who share high-conviction investment ideas in developed markets, emphasizing downside protection and the potential for non-correlated, outsized returns in the current economic climate [3]

Company Overview - BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) has experienced a significant gap up in stock price due to strong earnings and a potential plan by President Trump to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 [10] - BWXT is one of the 12 nuclear stocks on the list and supplies nuclear reactors to the U.S. Navy [10] Market Sentiment - There is extreme positive sentiment in the stock market, particularly towards nuclear stocks, driven by the potential moon reactor plan [10] - Other nuclear stocks such as Oklo Inc (OKLO), Nuscale Power Corp (SMR), Centrus Energy Corp (LEU), and Nano Nuclear Energy Inc (NNE) have also seen aggressive buying [10] Earnings Reports - Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) reported strong earnings but fell short of whisper numbers, leading to a 6% decline in premarket trading [10] - McDonald's Corp (MCD) and Shopify Inc (SHOP) reported earnings better than consensus and whisper numbers, while Walt Disney Co (DIS), Uber Technologies Inc (UBER), and Amgen Inc (AMGN) reported earnings below whisper numbers [10] Economic Indicators - The ISM Services data came in at 50.1%, below the consensus of 51.5%, indicating potential economic contraction [10] - The prices subindex was reported at 69.9, and the employment subindex at 46.4, contributing to concerns about stagflation [10] Investment Strategies - Investors are advised to consider protection bands consisting of cash or Treasury bills, as well as short to medium-term hedges [11] - A traditional 60/40 portfolio may need to focus on high-quality bonds and bonds of five years duration or less, given the current market conditions [15]

Core Viewpoint - The nuclear power sector experienced a significant increase in stock prices, driven by positive earnings guidance from BWX Technologies for the fiscal year 2025 [1] Company Summaries - BWX Technologies (BWXT.US) saw its stock rise over 16% after raising its earnings guidance for the fiscal year 2025 [1] - Oklo Inc (OKLO.US) experienced a stock increase of over 8.5% [1] - NuScale Power (SMR.US) had a stock price increase of over 3.6% [1] - Duke Energy (DUK.US) saw its stock rise by over 2% [1]

Core Insights - BWX Technologies reported strong Q2 2025 results, with revenue of $764.0 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $711.1 million, and non-GAAP EPS of $1.02, surpassing the consensus of $0.79 [1][2] - The company's backlog reached a record $6.0 billion, prompting an increase in revenue and earnings forecasts for 2025 [1][8] - Despite strong overall growth, challenges in commercial profit margins were noted, particularly due to raw material cost pressures [1][5] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS for Q2 2025 was $1.02, a 24% increase from $0.82 in Q2 2024 [2] - GAAP revenue was $764.0 million, reflecting a 12% year-over-year growth from $681.5 million [2] - Adjusted EBITDA rose 16% to $145.9 million compared to $126.2 million in Q2 2024 [2][7] - Free cash flow significantly improved to $126.3 million from $35.5 million in Q2 2024, marking a 256.1% increase [2][7] Business Segments - BWX Technologies operates in two main segments: Government Operations and Commercial Operations [3] - Government Operations generated $589.0 million in GAAP revenue, up 9% year-over-year, with a record backlog of $4.44 billion [5] - Commercial Operations reported revenue of $176.1 million, a 24% increase from Q2 2024, but faced a 59% drop in operating income due to unfavorable project mix and increased costs [5] Strategic Developments - The acquisition of Kinectrics in May 2025 aims to enhance BWXT's capabilities in nuclear lifecycle services and radiopharmaceuticals [6] - The consolidated order backlog reached a record $6.0 billion, supported by recent acquisitions [6] - The company is expanding manufacturing capabilities, including scaling up operations at its Cambridge facility in Canada [6] Financial Outlook - Management raised its 2025 financial guidance, projecting revenue near $3.1 billion and non-GAAP EPS of $3.65–$3.75 [8] - Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be between $565 million and $575 million, with free cash flow guidance increased to $275–$285 million [8] - Key factors to monitor include margin recovery in Commercial Operations and the integration of newly acquired businesses [8]

Company Performance - BWX Technologies (BWXT) reported quarterly earnings of $1.02 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.79 per share, and up from $0.82 per share a year ago, adjusted for non-recurring items [1] - The earnings surprise for this quarter was +29.11%, following a previous quarter where earnings were $0.91 per share against an expectation of $0.73, resulting in a surprise of +24.66% [2] - The company achieved revenues of $764.04 million for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.73%, and an increase from $681.47 million year-over-year [3] Stock Performance - BWX shares have increased approximately 34.2% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 6.1% [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.87 on revenues of $786.52 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.55 on revenues of $3.05 billion [8] Industry Outlook - The Aerospace - Defense Equipment industry, to which BWX belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [9] - The performance of BWX may be influenced by the overall outlook of the industry, as research indicates that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The second quarter revenue was $764 million, up 12% year-over-year, with organic revenue growth of 4% excluding acquisitions [19][20] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $146 million, a 16% year-over-year growth, driven by strong performance in government operations [20][22] - Adjusted earnings per share rose to $1.02, reflecting a 24% increase, supported by lower tax rates and foreign currency gains [20][26] - Free cash flow for the quarter was robust at $126 million, aided by effective working capital management [21][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Government operations revenue grew by 9%, with adjusted EBITDA up 23% to $133 million, yielding an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.6% [22][23] - Commercial operations reported revenue growth of 24%, but organic revenue was down 3%, primarily due to a decline in commercial power [23][24] - The backlog increased to $6 billion, a 23% quarter-over-quarter and 70% year-over-year growth, with organic book-to-bill at 2.2 [7][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Demand across global security, clean energy, and medical end markets is accelerating, with significant growth opportunities identified [6][28] - The naval propulsion business is expected to maintain a revenue CAGR of 3% to 5% over the long term, supported by recent pricing agreements [9][10] - The commercial power segment is experiencing strong demand, particularly in the Candu market, with ongoing life extensions and potential new builds [17][18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing capabilities in the nuclear market through both organic and inorganic investments, including the recent acquisition of Kinetrix [6][28] - Strategic priorities include operational excellence and expanding service offerings in nuclear power and energy infrastructure markets [6][10] - The company anticipates significant growth in advanced nuclear fuel opportunities and is well-positioned to capture emerging market demands [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong operational performance and backlog, indicating a positive outlook for the remainder of the year [28][26] - The company is raising its guidance for revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and earnings per share, reflecting better-than-expected operational performance [26][27] - Management noted that while the second half may see some normalization in performance, the overall operational conditions remain strong [102][103] Other Important Information - The company is actively pursuing advanced nuclear fuel opportunities and has received government support for various projects [11][90] - The recent reconciliation bill is expected to provide additional funding for nuclear programs, enhancing the company's growth prospects [90][91] Q&A Session Summary Question: Clarification on $29 million favorable contract adjustment - The $29 million relates to a special materials contract, with part included in the original guidance but more favorable than anticipated [31][32] Question: Opportunities for securing content on new build AP1000s - The company has an MOU with Westinghouse to potentially manufacture components for AP1000 reactors, with significant opportunities expected [33][34] Question: Impact of Kevin McCoy's appointment as Chief Nuclear Officer - Kevin McCoy is seconded to the Department of Defense, and his role is to assist with nuclear shipbuilding, while Joe Miller has been promoted to President of Government Operations [41][42] Question: Drivers of improved government operations margins - Margins were positively impacted by strong operating performance and favorable contract performance, with expectations for continued strong performance [42][43] Question: Revenue recognition for the first reactor in Darlington - Revenue for the X300 reactor is expected to be evenly distributed over a four-year period, with significant opportunities for additional reactors [92][93] Question: Growth in backlog and organic vs acquisition contributions - The majority of the backlog growth was organic, with approximately $240 million attributed to acquisitions [108] Question: Impact of critical minerals shortages - The company is not experiencing significant pressure from critical minerals, managing commodity risks effectively [109][110]