Market Performance - The S&P 500 recorded its best May performance since 1990, rising over 6% in the month, marking its largest monthly gain since November 2023 [1] - SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) gained 6.3% over the past month, with five highlighted stocks gaining more than 25% [2] Key Drivers of Market Rally - The stock rally was primarily driven by a resurgence in tech stocks due to strong earnings and investor confidence in AI-driven growth [3] - Easing trade tensions contributed to market optimism, with the U.S. temporarily reducing tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, and China lowering retaliatory duties from 125% to 10% [4] - The U.S. Court of International Trade blocked much of Trump's existing tariff policy, providing a temporary boost to equities [5] - Economic data showed mixed signals, with the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure cooling and the U.S. labor market adding 177,000 jobs, while consumer spending showed signs of slowdown [6] SPY Fundamentals - SPY holds 503 stocks, with no single stock accounting for more than 7% of its assets, indicating a balanced portfolio [8] - The fund has an AUM of $603.5 billion, charges 9 bps in fees per year, and trades an average of 68 million shares daily [9] Best-Performing Stocks - NRG Energy Inc. saw a 36% increase in the past month, with a solid earnings estimate revision of 19 cents and an estimated growth of 10.54% [10] - Seagate Technology jumped about 28% in a month, with a positive earnings estimate revision of 8 cents and an estimated growth of 516.3% [11] - Constellation Energy gained 26.8% in a month, despite a negative earnings estimate revision of 7 cents, with an expected growth rate of 9% [12] - Insulet Corporation rose 26.5%, with a positive earnings estimate revision of 3 cents and an estimated growth rate of 33% [13] - Microchip Technology gained over 25% in a month, with a solid earnings estimate revision of 19 cents and expected earnings to break even this fiscal year [14]

Nuclear stocks are riding a wave — again. But this time, it's not just hype and hope. President Donald Trump's new executive orders have fueled interest in uranium mining and small modular reactors (SMRs).Additionally, with AI-driven power demand soaring, investors are now asking if names such as Cameco Corp CCJ, Constellation Energy Corp CEG and Nuscale Power Corp SMR stay hot — or fizzle?Read Also: Trump Sparks Uranium Frenzy: Nuclear ETFs See Explosive Gains"The energy needs of AI data centers and nation ...

Core Insights - Constellation Energy Inc's stock has increased by 45% in 2025 and is currently trading at $328.03 after a 20-year agreement to supply nuclear power to Meta Platforms' data centers [1] - The stock is approaching its record high of $352, previously reached on January 23, and is currently facing resistance around the $330 level [2] - The stock has a year-to-date gain of 47.2% and is trading above all relevant moving averages [2] Options Activity - Options trading volume for Constellation Energy is significantly high, with current volume running at five times the intraday average, including 20,000 calls and 11,000 puts traded [2] - The most popular options contract is the weekly 5/6 365-strike call, indicating bullish sentiment among traders [2] - Prior to the recent announcement, options traders were already bullish, with a call/put volume ratio of 2.27, placing it in the 99th percentile of annual readings [3] Volatility and Expectations - Constellation Energy's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) is at 94 out of 100, suggesting that the stock typically exceeds options traders' volatility expectations [3]

Core Insights - Meta Platforms has entered a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy Corporation for nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center, starting in 2027, to support its clean energy goals [1][3] - The deal will enable the Clinton Clean Energy Center to continue operations and contribute to the local grid, with Meta purchasing the plant's clean energy attributes to match 100% of its electricity use with clean and renewable energy [4] - The agreement will increase the nuclear plant's output by 30 megawatts through nuclear uprates, ensuring the preservation of over 1,000 jobs in the community [4][5] Industry Context - The deal reflects a growing trend among tech companies, including Meta, Microsoft, and Google, to seek nuclear energy as a reliable electricity source to support their expanding AI initiatives [7]

ToplineFacebook parent Meta announced an unprecedented deal with Constellation Energy, the largest American nuclear power plant operator, cementing Meta’s turn to turn to nuclear energy to power its energy intensive, generative artificial intelligence initiatives, and sending Constellation shares surging.AI has made nuclear energy hot again. Pictured is a Constellation nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Getty ImagesKey FactsMeta inked an agreement to buy all power produced in Constellation’s plant in Clinton, I ...

About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...

Market Overview - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.21%, S&P 500 futures down 0.14%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.04% [1] - European indices show mixed performance: DAX up 0.02%, FTSE 100 up 0.13%, CAC 40 down 0.24%, and Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.21% [2][3] - WTI crude oil increased by 0.66% to $62.93 per barrel, while Brent crude oil rose by 0.59% to $65.01 per barrel [3][4] Trade Policies and Economic Impact - The US government is urging countries to submit their best tariff proposals by Wednesday, aiming to accelerate trade negotiations ahead of a self-imposed deadline [5] - The OECD reports that Trump's trade policies have significantly impacted the US economy, leading to a downward revision of global growth forecasts from 3.3% to 2.9% for 2024, with the US growth forecast cut from 2.8% to 1.6% [6] - Trump's proposal to double tariffs on aluminum and steel to 50% has caused a surge in futures prices, with aluminum contracts rising 54% to the highest level since 2013 [6] Company News - NIO reported Q1 revenue of 12.035 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%, but below market expectations of 12.35 billion yuan; net loss widened by 30.2% to 6.75 billion yuan [7] - Constellation Energy has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta, which may support new reactor plans due to increased electricity demand from AI [7] - Merck's $3 billion acquisition offer for MoonLake was rejected, leading to a 20% pre-market surge in MoonLake's stock [8] - Uber appointed its first COO in six years to advance its autonomous driving strategy [8] - TSMC acknowledged some impact from US tariffs but noted strong AI demand continues to exceed supply [9]

Core Insights - Meta has signed a 20-year agreement to purchase nuclear power from Constellation Energy to meet the energy demands of its data centers [1] - The deal will provide Meta with approximately 1.1 gigawatts of energy from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, supporting the plant's operation and relicensing [2] - This partnership is part of a broader trend of tech companies collaborating with the nuclear industry to secure clean energy sources [4][5] Company-Specific Developments - The agreement will help maintain the Clinton plant's operation, which was at risk of closure due to the expiration of its zero-emission credit [2] - The deal will also expand the plant's output by 30 megawatts, although specific terms were not disclosed [3] - Meta's commitment to nuclear energy marks its first official engagement in this sector, following a request for proposals to find nuclear energy developers [6] Industry Trends - The collaboration between tech giants and the nuclear sector is increasing, with companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon also making significant investments in nuclear energy [4][5] - The U.S. government is pushing for faster regulatory approvals and aims to quadruple nuclear energy by 2050, which may benefit the industry [7][8] - Constellation is considering applying for a new permit to potentially build a small modular reactor at the Clinton site, indicating ongoing developments in nuclear energy infrastructure [9]

MARSEILLES, ILLINOIS - MAY 23: A sign sits at the entrance to Constellation Energy's LaSalle Clean ... More Energy Center nuclear power plant on May 23, 2025 near Marseilles, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Getty Images Constellation Energy Group (NASDAQ: CEG) has seen a significant boost in its stock performance over the past month. This surge is primarily fueled by investor excitement following recent executive orders from U.S. President Donald Trump. These orders aim to streamline the nuclea ...

Core Insights - The demand for clean electricity is sharply rising due to factors such as urbanization, industrial growth, and the increasing need for air conditioning and electric vehicles [1][2] - Nuclear energy is positioned as a reliable solution for consistent power supply, offering high-capacity factors and zero emissions, unlike solar and wind energy [2][3] Company Analysis - Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) is the largest nuclear power plant operator in the U.S., contributing approximately 10% of the nation's clean energy production, with a nuclear fleet capacity factor of 94.1% in Q1, up from 93.3% year-over-year [4] - Dominion Energy (D) is actively exploring next-generation nuclear technologies, including a partnership with Amazon to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which offer advantages like passive safety and scalability [5] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Constellation Energy's earnings per share for 2025 and 2026 has increased by 0.75% and 4.54%, respectively, over the past 60 days [7] - Dominion's earnings per share estimates have remained unchanged for 2025 but decreased by 0.56% for 2026 during the same period [9] Strategic Investment Plans - Constellation Energy plans capital expenditures of nearly $3 billion and $3.5 billion for 2025 and 2026, with 35% allocated for nuclear fuel acquisition [10] - Dominion intends to invest $10.8 billion in 2025 and $50 billion from 2025 to 2029 to enhance its renewable operations [10] Financial Metrics - Constellation Energy's return on equity (ROE) stands at 21.93%, significantly higher than Dominion's 9.51% [11] - The current dividend yield for Constellation Energy is 0.52%, while Dominion's is 4.74% [12] Investment Outlook - Both CEG and D are significant players in the energy sector, with substantial investments in nuclear power, presenting growth opportunities [14] - Constellation Energy is currently favored as a better investment option with a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), while Dominion holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [14]