Constellation Energy Stock Up On Meta Deal. More AI Energy Plays Ahead

Core Viewpoint - The increasing demand for energy from data centers, particularly driven by generative AI, is expected to benefit nuclear power stocks, especially Constellation Energy, which has secured significant contracts with major tech companies like Microsoft and Meta [1][2][10]. Group 1: Energy Demand and Nuclear Power - Data center energy demand is projected to grow by 160% by 2030, with a significant portion attributed to AI-specific servers [1][5]. - In 2024, data centers consumed 200 terawatt-hours of energy, with AI-specific servers accounting for 27% to 38% of that total [5]. - By 2028, the share of electricity consumed by data centers in the U.S. is expected to triple from 4.4% to 12%, with AI's energy consumption rising at an average annual rate of 32.6% to reach 244 terawatt-hours [6]. Group 2: Constellation Energy's Position - Constellation Energy has seen its stock rise by 29% this year, driven by contracts to supply nuclear power to Microsoft and Meta [2][10]. - The company signed a 20-year agreement with Microsoft worth approximately $16 billion and a similar agreement with Meta for about 1.1 gigawatts of nuclear power starting in 2027 [10][11]. - Despite the positive contracts, Constellation's stock has experienced volatility, with analysts suggesting it may be overvalued [3][13]. Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The nuclear energy sector currently provides 20% of U.S. electricity, but this is expected to increase as demand for nuclear power grows [7]. - Major tech companies, including Meta, Amazon, and Google, have committed to tripling the world's nuclear capacity by 2050, although new capacity may take years to develop [9]. - Talen Energy, another player in the market, has potential upside if it can resolve regulatory issues related to its data center deal with AWS [17].