Where Will Cameco Stock Be in 3 Years?

Core Insights - Cameco, a leading uranium miner, has seen its stock price surge approximately 250% over the past three years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which rose 60% during the same period [1] Company Overview - Cameco is based in Canada and operates uranium mines and mills in Canada, the U.S., and Kazakhstan, accounting for roughly 17% of the world's uranium production in 2024, making it the second-largest uranium miner after Kazatomprom [2] Historical Performance - From 2011 to 2021, Cameco's annual revenue declined from $2.41 billion to $1.18 billion, with no revenue growth during that decade, primarily due to the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster in 2011, which led to a global drop in uranium prices [4] - Uranium's spot price fell from over $70 per pound before the Fukushima disaster to below $20 in 2017, forcing Cameco to suspend operations at its largest mines and reduce production [5] Recent Recovery - Between 2021 and 2024, Cameco's revenue experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% in Canadian dollar terms, with gross margins expanding into double digits over the past two years [6] - Revenue growth rates were reported at 27% in 2022, 39% in 2023, and 21% in 2024 [7] Market Dynamics - The recovery in Cameco's performance was driven by a significant increase in uranium spot prices, which rose from $29.63 in January 2021 to $78.50 in June 2024, prompting the company to restart mining operations at McArthur River and Key Lake in 2022 [8] - Several factors contributed to the rise in uranium prices, including reduced global supply due to production cuts by Cameco and Kazatomprom, alongside increased demand as countries resumed nuclear energy projects [10] Strategic Developments - In late 2023, Cameco partnered with Brookfield Asset Management to acquire a 49% stake in Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear power plant designer and builder, which is expected to stabilize its core mining business [9] - Global challenges, such as sanctions on Russia and supply chain issues in Kazakhstan and Niger, have further tightened uranium supply, benefiting Cameco [11] Future Outlook - Analysts predict that uranium prices will continue to rise as demand outpaces supply, with the growth of cloud and AI data centers driving interest in next-generation nuclear energy solutions [12] - Cameco's stake in Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) could position it as a comprehensive provider in the nuclear power sector, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) projecting a potential 2.5 times increase in global nuclear capacity from 2024 to 2050 [13] - From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Cameco's revenue to grow at a CAGR of 8% in Canadian dollar terms, with adjusted EBITDA projected to grow at a CAGR of 16% [14]