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LEU vs. UUUU: Which Uranium Stock is the Smarter Bet Right Now?
ZACKS·2025-08-22 14:31

Industry Overview - Centrus Energy (LEU) and Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU) are key players in the U.S. uranium industry, poised to benefit from the global shift towards nuclear energy as a clean power source [1] - Uranium prices have recently recovered to approximately $73.50 per pound, driven by increased optimism in nuclear power investments from major countries [2] - India aims to expand its nuclear capacity by 13 times by 2024, while the U.S. plans to increase its nuclear energy capacity from about 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050 [2] Centrus Energy (LEU) - Centrus Energy supplies components of nuclear fuel, particularly Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU), to commercial customers [4] - In Q2 2025, Centrus reported total revenues of $155 million, an 18% decline year-over-year, with LEU segment revenues down 26% to $125.7 million [6] - The company has a $3.6 billion revenue backlog from long-term contracts with major utilities through 2040 [7] - Centrus is the only U.S. company licensed for High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) production, with a contract extension from the DOE allowing production through June 30, 2026 [8] - The HALEU market is projected to grow from $0.26 billion in 2025 to $6.2 billion by 2035, prompting Centrus to expand production capacity [11] Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU) - Energy Fuels has been a leader in U.S. uranium production, accounting for about two-thirds of the output since 2017 [12] - The company reported Q2 revenues of approximately $4.2 million, a 52% year-over-year decline, primarily due to lower uranium sales [15] - Energy Fuels aims to mine between 875,000 and 1,435,000 pounds of uranium in 2025, with plans to process up to 1 million pounds this year [18] - The company expects to lower its cost of goods sold to approximately $23–$30 per pound of uranium, positioning itself among the lowest-cost producers globally [19][20] - Energy Fuels is also diversifying into rare earth elements (REEs) and has achieved significant milestones in producing dysprosium oxide [13] Financial Estimates and Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centrus Energy's 2025 revenues is $451.4 million, indicating a 2.1% growth, while UUUU's 2025 revenues are estimated at $40.8 million, reflecting a 48% drop [22][23] - Centrus Energy's stock has surged 166.2% year-to-date, while Energy Fuels has gained 83.3% [26] - Centrus is trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 6.66X, while Energy Fuels is significantly higher at 22.49X [27] - Centrus Energy's earnings estimates have moved higher for both 2025 and 2026, contrasting with downward revisions for Energy Fuels [24][29]