3 Nuclear Stocks That Could Make Big Moves in 2026

Core Insights - Nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence as a viable clean energy source, projected to become the world's second-largest low carbon electricity source by 2024, with U.S. generation capacity expected to quadruple by 2050 [1][2]. Company Summaries 1. Oklo - Oklo is developing a small, fast-spectrum reactor named Aurora, capable of supplying up to 75 megawatts of electric power, suitable for data centers [4]. - The reactor is designed to operate on high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), allowing for up to 10 years of operation without refueling [5]. - Currently pre-revenue and awaiting regulatory approval, Oklo is part of a government program to expedite the permitting process, aiming to activate its first reactor by mid-2026 [7]. 2. Centrus Energy - Centrus Energy is the only U.S. company licensed to produce HALEU, making it a critical partner for Oklo [8]. - The company primarily generates revenue from low-enriched uranium (LEU) sales, with some procurement from foreign sources [10]. - Centrus has a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to produce HALEU through June 30, 2026, with options for eight additional years, positioning it as a key supplier for the domestic HALEU market [11]. 3. NuScale Power - NuScale is designing small modular reactors (SMRs) and has received design approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, marking it as the first and only SMR to achieve this [12]. - The company is currently engaged in front-end engineering work for Romania's first SMR power plant, with a decision on full construction expected by mid-2026 [13]. - Like Oklo and Centrus, NuScale's technology remains unproven at a commercial scale, indicating potential volatility as it seeks to generate revenue [14].