Bear of the Day: NuScale Power (SMR)

Core Insights - NuScale Power is a $5 billion provider of advanced nuclear small modular reactor (SMR) technology, facing significant financial challenges after reporting a Q3 loss of $1.85 per share, wider than the previous year's loss of 18 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 11 cents [1][2] - The company's EPS Consensus for the year has been revised from -$0.50 to -$1.64, indicating an annual loss increase of over 490% [2] - Despite reporting revenues of $8.24 million for the quarter, a 1,635% increase from $0.48 million year-over-year, this figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.7% [2] Financial Performance - Operating expenses surged by 1,213.5% year-over-year to $541.15 million, while gross margin decreased to 32.9% from 37.9% [13] - The company reported an operating loss of $538.44 million, significantly wider than the loss of $41.02 million reported in the same quarter last year [14] - As of September 30, 2025, NuScale had cash and cash equivalents of $692.1 million, up from $420.7 million as of June 30, 2025 [14] Strategic Developments - NuScale's technology design is the first and only SMR to receive certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), positioning it favorably in the market [5][9] - The company is involved in a significant partnership with ENTRA1 Energy, which is set to receive up to $25 billion in investment capital under a $550 billion U.S.-Japan Framework Agreement aimed at expanding energy infrastructure [5][6] - This initiative is expected to support the growing energy demand from AI data centers and manufacturing, while also creating thousands of jobs and enhancing U.S. energy independence [7][8] Market Dynamics - The SMR industry is gaining traction, with strong support from both the U.S. and Japan, as well as increasing interest due to the anticipated demand for energy solutions [9][10] - However, the stock has experienced volatility, with a significant sell-off attributed to the planned monetization of shares by major shareholder Fluor, which holds approximately 39% of the company [11][12] - The stock price fell from $53 to $33 in October but showed some recovery, indicating potential investor interest despite ongoing financial challenges [12]