ZACKS·2025-12-17 18:51Industry Overview - Nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence due to rising electricity demand from data centers, AI workloads, and large-scale electrification, alongside energy security concerns and climate goals [1][2] - Governments are committing to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050, with the World Nuclear Association estimating that global nuclear capacity could reach 1,428 GWe, exceeding the target of 1,200 GWe [4] Uranium Market - The U.S. Geological Survey's inclusion of uranium on its 2025 Critical Minerals List underscores its strategic importance for national security and domestic supply chains [2] - Stocks such as Cameco Corp. (CCJ), Uranium Energy (UEC), and Centrus Energy (LEU) are positioned as key beneficiaries of the nuclear revival [2] Cameco Corp. (CCJ) - Cameco is one of the largest global providers of uranium, with a licensed capacity to produce over 30 million pounds annually and 457 million pounds of proven and probable mineral reserves [8] - The company has entered a strategic partnership with the U.S. Government to accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactor technologies, benefiting from the U.S. government's energy security goals [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cameco's fiscal 2025 earnings projects a 96% year-over-year growth, with a stock gain of 26.7% in the past six months [11] Uranium Energy (UEC) - UEC is advancing low-cost, in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining projects, transitioning from developer to producer with the restart of the Christensen Ranch ISR mine [12][13] - The acquisition of Rio Tinto's Sweetwater Complex has increased UEC's total licensed annual production capacity to 12.1 million pounds, the largest in the U.S. [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UEC's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a narrower loss of 10 cents, with a stock gain of 84.6% in the past six months [16] Centrus Energy (LEU) - Centrus Energy supplies nuclear fuel components and is the only licensed producer of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) in the Western world, which offers improved efficiency and lower waste [18] - The company plans to expand its uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, OH, contingent on securing funding from the U.S. Department of Energy [19] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Centrus Energy's 2025 earnings indicates a 2.46% year-over-year growth, with a stock gain of 37.1% in the past six months [22] Conclusion - The nuclear energy sector is poised for steady, policy-backed expansion, with Cameco, Uranium Energy, and Centrus Energy providing diversified exposure across uranium mining, fuel services, and advanced enrichment technologies [23]