Why Did Fluor Stock Continue to Soar in February?

Core Viewpoint - Fluor Corp. has experienced a significant stock price increase, rising 13.2% in February and 32% over the past year, driven by growth in several sectors and a strong business backlog [1][2]. Group 1: Investment and Financial Performance - Fluor's stock surge is partly attributed to its successful investment in modular nuclear reactor start-up NuScale Power, with an initial investment of approximately $30 million in 2011 and a total of about $600 million over the next decade [3]. - The company has monetized its investment in NuScale, receiving $1.35 billion from a share sale in early 2026 and nearly $2 billion in total proceeds, with plans to sell the remaining 40 million shares in the second quarter [4]. Group 2: Shareholder Value Enhancement - Fluor is utilizing proceeds from its investments to enhance shareholder value through share buybacks, having repurchased nearly 17 million shares for over $700 million from late 2025 to February 13, 2026 [5]. - The board of directors has expanded the share repurchase program by authorizing an additional 30 million shares, totaling approximately 32.4 million shares available for repurchase, which represents over 20% of Fluor's outstanding shares [6]. - The company has reduced its share count by about 13% over the past year, increasing ownership for existing shareholders [7].