Project Bidding Process - The bidding process for developing Small Modular Reactors took two years [1] - Bidders needed to demonstrate how they would add 'social value' [1] - Social value included providing jobs for illegal migrants [1] - Social value included plans for a 50/50 gender balance [1]

Core Insights - Nuclear energy is experiencing a global revival, with a goal to triple capacity by 2050, driven by the need for clean baseload power for electrification and artificial intelligence [1] - Oklo Inc. represents a high-risk, high-reward investment focused on small modular reactors, while Southern Company offers stability and proven returns through its established nuclear operations [2] Group 1: Company Profiles - Oklo is an innovative company with a focus on Aurora microreactors aimed at providing compact nuclear power solutions for various sectors, projecting a pipeline of 14 GW that could yield $5 billion in annual revenues by 2028 [3] - Southern Company is a regulated utility with a long history of dividend stability, having delivered 78 years of dividends and 24 consecutive years of increases, appealing to income-focused investors [6] Group 2: Financial Performance - Oklo is currently pre-revenue, with its first unit expected to generate power by 2027 or 2028, facing significant regulatory and construction challenges [4] - Southern Company generates nearly $27 billion annually and reported an EPS of $4.05 in 2024, showcasing its operational scale and stability [10] Group 3: Market Performance - Oklo's stock has surged over 400% year-to-date, driven by investor enthusiasm for small modular reactors, while Southern Company has seen a modest 15% gain [11] - Valuation metrics indicate Oklo trades at a high price-to-book ratio of 22.15X, reflecting speculative growth expectations, whereas Southern Company trades at a more stable 2.79X P/B [12] Group 4: Earnings Outlook - Southern Company's EPS is projected to grow by 5.4% in 2025 and 7.4% in 2026, indicating steady growth [14] - Oklo, while pre-revenue, is expected to show a volatile earnings trajectory with a projected growth of 32.4% in 2025 followed by a decline of 10.6% in 2026 [17] Group 5: Conclusion - Both companies are linked to nuclear power but cater to different investment profiles; Oklo offers high-risk potential with future commercialization, while Southern Company provides dependable income and steady growth from its established nuclear fleet [18]

Industry Focus - Some governments, companies, and billionaires believe a more agile approach to nuclear power can help meet the electricity demands of AI data centers [1] Technology & Energy - The report highlights the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) [1]

Industry Outlook - Many new ideas for small reactors will fail [1] - For one firm, burial would be just the start, implying potential for long-term success despite initial failures [1]

What is the opportunity here for you as a business. Huge opportunities, you see. And I say more the size of that market.We think the addressable market is about 400 equivalents of the same ours huge opportunity coming forward. As you think about how you we're going to support energy resilience going forward, it has to figure we have a leading position in that market. As you said, we won the contract with the U.K. government for the first three small modular reactors. We've actually won a contract with the C ...

Company Overview - Oklo, a nuclear startup, has seen a remarkable increase of 265% in 2025, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 10% rise, driven by federal project approvals, rising energy demands from AI and data infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and a favorable regulatory environment for nuclear energy [2] - The company operates the Aurora reactor, a small, fast-neutron reactor generating between 15–75 megawatts, suitable for powering data centers, industrial facilities, military bases, or isolated towns, featuring integrated safety, nuclear fuel recycling, and improved efficiency with High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium fuel [4] Business Model - Instead of selling reactors, Oklo plans to provide electricity through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), managing operations from construction to output, with current clients including the U.S. Air Force and Wyoming Hyperscale data centers [5] Growth Drivers - Key developments driving Oklo's momentum include a long-term PPA for deploying its Aurora microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base, increased investor interest in small modular reactors due to rising energy demands from AI, and a collaboration with Vertiv to explore nuclear-powered cooling systems at Idaho National Laboratory for large-scale data center applications [6][7] - Oklo's market capitalization stands at approximately $11.4 billion, with a current ratio improving to –13× from –32× in late 2024, despite reporting no revenue and an operating loss of $17.9 million in Q2, while maintaining over $680 million in liquidity for its anticipated Aurora reactor rollout in late 2027 or early 2028 [6][7]

Core Insights - NuScale Power's stock has experienced significant volatility, trading between approximately $7 and $51 over the past year, with a notable 58% drawdown despite a 400% increase overall [1][2][8] Company Overview - NuScale Power primarily generates revenue through consulting services for Fluor, a major construction company, which is also a significant investor in NuScale [3] - The consulting work is related to a project with RoPower, a Romanian power company, which is expected to be the first customer for NuScale's small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) [3] Technology and Market Opportunity - The company aims to manufacture SMRs, which are designed to scale down existing nuclear power technology, making it more cost-effective and easier to build in a factory setting [4][5] - SMRs are expected to incorporate modern safety features and can be deployed closer to population centers, potentially transforming the nuclear power landscape [5] - There is a projected 55% increase in electricity demand in the U.S. from 2020 to 2040, compared to only a 9% increase from 2000 to 2020, indicating a significant market opportunity for SMRs [6] Investment Considerations - The volatility of NuScale's stock may be attributed to market sentiment and the potential for the stock price to outpace the company's actual performance [8] - Currently, NuScale is not profitable and is in the process of building its business, with RoPower not yet officially committed as a customer [9] - The successful transition from zero production to supplying RoPower with six SMRs is critical, and failure to meet this milestone could lead to a significant drop in stock value [10] - Securing RoPower as a customer could pave the way for additional clients, but uncertainties remain regarding the company's future performance [11] Investor Profile - NuScale Power is likely to attract only a small number of aggressive investors who are optimistic about the company's potential and willing to invest for the long term [12]

When will Western countries start building small modular reactors? The Zero podcast explores the future of nuclear power https://t.co/sx7LGXnyEm ...

Energy Sector - Curtiss-Wright's energy portfolio, specifically commercial nuclear, is a growing segment, currently contributing just over 10%, specifically 12% [2][3] - The company supports every nuclear power plant operating in the US, Canada, and the UK, aiding in safe, reliable operations and plant life extensions from 60 to 80 years [4] - Curtiss-Wright is collaborating with major Small Modular Reactor (SMR) players like X-energy, Terrapower, and Rolls-Royce, potentially securing $20 million to over $120 million of content per reactor [5] - The company anticipates $1.5 billion of business driven by Eastern Europe, with potential for ten large reactors under construction in the US by 2030 [6][7] Defense Sector - Priorities in the 2026 US defense budget, including shipbuilding funding, industrial base, army modernization, and Air Force dominance, present opportunities for Curtiss-Wright [9] - Curtiss-Wright has partnered with Nvidia, gaining access to embedded computing, networking, and AI technology to enhance computing capabilities on the battlefield [11] - The company aims to enable computing at the tactical edge, using data from sensors to make actions and benefit soldiers [12] Acquisition and Capital Allocation - Acquisitions are Curtiss-Wright's top priority for capital allocation [13] - A share buyback was announced due to potential acquisition targets not meeting strategic and financial criteria [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Ameresco reported a strong financial performance with second quarter revenue growing 8% and adjusted EBITDA increasing 24% year-over-year [15][17] - Net income attributable to common shareholders was $12.9 million, or $0.24 per share, with non-GAAP EPS of $0.27, reflecting a 30% growth compared to last year [17] - Total project backlog increased 16% to a record $5.1 billion, with contracted project backlog rising 46% to $2.4 billion [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Projects revenue grew 8%, driven by strong performance across geographies, particularly from a European joint venture [15][16] - Energy asset revenue grew 18%, supported by an increase in operating assets, which now total approximately 750 megawatts [16] - Recurring O&M revenue maintained steady growth, while revenue from other business lines declined due to the divestiture of the AEG business [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Europe now accounts for approximately 20% of the total project backlog, indicating significant growth potential in that region [10] - The company is well diversified across public and private customers, with independent power producers now representing over 20% of the total project backlog [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Ameresco's strategy focuses on diversification across customer base, technology portfolio, and geographic reach to capitalize on growth opportunities [10][11] - The company is investing in human capital and technology, including small modular reactors and battery storage, to stay ahead of market trends [12] - The management highlighted the importance of energy infrastructure solutions in response to increasing electricity demand and utility rates [6][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the improved business environment with the federal government and ongoing federal contracts [13][88] - The company anticipates continued growth driven by rising electricity prices and the need for reliable energy supply [7][8] - Ameresco reaffirmed its guidance for 2025, indicating confidence in future performance despite potential regulatory changes [21] Other Important Information - The company raised approximately $170 million in new project financing during the quarter, including a $78 million note issuance [19] - Ameresco has a claim of approximately $27 million against a battery supplier that recently filed for bankruptcy, but this is not expected to impact project execution [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Cash generation and net leverage perspective - Management indicated comfort with current leverage levels and expects to potentially reduce leverage as EBITDA grows and project collections occur [28] Question: Contracted backlog conversion trends - The increase in contracted backlog is driven by expanded service offerings and higher market demand, with margins trending positively [31][34] Question: Data center infrastructure exposure - Ameresco is actively working on energy supply projects for data centers, addressing the power shortage driven by new AI loads [36] Question: Equipment supply impact on growth - Supply tightness exists for certain equipment, but the company has managed to avoid delays in project implementation [42] Question: European operations strategy - Ameresco is focusing on organic growth in Europe while remaining open to acquisitions, particularly in battery storage and solar [46][47] Question: Federal business outlook - Management expressed optimism about federal contracts and the value proposition of energy savings in infrastructure upgrades [88][90] Question: Energy asset deployment guidance - The company maintains guidance of deploying 100 to 120 megawatts of energy assets by year-end, with expectations for a stronger Q4 [51][94] Question: RNG business outlook - Ameresco remains positive about the RNG business, especially with the ability to monetize investment tax credits [65] Question: SMR partnership with Terrestrial Energy - The partnership aims to explore next-generation firm energy solutions, with projects expected to take several years to develop [68]