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Should You Buy Nuclear Energy Stocks in 2026?
The Motley Foolยท 2025-12-18 03:05
Core Insights - Wall Street is increasingly optimistic about nuclear power as a renewable energy source, particularly in light of the growing electricity demands driven by artificial intelligence (AI) [1][2] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The demand for electricity generation in the United States is expected to exceed $1 trillion in capital investments from now until 2029, largely due to AI [3] - Nuclear energy stocks, particularly Oklo and NuScale Power, have seen significant stock price increases, with Oklo rising 733% and NuScale Power increasing 65.6% over the last three years [8] Group 2: Company Profiles - Oklo is developing a small nuclear reactor that utilizes recycled nuclear waste and aims to serve direct-generation needs, such as military applications and data centers [4] - NuScale Power is constructing a small modular reactor (SMR) that has received design approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) [5] - The standard SMR from NuScale Power is designed to generate 77 megawatts of electricity, contributing to the estimated need for 50 gigawatts of new electricity generation by 2030 [6] Group 3: Financial Performance - Oklo has never generated revenue and lacks an approved reactor design, while NuScale Power generates $64 million in revenue primarily from construction contracts [10] - Both companies are unprofitable, with Oklo reporting negative $68 million in free cash flow and NuScale Power showing negative $283 million [10] Group 4: Investment Considerations - The current investment interest in nuclear energy stocks is largely speculative, with both companies showing minimal revenue and significant cash burn [12] - As of December 15, 2025, both stocks have declined by 50% from their highs, indicating a potential downturn in the nuclear energy trade [13]