Key facts
- Nuclear energy stocks have seen significant losses over the past year.
- The Global X Uranium ETF (URA) is down over 20% in the last 12 months.
- NuScale Power Corp. (SMR) has lost approximately 82% of its value in the past year.
- Oklo Inc. (OKLO) is down roughly 75% over the past year.
- Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE) has fallen nearly 68% in the past year.
- Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU) has dropped about 62% over the past year.
Nuclear energy stocks have experienced a challenging year, with the Global X Uranium ETF (URA) declining over 20%, while the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) gained more than 40%. This underperformance is attributed to investor concerns over valuations, financing needs, and lengthy development timelines for companies that have yet to achieve significant commercial revenue. Companies like NuScale Power Corp. (SMR), Oklo Inc. (OKLO), and Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE) have seen substantial drops in their stock values, losing 82%, 75%, and 68% respectively over the past year. Despite these setbacks, these companies are developing technologies that could meet the growing demand for nuclear power, particularly from AI data centers. NuScale received design approval for its SMR technology in May 2025 but continues to incur costs toward commercial deployment. Oklo, backed by Sam Altman, announced an agreement with Meta Platforms in January to develop a 1.2-gigawatt nuclear campus in Ohio, with initial generation targeted for 2030. Nano Nuclear is working on portable microreactors but also faces a long path to commercialization. Uranium fuel suppliers and miners have also suffered, with Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU) down 62%, Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC) down 32%, and BWX Technologies (BWXT) down 27% over the past year. For investors seeking exposure to the nuclear sector without the long-term development risks, established utilities present a more stable alternative. These companies are already generating revenue from nuclear power and are securing long-term contracts with tech giants for AI infrastructure. Three such companies highlighted are NextEra Energy Inc., Constellation Energy Corp., and Vistra Corp.