Cameco: The Best Investment in Nuclear Energy Resurgence
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 16 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Nuclear Market Opportunity: As the largest pure-play nuclear company, Cameco benefits from soaring uranium prices driven by its top-tier operations in Canada and Kazakhstan, with an average realized price of $34.53 per pound in 2021 expected to rise to $66.21 per pound by Q1 2026, indicating strong profit potential.
- Demand-Driven Growth: The increasing demand for nuclear energy from hyperscalers for their data centers boosts Cameco's fuel services segment, particularly as long-term power purchase agreements with nuclear companies drive significant growth in uranium demand, solidifying its market position.
- Strategic Partnerships: The U.S. government's strategic partnership with Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management, involving an $80 billion investment in Westinghouse nuclear reactors, underscores the importance of nuclear energy and provides Cameco with potential cash distributions and IPO rights, enhancing its financial stability.
- Long-Term Development Potential: Cameco's Board Chair Catherine Gignac highlighted that the operation of new reactors will create significant long-term opportunities for maintenance, services, and fuel supply, expected to generate substantial revenue for both Cameco and Westinghouse, further solidifying their leadership in the nuclear market.
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Analyst Views on CCJ
Wall Street analysts forecast CCJ stock price to fall
12 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 110.630
Low
71.80
Averages
105.67
High
118.78
Current: 110.630
Low
71.80
Averages
105.67
High
118.78
About CCJ
Cameco Corporation is a provider of uranium fuel to generate baseload electricity around the globe. Its segments include uranium, fuel services and Westinghouse. The uranium segment involves the exploration for, mining, milling, purchase and sale of uranium concentrate. The fuel services segment involves the refining, conversion and fabrication of uranium concentrate and the purchase and sale of conversion services. The Westinghouse segment reflects its earnings from this equity-accounted investment. Westinghouse is a nuclear reactor technology original equipment manufacturer and a global provider of products and services to commercial utilities and government agencies. It provides outage and maintenance services, engineering support, instrumentation and controls equipment, plant modification, and components and parts to nuclear reactors. It has two operating mines, Cigar Lake and McArthur River as well as a mill at Key Lake. It also has ownership interests in Global Laser Enrichment.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Nuclear Energy Stocks Outperform S&P 500
- Nuclear Market Opportunity: As data centers strain traditional power grids, nuclear companies like Fluor, Uranium Energy, and Cameco are filling roles across engineering, construction, and mining, poised to benefit from the demand for 24/7 baseload power, driving market performance in 2026.
- Fluor Financial Dynamics: Fluor reported total revenue of $3.6 billion in Q1 2026, an 8% year-over-year decline; however, its energy solutions division saw profitability increase, with revenue rising from $47 million to $74 million, indicating growth potential in the nuclear sector.
- Uranium Energy Strategic Development: Uranium Energy reported $20.2 million in revenue for Q2 2026, and despite facing price volatility risks, its unhedged strategy could yield higher returns as nuclear demand rises, with the stock doubling over the past year.
- Cameco Strong Performance: Cameco reported revenue of CA$845 million in Q1 2026, a 7% increase, with net earnings of CA$131 million, up 87%, positioning it as a solid choice for risk-averse investors due to its leadership in the nuclear market and long-term contract strategy.
See More
Nuclear Energy Companies Poised for Growth Opportunities
- Fluor Company Update: Fluor reported total revenue of $3.6 billion in Q1 2026, an 8% decline, yet its energy solutions division saw profitability rise from $47 million to $74 million, indicating growth potential in nuclear energy, particularly through its partnership with X-Energy for small modular reactors.
- Uranium Energy Development: Uranium Energy's revenue for Q2 2026 was $20.2 million, still modest, but its collaboration with Fluor and unhedged strategy may yield significant returns as nuclear demand rises, especially if uranium prices increase.
- Cameco Financial Performance: Cameco reported revenue of CA$845 million in Q1 2026, a 7% increase, with net earnings soaring 87% to CA$131 million, showcasing its strong position in the nuclear market and positioning it as a key beneficiary of sector growth.
- Market Outlook Analysis: As data centers strain traditional power grids, nuclear companies like Fluor, Uranium Energy, and Cameco are leveraging the flexibility and continuous power supply of small modular reactors, expected to emerge as winners in the energy market by 2026, attracting increased investor interest.
See More
Cameco Resumes Full Production at Key Lake and McArthur River Mines
- Production Resumption: Cameco announced that its Key Lake and McArthur River mines have returned to full production, successfully maintaining material supply despite the partial collapse of a transport bridge due to flooding, which impacted logistics.
- Transport Challenges: While the company has been able to consistently deliver required materials via a secondary route in recent weeks, thawing and precipitation events may lead to further road restrictions, potentially delaying future deliveries of critical operating materials.
- Guidance Maintained: Cameco has maintained its FY 2026 consolidated production guidance at 19.5M to 21.5M lbs of U3O8, reflecting the company's confidence in its future production capabilities despite recent disruptions.
- Stable Operations: The company noted that its Cigar Lake mine was unaffected by the flooding and continues to operate normally, further enhancing Cameco's stability and supply capacity in the uranium market.
See More
Cameco Resumes Full Production at Key Lake and McArthur River
- Production Resumption: Cameco has announced that the Key Lake mill and McArthur River mine have returned to full production capacity, having stabilized the supply of critical materials through secondary routes despite previous disruptions caused by flooding in Saskatchewan.
- Unchanged Production Outlook: The company's 2026 consolidated production outlook remains at 19.5 to 21.5 million pounds of U3O8, indicating that overall production plans are unaffected by transportation challenges, showcasing the company's resilience in the nuclear fuel market.
- Transport Risks: While production has resumed, there remains a risk of future delivery interruptions due to potential road restrictions from spring thawing and precipitation, which could impact the continuity of operations moving forward.
- Market Position: As one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, Cameco continues to leverage its high-grade reserves and low-cost operations to maintain a competitive edge in the nuclear energy sector, ensuring safe and reliable carbon-free power generation worldwide.
See More
CCJ Options Contract Analysis and Investment Opportunities
- Put Option Appeal: The current bid for the $100.00 put option is $6.40, and if an investor sells this contract, they commit to buying the stock at $100.00, effectively lowering their cost basis to $93.60, which is approximately a 4% discount from the current price of $104.08, making it attractive for those interested in CCJ shares.
- Yield Potential Analysis: Should the put option expire worthless, the premium would yield a 6.40% return on the cash commitment, translating to an annualized return of 25.67%, known as YieldBoost, highlighting the potential attractiveness of this investment strategy.
- Call Option Returns: The $110.00 call option currently bids at $8.50, and if an investor buys CCJ shares at $104.08 and sells this contract, they could achieve a total return of 13.85% if the stock is called away at expiration, showcasing the profit potential of this strategy.
- Risk-Reward Balance: Given that the $110.00 strike price is about 6% above the current trading price, there is a 49% chance that the call option will expire worthless, allowing investors to retain both their shares and the premium collected, further enhancing their investment returns.
See More
Nuclear Energy Market Recovery and Investment Opportunities
- Nuclear Market Recovery: The International Energy Agency forecasts a more than 50% increase in global nuclear capacity from 2025 to 2050, indicating a gradual recovery in the nuclear energy market that is attracting renewed investor interest.
- Cameco's Market Position: Cameco mined approximately 15% of the world's uranium in 2025, and despite a downturn post-Fukushima, the rebound in uranium prices from $35 per pound in 2020 to $86.35 signals expected revenue and EBITDA growth rates of 8% and 12% respectively from 2025 to 2028.
- BWX's Industry Advantage: BWX Technologies stands as the only large-scale producer of nuclear components and fuel systems in North America, with a backlog that grew 50% year-over-year to $7.3 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting strong demand in both defense and commercial nuclear sectors.
- Future Growth Potential: Analysts project BWX's revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 13% and 12% from 2025 to 2028, and while its current enterprise value is $19.5 billion, its diversification and market position justify this premium valuation.
See More
Nuclear Energy Stocks Outperform S&P 500
- Nuclear Market Opportunity: As data centers strain traditional power grids, nuclear companies like Fluor, Uranium Energy, and Cameco are filling roles across engineering, construction, and mining, poised to benefit from the demand for 24/7 baseload power, driving market performance in 2026.
- Fluor Financial Dynamics: Fluor reported total revenue of $3.6 billion in Q1 2026, an 8% year-over-year decline; however, its energy solutions division saw profitability increase, with revenue rising from $47 million to $74 million, indicating growth potential in the nuclear sector.
- Uranium Energy Strategic Development: Uranium Energy reported $20.2 million in revenue for Q2 2026, and despite facing price volatility risks, its unhedged strategy could yield higher returns as nuclear demand rises, with the stock doubling over the past year.
- Cameco Strong Performance: Cameco reported revenue of CA$845 million in Q1 2026, a 7% increase, with net earnings of CA$131 million, up 87%, positioning it as a solid choice for risk-averse investors due to its leadership in the nuclear market and long-term contract strategy.
See More
Nuclear Energy Companies Poised for Growth Opportunities
- Fluor Company Update: Fluor reported total revenue of $3.6 billion in Q1 2026, an 8% decline, yet its energy solutions division saw profitability rise from $47 million to $74 million, indicating growth potential in nuclear energy, particularly through its partnership with X-Energy for small modular reactors.
- Uranium Energy Development: Uranium Energy's revenue for Q2 2026 was $20.2 million, still modest, but its collaboration with Fluor and unhedged strategy may yield significant returns as nuclear demand rises, especially if uranium prices increase.
- Cameco Financial Performance: Cameco reported revenue of CA$845 million in Q1 2026, a 7% increase, with net earnings soaring 87% to CA$131 million, showcasing its strong position in the nuclear market and positioning it as a key beneficiary of sector growth.
- Market Outlook Analysis: As data centers strain traditional power grids, nuclear companies like Fluor, Uranium Energy, and Cameco are leveraging the flexibility and continuous power supply of small modular reactors, expected to emerge as winners in the energy market by 2026, attracting increased investor interest.
See More
Cameco Resumes Full Production at Key Lake and McArthur River Mines
- Production Resumption: Cameco announced that its Key Lake and McArthur River mines have returned to full production, successfully maintaining material supply despite the partial collapse of a transport bridge due to flooding, which impacted logistics.
- Transport Challenges: While the company has been able to consistently deliver required materials via a secondary route in recent weeks, thawing and precipitation events may lead to further road restrictions, potentially delaying future deliveries of critical operating materials.
- Guidance Maintained: Cameco has maintained its FY 2026 consolidated production guidance at 19.5M to 21.5M lbs of U3O8, reflecting the company's confidence in its future production capabilities despite recent disruptions.
- Stable Operations: The company noted that its Cigar Lake mine was unaffected by the flooding and continues to operate normally, further enhancing Cameco's stability and supply capacity in the uranium market.
See More
Cameco Resumes Full Production at Key Lake and McArthur River
- Production Resumption: Cameco has announced that the Key Lake mill and McArthur River mine have returned to full production capacity, having stabilized the supply of critical materials through secondary routes despite previous disruptions caused by flooding in Saskatchewan.
- Unchanged Production Outlook: The company's 2026 consolidated production outlook remains at 19.5 to 21.5 million pounds of U3O8, indicating that overall production plans are unaffected by transportation challenges, showcasing the company's resilience in the nuclear fuel market.
- Transport Risks: While production has resumed, there remains a risk of future delivery interruptions due to potential road restrictions from spring thawing and precipitation, which could impact the continuity of operations moving forward.
- Market Position: As one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel, Cameco continues to leverage its high-grade reserves and low-cost operations to maintain a competitive edge in the nuclear energy sector, ensuring safe and reliable carbon-free power generation worldwide.
See More
CCJ Options Contract Analysis and Investment Opportunities
- Put Option Appeal: The current bid for the $100.00 put option is $6.40, and if an investor sells this contract, they commit to buying the stock at $100.00, effectively lowering their cost basis to $93.60, which is approximately a 4% discount from the current price of $104.08, making it attractive for those interested in CCJ shares.
- Yield Potential Analysis: Should the put option expire worthless, the premium would yield a 6.40% return on the cash commitment, translating to an annualized return of 25.67%, known as YieldBoost, highlighting the potential attractiveness of this investment strategy.
- Call Option Returns: The $110.00 call option currently bids at $8.50, and if an investor buys CCJ shares at $104.08 and sells this contract, they could achieve a total return of 13.85% if the stock is called away at expiration, showcasing the profit potential of this strategy.
- Risk-Reward Balance: Given that the $110.00 strike price is about 6% above the current trading price, there is a 49% chance that the call option will expire worthless, allowing investors to retain both their shares and the premium collected, further enhancing their investment returns.
See More
Nuclear Energy Market Recovery and Investment Opportunities
- Nuclear Market Recovery: The International Energy Agency forecasts a more than 50% increase in global nuclear capacity from 2025 to 2050, indicating a gradual recovery in the nuclear energy market that is attracting renewed investor interest.
- Cameco's Market Position: Cameco mined approximately 15% of the world's uranium in 2025, and despite a downturn post-Fukushima, the rebound in uranium prices from $35 per pound in 2020 to $86.35 signals expected revenue and EBITDA growth rates of 8% and 12% respectively from 2025 to 2028.
- BWX's Industry Advantage: BWX Technologies stands as the only large-scale producer of nuclear components and fuel systems in North America, with a backlog that grew 50% year-over-year to $7.3 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting strong demand in both defense and commercial nuclear sectors.
- Future Growth Potential: Analysts project BWX's revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 13% and 12% from 2025 to 2028, and while its current enterprise value is $19.5 billion, its diversification and market position justify this premium valuation.
See More
