NuScale Power's Small Reactor Aims for Carbon-Free Energy Transition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 08 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Significant Market Potential: NuScale Power's small light-water reactor is viewed as a crucial solution for addressing carbon neutrality challenges, with small modular reactors (SMRs) expected to become a key energy source over the next three decades, potentially reaching a market size of $10 trillion.
- Clear Regulatory Advantage: NuScale is the only U.S. company with an SMR design approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and while competitors like Oklo are rapidly approaching regulatory approval, NuScale's head start positions it strongly in the emerging nuclear market.
- Uncertain Revenue Outlook: Despite its regulatory edge, NuScale currently has negligible SMR revenue, and it may take several years before it achieves commercialization profitability, with its stock trading about 75% lower than its all-time high, reflecting market concerns about its future earnings potential.
- Analyst Optimism: Despite execution risks, the average analyst price target is $17, implying nearly 30% upside from current prices, particularly as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure grows, making NuScale an attractive investment opportunity in the energy sector.
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Analyst Views on SMR
Wall Street analysts forecast SMR stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
6 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 12.890
Low
18.50
Averages
32.77
High
60.00
Current: 12.890
Low
18.50
Averages
32.77
High
60.00
About SMR
NuScale Power Corporation is a provider of proprietary advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology. The NuScale Power Module, the Company's SMR technology, is a small pressurized water reactor that can generate approximately 77 megawatts of electricity (MWe) or 250 megawatts thermal (gross) and can be scaled to meet customer needs through an array of flexible configurations of up to 924 MWe (12 modules) of output. In addition to the sale of NPMs, it offers a diversified suite of services throughout the development and operating life of the power plant. The Company's suite of services is planned to include licensing support, testing, training, fuel supply services and program management, among others. It serves a range of customers consisting of domestic and international governments, utilities, state-owned enterprises and technology and industrial companies in need of carbon-free, reliable energy.
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.
NuScale Power Faces Challenges in Securing First Reactor Deal
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is pursuing sales of its small modular reactors (SMRs), yet it has not signed any contracts, placing the company at a pivotal moment amid rising electricity demands, particularly from data centers and electric vehicles.
- Potential Collaboration: Ongoing talks with South Korea could provide NuScale with investment and reactor project opportunities; however, the current partnerships remain in preliminary stages without actual sales.
- Business Model Risks: Although NuScale has regulatory approval for its SMR plans, it must first sign and deliver its first SMR to establish a sustainable business model, which is critical for the company's future.
- Investor Caution: As NuScale Power continues to incur losses and is unlikely to achieve profitability in the coming years, risk-averse investors may want to wait until the company demonstrates sustainable profitability before considering an investment.
See More
Nuclear Energy Market Poised for Explosive Growth
- Nuclear Renaissance Potential: According to Bank of America analysts, the nuclear energy market is viewed as a $10 trillion opportunity, expected to be key in addressing global power shortages, particularly amid surging electricity demand.
- Optimistic Investment Outlook: Morgan Stanley predicts that global nuclear capacity could double to 860 gigawatts by 2050, with investments in the nuclear value chain potentially reaching $2.2 trillion over the next 25 years, reflecting strong market confidence in nuclear energy.
- AI-Driven Demand Surge: With data centers driving a surge in electricity demand, U.S. electricity usage is expected to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027, positioning nuclear energy as a critical solution for the AI and data center industries.
- Watch Nuclear Stocks: Oklo and NuScale Power are two nuclear companies to watch; Oklo focuses on small modular reactors while NuScale partners with electric utilities, and although neither currently operates plants, interest is rapidly growing in the market.
See More
Analyst Reiterates Buy Rating for NuScale Power
- Analyst Optimism: George Gianarikas from Canaccord Genuity reiterates a 'buy' rating for NuScale Power with a $25 price target, suggesting over 100% upside potential, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
- Market Performance Analysis: With a current stock price of $12.90 and a market cap of $4.4 billion, Gianarikas's target price is significantly above the average of $15.67 set by 15 analysts, indicating his optimistic view on the company's project pipeline.
- Significant Technical Advantage: NuScale specializes in small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be built faster and at a lower cost, making them well-suited to meet the rising electricity demand driven by the rapid expansion of data centers in the U.S. and globally.
- Partnership Opportunity Potential: Gianarikas highlights the partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a 'transformative opportunity' that could accelerate NuScale's path to commercialization, while the collaboration with RoPower is seen as validation of its technology and global appeal.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Challenges and Opportunities in Nuclear Energy Market
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is at the forefront of small modular reactor (SMR) technology development, and despite facing increasing competition, the global demand for clean energy presents a multitrillion-dollar market opportunity.
- Financial Status: The company reported a net loss of approximately $44 million in the first quarter, and while its technology has yet to be deployed in the real world, its market potential continues to attract investor interest.
- Deployment Challenges: Although NuScale claims its SMR technology can be operational in 36 months, actual sales have not materialized due to cost inflation in nuclear engineering and difficulties in manufacturing components at scale, leading to slow project progress.
- Strategic Partnership: NuScale has entered into a binding partnership with ENTRA1 Energy, which will handle the development, financing, and operation of NuScale's SMR plants, demonstrating the company's strategic flexibility in addressing market challenges.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Challenge of Securing First Contract
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is in discussions with South Korea regarding investment and a reactor project, and while it has yet to secure its first SMR contract, this potential collaboration highlights the market appeal of its technology, which could lead to long-term growth opportunities for the company.
- Technological Advantage: NuScale's SMR technology has received regulatory approval and features factory-built, transportable units with modern safety systems, positioning it to meet the anticipated surge in electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles.
- Contract Challenges: Despite ongoing negotiations for a six-reactor deal in Romania and partnerships with ENTRA1 Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority, none have materialized into actual sales, indicating the company's struggle to achieve commercialization.
- Business Model Risks: Even if South Korea becomes its first customer, NuScale must still complete the construction and delivery of its SMRs; the current high-risk status and ongoing losses suggest that investors should be cautious, with risk-averse individuals advised to wait until the company achieves sustainable profitability before considering investment.
See More
Nuclear Power's Synergy with AI Growth
- Nuclear Resurgence: From 2005 to 2023, U.S. electricity generation remained flat, but new all-time highs are expected in 2024 and 2025, driven by the rapid growth of the AI industry, which is increasing electricity demand and positioning nuclear energy as a viable solution.
- Oklo's Market Positioning: Oklo focuses on small modular reactors (SMRs), with its 'microreactor' design enabling local deployment in data centers, and a streamlined licensing and deployment timeline of just 6 to 12 months enhances its competitive edge in the market.
- NuScale's Strategic Approach: NuScale is pursuing grid-scale deployments, exemplified by its 6-gigawatt system agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, with a power purchase agreement expected to close by year-end, solidifying its position in the low-carbon power sector.
- Diversification Investment Advice: Given the differing market strategies of Oklo and NuScale, investors may achieve diversified exposure by purchasing shares of both, although NuScale was not recommended as a top investment choice by The Motley Fool.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Challenges in Securing First Reactor Deal
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is pursuing sales of its small modular reactors (SMRs), yet it has not signed any contracts, placing the company at a pivotal moment amid rising electricity demands, particularly from data centers and electric vehicles.
- Potential Collaboration: Ongoing talks with South Korea could provide NuScale with investment and reactor project opportunities; however, the current partnerships remain in preliminary stages without actual sales.
- Business Model Risks: Although NuScale has regulatory approval for its SMR plans, it must first sign and deliver its first SMR to establish a sustainable business model, which is critical for the company's future.
- Investor Caution: As NuScale Power continues to incur losses and is unlikely to achieve profitability in the coming years, risk-averse investors may want to wait until the company demonstrates sustainable profitability before considering an investment.
See More
Nuclear Energy Market Poised for Explosive Growth
- Nuclear Renaissance Potential: According to Bank of America analysts, the nuclear energy market is viewed as a $10 trillion opportunity, expected to be key in addressing global power shortages, particularly amid surging electricity demand.
- Optimistic Investment Outlook: Morgan Stanley predicts that global nuclear capacity could double to 860 gigawatts by 2050, with investments in the nuclear value chain potentially reaching $2.2 trillion over the next 25 years, reflecting strong market confidence in nuclear energy.
- AI-Driven Demand Surge: With data centers driving a surge in electricity demand, U.S. electricity usage is expected to hit new highs in 2026 and 2027, positioning nuclear energy as a critical solution for the AI and data center industries.
- Watch Nuclear Stocks: Oklo and NuScale Power are two nuclear companies to watch; Oklo focuses on small modular reactors while NuScale partners with electric utilities, and although neither currently operates plants, interest is rapidly growing in the market.
See More
Analyst Reiterates Buy Rating for NuScale Power
- Analyst Optimism: George Gianarikas from Canaccord Genuity reiterates a 'buy' rating for NuScale Power with a $25 price target, suggesting over 100% upside potential, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
- Market Performance Analysis: With a current stock price of $12.90 and a market cap of $4.4 billion, Gianarikas's target price is significantly above the average of $15.67 set by 15 analysts, indicating his optimistic view on the company's project pipeline.
- Significant Technical Advantage: NuScale specializes in small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be built faster and at a lower cost, making them well-suited to meet the rising electricity demand driven by the rapid expansion of data centers in the U.S. and globally.
- Partnership Opportunity Potential: Gianarikas highlights the partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as a 'transformative opportunity' that could accelerate NuScale's path to commercialization, while the collaboration with RoPower is seen as validation of its technology and global appeal.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Challenges and Opportunities in Nuclear Energy Market
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is at the forefront of small modular reactor (SMR) technology development, and despite facing increasing competition, the global demand for clean energy presents a multitrillion-dollar market opportunity.
- Financial Status: The company reported a net loss of approximately $44 million in the first quarter, and while its technology has yet to be deployed in the real world, its market potential continues to attract investor interest.
- Deployment Challenges: Although NuScale claims its SMR technology can be operational in 36 months, actual sales have not materialized due to cost inflation in nuclear engineering and difficulties in manufacturing components at scale, leading to slow project progress.
- Strategic Partnership: NuScale has entered into a binding partnership with ENTRA1 Energy, which will handle the development, financing, and operation of NuScale's SMR plants, demonstrating the company's strategic flexibility in addressing market challenges.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Challenge of Securing First Contract
- Market Opportunity: NuScale Power is in discussions with South Korea regarding investment and a reactor project, and while it has yet to secure its first SMR contract, this potential collaboration highlights the market appeal of its technology, which could lead to long-term growth opportunities for the company.
- Technological Advantage: NuScale's SMR technology has received regulatory approval and features factory-built, transportable units with modern safety systems, positioning it to meet the anticipated surge in electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles.
- Contract Challenges: Despite ongoing negotiations for a six-reactor deal in Romania and partnerships with ENTRA1 Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority, none have materialized into actual sales, indicating the company's struggle to achieve commercialization.
- Business Model Risks: Even if South Korea becomes its first customer, NuScale must still complete the construction and delivery of its SMRs; the current high-risk status and ongoing losses suggest that investors should be cautious, with risk-averse individuals advised to wait until the company achieves sustainable profitability before considering investment.
See More
Nuclear Power's Synergy with AI Growth
- Nuclear Resurgence: From 2005 to 2023, U.S. electricity generation remained flat, but new all-time highs are expected in 2024 and 2025, driven by the rapid growth of the AI industry, which is increasing electricity demand and positioning nuclear energy as a viable solution.
- Oklo's Market Positioning: Oklo focuses on small modular reactors (SMRs), with its 'microreactor' design enabling local deployment in data centers, and a streamlined licensing and deployment timeline of just 6 to 12 months enhances its competitive edge in the market.
- NuScale's Strategic Approach: NuScale is pursuing grid-scale deployments, exemplified by its 6-gigawatt system agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, with a power purchase agreement expected to close by year-end, solidifying its position in the low-carbon power sector.
- Diversification Investment Advice: Given the differing market strategies of Oklo and NuScale, investors may achieve diversified exposure by purchasing shares of both, although NuScale was not recommended as a top investment choice by The Motley Fool.
See More
