U.S. Energy Department Aims to Triple Nuclear Power Capacity
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Nuclear Capacity Goals: The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal to triple nuclear power generation capacity by mid-century, indicating strong confidence in the future of nuclear energy despite the lengthy construction timelines for new plants.
- Palo Verde Plant Advantage: Arizona's Palo Verde nuclear plant is the largest in the U.S., generating 32 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power over 4 million homes and businesses, highlighting its critical role in national power production.
- Collaboration and Expansion Plans: Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is collaborating with other utilities to explore deploying more nuclear plants in Arizona, particularly small modular reactors (SMR), to meet the growing energy demands in the state.
- Stable Dividend Yield: Pinnacle West offers a dividend yield of 3.69%, with only a 7.29% increase over the past year, reflecting its relatively stable financial health and ongoing potential for dividend growth, making it an attractive option for long-term investors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy PNW?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on PNW
Wall Street analysts forecast PNW stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
8 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 102.700
Low
85.00
Averages
94.14
High
99.00
Current: 102.700
Low
85.00
Averages
94.14
High
99.00
About PNW
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation is an energy holding company that conducts business through its subsidiaries, Arizona Public Service Company (APS), El Dorado Investment Company (El Dorado) and Pinnacle West Power, LLC. The Company's business segment is its regulated electricity segment, which consists of traditional regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses (primarily electric service to Native Load customers) and related activities, and includes electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. APS provides electric service to approximately 1.4 million customers. APS is also the operator and co-owner of Palo Verde, a primary source of electricity for the southwest United States and the nuclear power plant in the United States. El Dorado owns debt investments and minority interests in several energy-related investments and Arizona community-based ventures. Palo Verde is a three-unit nuclear power plant located approximately 50 miles west of Phoenix, Arizona.
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.
Pinnacle West Capital's Nuclear Potential
- Nuclear Power Leadership: Pinnacle West Capital, through its subsidiary Arizona Public Service, operates the Palo Verde nuclear plant, the most productive power plant in the U.S., generating 32 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power over 4 million homes and businesses, showcasing its strong position in the nuclear energy sector.
- Stable Dividend Yield: The company currently offers a 3.69% dividend yield, which has grown consistently over the past five years; despite a modest 7.29% increase in stock price over the last 12 months, it remains more attractive than other nuclear companies, indicating stability amid market fluctuations.
- Future Expansion Plans: Pinnacle West is working to renew its Palo Verde operating licenses and collaborating with other utilities to explore deploying more nuclear plants in Arizona, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), to meet the increasing energy demands.
- Clean Energy Investments: In addition to nuclear, Pinnacle West plans to bring its Ironwood Solar Plant in Yuma online in 2023, actively expanding into clean energy generation opportunities to address Arizona's growing power needs, especially driven by the semiconductor industry.
See More
U.S. Energy Department Aims to Triple Nuclear Power Capacity
- Nuclear Capacity Goals: The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal to triple nuclear power generation capacity by mid-century, indicating strong confidence in the future of nuclear energy despite the lengthy construction timelines for new plants.
- Palo Verde Plant Advantage: Arizona's Palo Verde nuclear plant is the largest in the U.S., generating 32 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power over 4 million homes and businesses, highlighting its critical role in national power production.
- Collaboration and Expansion Plans: Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is collaborating with other utilities to explore deploying more nuclear plants in Arizona, particularly small modular reactors (SMR), to meet the growing energy demands in the state.
- Stable Dividend Yield: Pinnacle West offers a dividend yield of 3.69%, with only a 7.29% increase over the past year, reflecting its relatively stable financial health and ongoing potential for dividend growth, making it an attractive option for long-term investors.
See More
SPLV ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The SPLV ETF has a 52-week low of $67.13 and a high of $77.735, with the latest trade at $72.86, indicating relative stability in the current market.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting liquidity.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs experiencing significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets.
See More
SPLV ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The SPLV ETF has a 52-week low of $67.13 and a high of $77.735, with the last trade at $75.41, indicating stability and investor confidence in the current market environment.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and timing for investments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), allowing investors to stay informed about market dynamics and potential opportunities.
See More
Arizona's Nuclear Power License Renewal Plans
- License Renewal Application: Arizona Public Service (APS) has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to renew operating licenses for all three units at Palo Verde Generating Station, potentially extending operations into the 2060s, ensuring stable power supply for the state for decades to come.
- Clean Energy Contribution: Palo Verde is the largest power generator in the western United States, with a capacity of 4,200 megawatts, providing electricity for four million homes and businesses, significantly supporting Arizona's economic development.
- Public Participation and Safety Assessment: During the renewal application process, the NRC will hold public meetings to gather input while evaluating Palo Verde's long-term maintenance strategies and environmental protection plans to ensure safe operations of the nuclear plant.
- Exploration of New Technologies: APS is collaborating with Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to assess new nuclear technologies and has applied for funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to support site evaluation and development of future nuclear generation, further enhancing energy security in Arizona.
See More
Pinnacle West Named Among 11 Best Utility Stocks for Dividends in 2026
- Price Target Increase: Barclays raised Pinnacle West Capital's price target from $90 to $97 while maintaining an 'Equal Weight' rating, indicating a cautiously optimistic market outlook for the company's future performance.
- Earnings Beat: Pinnacle West reported Q4 2025 earnings of $0.13 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.08, although revenue of $1.13 billion fell short of forecasts by approximately $40 million, reflecting the company's stable profitability.
- Annual Performance Highlights: For the full year 2025, Pinnacle West achieved earnings of $5.05 per share, landing in the upper half of its updated guidance range, while customer growth reached 2.4%, showcasing the company's competitive edge and customer appeal in the market.
- Future Growth Targets: Pinnacle West is targeting an EPS range of $4.55 to $4.75 for 2026, with long-term sales growth guidance maintained at 5% to 7%, indicating the company's confidence in its future performance.
See More
Pinnacle West Capital's Nuclear Potential
- Nuclear Power Leadership: Pinnacle West Capital, through its subsidiary Arizona Public Service, operates the Palo Verde nuclear plant, the most productive power plant in the U.S., generating 32 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power over 4 million homes and businesses, showcasing its strong position in the nuclear energy sector.
- Stable Dividend Yield: The company currently offers a 3.69% dividend yield, which has grown consistently over the past five years; despite a modest 7.29% increase in stock price over the last 12 months, it remains more attractive than other nuclear companies, indicating stability amid market fluctuations.
- Future Expansion Plans: Pinnacle West is working to renew its Palo Verde operating licenses and collaborating with other utilities to explore deploying more nuclear plants in Arizona, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs), to meet the increasing energy demands.
- Clean Energy Investments: In addition to nuclear, Pinnacle West plans to bring its Ironwood Solar Plant in Yuma online in 2023, actively expanding into clean energy generation opportunities to address Arizona's growing power needs, especially driven by the semiconductor industry.
See More
U.S. Energy Department Aims to Triple Nuclear Power Capacity
- Nuclear Capacity Goals: The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal to triple nuclear power generation capacity by mid-century, indicating strong confidence in the future of nuclear energy despite the lengthy construction timelines for new plants.
- Palo Verde Plant Advantage: Arizona's Palo Verde nuclear plant is the largest in the U.S., generating 32 million megawatt-hours annually, enough to power over 4 million homes and businesses, highlighting its critical role in national power production.
- Collaboration and Expansion Plans: Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is collaborating with other utilities to explore deploying more nuclear plants in Arizona, particularly small modular reactors (SMR), to meet the growing energy demands in the state.
- Stable Dividend Yield: Pinnacle West offers a dividend yield of 3.69%, with only a 7.29% increase over the past year, reflecting its relatively stable financial health and ongoing potential for dividend growth, making it an attractive option for long-term investors.
See More
SPLV ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The SPLV ETF has a 52-week low of $67.13 and a high of $77.735, with the latest trade at $72.86, indicating relative stability in the current market.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on investor demand, impacting liquidity.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs experiencing significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), assessing their impact on underlying assets.
See More
SPLV ETF 52-Week Price Analysis
- Price Range Analysis: The SPLV ETF has a 52-week low of $67.13 and a high of $77.735, with the last trade at $75.41, indicating stability and investor confidence in the current market environment.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the recent share price to the 200-day moving average provides valuable insights for investors, helping them assess market trends and timing for investments.
- ETF Trading Mechanism: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify ETFs experiencing notable inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), allowing investors to stay informed about market dynamics and potential opportunities.
See More
Arizona's Nuclear Power License Renewal Plans
- License Renewal Application: Arizona Public Service (APS) has notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its intent to renew operating licenses for all three units at Palo Verde Generating Station, potentially extending operations into the 2060s, ensuring stable power supply for the state for decades to come.
- Clean Energy Contribution: Palo Verde is the largest power generator in the western United States, with a capacity of 4,200 megawatts, providing electricity for four million homes and businesses, significantly supporting Arizona's economic development.
- Public Participation and Safety Assessment: During the renewal application process, the NRC will hold public meetings to gather input while evaluating Palo Verde's long-term maintenance strategies and environmental protection plans to ensure safe operations of the nuclear plant.
- Exploration of New Technologies: APS is collaborating with Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to assess new nuclear technologies and has applied for funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to support site evaluation and development of future nuclear generation, further enhancing energy security in Arizona.
See More
Pinnacle West Named Among 11 Best Utility Stocks for Dividends in 2026
- Price Target Increase: Barclays raised Pinnacle West Capital's price target from $90 to $97 while maintaining an 'Equal Weight' rating, indicating a cautiously optimistic market outlook for the company's future performance.
- Earnings Beat: Pinnacle West reported Q4 2025 earnings of $0.13 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.08, although revenue of $1.13 billion fell short of forecasts by approximately $40 million, reflecting the company's stable profitability.
- Annual Performance Highlights: For the full year 2025, Pinnacle West achieved earnings of $5.05 per share, landing in the upper half of its updated guidance range, while customer growth reached 2.4%, showcasing the company's competitive edge and customer appeal in the market.
- Future Growth Targets: Pinnacle West is targeting an EPS range of $4.55 to $4.75 for 2026, with long-term sales growth guidance maintained at 5% to 7%, indicating the company's confidence in its future performance.
See More
