Volatility and Prospects of Nuclear Energy Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- Investment Return Volatility: If investors had purchased the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF on June 30, 2025, and held until October 15, they would have seen a 47% return, but since then, the investment has lost about 30% of its value, highlighting the volatility and changing market sentiment surrounding nuclear energy stocks.
- NuScale Power's Predicament: NuScale Power's stock has plummeted by 75%, primarily because the company has yet to deploy a commercial small modular reactor (SMR), and despite having certified its design, the lack of real-world application has eroded investor confidence.
- Shifting Market Demand: Although demand for AI and data centers initially boosted NuScale's stock, growing concerns over an AI bubble have made investors more selective, leading to diminished demand for NuScale's offerings in the nuclear sector.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: With two projects in Romania and Tennessee still in the planning stages, expected to materialize in the 2030s, investors should view NuScale as an early-stage developer with long-term growth potential rather than a short-term investment opportunity.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy SMR?" 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 SMR
Wall Street analysts forecast SMR stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
6 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 9.610
Low
18.50
Averages
32.77
High
60.00
Current: 9.610
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 Significant Opportunity Ahead
- Surging Electricity Demand: Future electricity demand is expected to increase six-fold due to the rise of artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, presenting a significant market opportunity for NuScale Power's nuclear technology, especially as the need for baseload power grows.
- Advantages of SMRs: NuScale's small modular reactors (SMRs) are factory-built, transportable, and can be located near population centers, adhering to modern safety standards, making them ideal for AI data centers and potentially serving as a solution for utilities developing new nuclear power plants.
- Pending Sales Agreements: Although NuScale is in discussions with potential clients like a Romanian power company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, it has yet to sign any definitive sales agreements for its reactors, creating uncertainty before the company can achieve sustainable profitability.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: NuScale Power has not yet become profitable, with a notable 30% drop in share price in 2026 highlighting investment risks; however, aggressive long-term investors may find early entry advantageous for potential substantial growth opportunities.
See More
SMR, TMC, and SPWR Stocks Plummet Amid Financial Pressures
- NuScale Power Financial Crisis: NuScale Power's stock fell to an annual low of $8.64 on Tuesday, a sharp decline from its year-to-date high of $57.42, primarily due to extended commercialization timelines and profitability concerns, with major power projects now expected to deploy by 2030, impacting future revenue growth.
- Dismal Financial Performance: The company reported a staggering 96% year-over-year revenue drop in Q1 to $0.57 million, significantly below last year's $13.38 million and Wall Street's $5.57 million estimate, largely due to reduced revenue from its RoPower technology licensing agreement and lower contributions from Fluor FEED Phase II engineering services, resulting in a net loss per share of $0.14.
- The Metals Company Continues Decline: TMC's stock hit a 52-week low of $3.86 on Tuesday, on track for a fourth consecutive week of losses if the sell-off persists, despite recent regulatory wins, including NOAA's certification of its exploration license and an agreement with Allseas to develop a deep-sea mineral recovery system, with the stock down over 40% this year amid a challenging market.
- SunPower Liquidity Crisis: SPWR shares fell to an annual low of $0.58 despite the appointment of a new CFO, as liquidity issues worsen, with a cash balance of only $9.5 million at the end of Q1 and an operating loss of $12.9 million, leading to a 64% decline in stock price this year and sustained bearish retail sentiment.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Uncertain Future After 75% Stock Plunge
- Market Valuation Drop: NuScale Power's market cap has plummeted from approximately $20 billion in October 2025 to around $3.6 billion, with stock prices falling over 75%, indicating a significant loss of market confidence in its small modular reactor technology.
- Investment Return Risks: For an investor to turn a $10,000 investment into $1 million, NuScale's stock would need to increase 100-fold, implying a market cap of about $360 billion, which seems nearly impossible under current market conditions, highlighting escalating investment risks.
- Dim Growth Prospects: While a market cap of $100 billion is theoretically possible, achieving this would require decades and sustained investor confidence, compounded by the fact that the company currently has negligible revenue and lacks binding customer commitments, leaving its future growth uncertain.
- Nuclear Industry Challenges: The collapse of NuScale's first major project in late 2023 due to excessive cost estimates further underscores the slow-moving and expensive nature of the nuclear energy sector, making the prospect of it becoming a millionaire-making stock increasingly unlikely.
See More
Analysis of NuScale Power's Stock Plummet
- Stock Price Plummet: NuScale Power's stock has fallen over 75% since its mid-October 2025 peak, currently valued at approximately $3.6 billion, indicating market pessimism regarding its future growth prospects.
- Investment Return Potential: For NuScale's stock to grow 100-fold, a $10,000 investment would need to reach $1 million, necessitating a market cap of $360 billion, which is nearly impossible, reflecting extremely high investment risks.
- Market Acceptance Challenges: Despite the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs), NuScale lacks binding commitments from customers, and its first major project collapsed in late 2023 due to high cost estimates, highlighting the slow-moving and expensive nature of the nuclear industry.
- Investor Confidence Lacking: NuScale Power was not included in Motley Fool's list of top investment stocks, indicating analysts' lack of confidence in its future performance, prompting investors to carefully consider its investment value.
See More
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Activity Overview
- Market Decline: The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator fell by 262.43 points to 29,435.44, indicating a weak market sentiment that could impact investor confidence and short-term trading strategies.
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Surge: The stock of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals rose by 41.57 points to $83.60, with a trading volume of 18,383,832 shares, demonstrating strong market demand and investor interest, which may attract more capital inflow.
- NVIDIA Stock Recommendation: Despite NVIDIA's stock price dropping by 2.95 points to $192.60 with a volume of 3,773,031 shares, Zacks reports that its current mean recommendation is in the “buy range,” indicating analysts' optimism about its long-term prospects.
- Intel Under Pressure: Intel's stock fell by 4.04 points to $118.16, with a trading volume of 2,406,420 shares, and its current price exceeds the target price by 118.16%, reflecting market concerns about its future performance, which may affect investor confidence.
See More
Rising Nuclear Demand Poses Opportunities for NuScale Power Amid Uncertainty
- Surging Electricity Demand: With AI and electric vehicles projected to drive a six-fold increase in electricity demand, nuclear power emerges as a potential solution for baseload power needs, particularly through the increasingly favored small modular reactors (SMRs) under modern safety standards.
- NuScale Power's Outlook: Although NuScale Power is currently unprofitable, its factory-built small modular reactors offer competitive advantages by being transportable and suitable for installation near population centers, making them particularly attractive for AI data centers.
- Lack of Sales Agreements: NuScale Power has yet to secure any definitive sales agreements for its nuclear reactors, despite promising collaborations with a Romanian power company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, with funding still unconfirmed, adding to investment uncertainty.
- Investment Risk Advisory: The company's stock price fell by 30% in 2026, highlighting the risks associated with investing in a young startup; while the technology holds significant promise, investors should proceed with caution until sustainable profitability is achieved, making it suitable primarily for aggressive growth investors.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Significant Opportunity Ahead
- Surging Electricity Demand: Future electricity demand is expected to increase six-fold due to the rise of artificial intelligence and electric vehicles, presenting a significant market opportunity for NuScale Power's nuclear technology, especially as the need for baseload power grows.
- Advantages of SMRs: NuScale's small modular reactors (SMRs) are factory-built, transportable, and can be located near population centers, adhering to modern safety standards, making them ideal for AI data centers and potentially serving as a solution for utilities developing new nuclear power plants.
- Pending Sales Agreements: Although NuScale is in discussions with potential clients like a Romanian power company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, it has yet to sign any definitive sales agreements for its reactors, creating uncertainty before the company can achieve sustainable profitability.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: NuScale Power has not yet become profitable, with a notable 30% drop in share price in 2026 highlighting investment risks; however, aggressive long-term investors may find early entry advantageous for potential substantial growth opportunities.
See More
SMR, TMC, and SPWR Stocks Plummet Amid Financial Pressures
- NuScale Power Financial Crisis: NuScale Power's stock fell to an annual low of $8.64 on Tuesday, a sharp decline from its year-to-date high of $57.42, primarily due to extended commercialization timelines and profitability concerns, with major power projects now expected to deploy by 2030, impacting future revenue growth.
- Dismal Financial Performance: The company reported a staggering 96% year-over-year revenue drop in Q1 to $0.57 million, significantly below last year's $13.38 million and Wall Street's $5.57 million estimate, largely due to reduced revenue from its RoPower technology licensing agreement and lower contributions from Fluor FEED Phase II engineering services, resulting in a net loss per share of $0.14.
- The Metals Company Continues Decline: TMC's stock hit a 52-week low of $3.86 on Tuesday, on track for a fourth consecutive week of losses if the sell-off persists, despite recent regulatory wins, including NOAA's certification of its exploration license and an agreement with Allseas to develop a deep-sea mineral recovery system, with the stock down over 40% this year amid a challenging market.
- SunPower Liquidity Crisis: SPWR shares fell to an annual low of $0.58 despite the appointment of a new CFO, as liquidity issues worsen, with a cash balance of only $9.5 million at the end of Q1 and an operating loss of $12.9 million, leading to a 64% decline in stock price this year and sustained bearish retail sentiment.
See More
NuScale Power Faces Uncertain Future After 75% Stock Plunge
- Market Valuation Drop: NuScale Power's market cap has plummeted from approximately $20 billion in October 2025 to around $3.6 billion, with stock prices falling over 75%, indicating a significant loss of market confidence in its small modular reactor technology.
- Investment Return Risks: For an investor to turn a $10,000 investment into $1 million, NuScale's stock would need to increase 100-fold, implying a market cap of about $360 billion, which seems nearly impossible under current market conditions, highlighting escalating investment risks.
- Dim Growth Prospects: While a market cap of $100 billion is theoretically possible, achieving this would require decades and sustained investor confidence, compounded by the fact that the company currently has negligible revenue and lacks binding customer commitments, leaving its future growth uncertain.
- Nuclear Industry Challenges: The collapse of NuScale's first major project in late 2023 due to excessive cost estimates further underscores the slow-moving and expensive nature of the nuclear energy sector, making the prospect of it becoming a millionaire-making stock increasingly unlikely.
See More
Analysis of NuScale Power's Stock Plummet
- Stock Price Plummet: NuScale Power's stock has fallen over 75% since its mid-October 2025 peak, currently valued at approximately $3.6 billion, indicating market pessimism regarding its future growth prospects.
- Investment Return Potential: For NuScale's stock to grow 100-fold, a $10,000 investment would need to reach $1 million, necessitating a market cap of $360 billion, which is nearly impossible, reflecting extremely high investment risks.
- Market Acceptance Challenges: Despite the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs), NuScale lacks binding commitments from customers, and its first major project collapsed in late 2023 due to high cost estimates, highlighting the slow-moving and expensive nature of the nuclear industry.
- Investor Confidence Lacking: NuScale Power was not included in Motley Fool's list of top investment stocks, indicating analysts' lack of confidence in its future performance, prompting investors to carefully consider its investment value.
See More
NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Activity Overview
- Market Decline: The NASDAQ 100 Pre-Market Indicator fell by 262.43 points to 29,435.44, indicating a weak market sentiment that could impact investor confidence and short-term trading strategies.
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Surge: The stock of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals rose by 41.57 points to $83.60, with a trading volume of 18,383,832 shares, demonstrating strong market demand and investor interest, which may attract more capital inflow.
- NVIDIA Stock Recommendation: Despite NVIDIA's stock price dropping by 2.95 points to $192.60 with a volume of 3,773,031 shares, Zacks reports that its current mean recommendation is in the “buy range,” indicating analysts' optimism about its long-term prospects.
- Intel Under Pressure: Intel's stock fell by 4.04 points to $118.16, with a trading volume of 2,406,420 shares, and its current price exceeds the target price by 118.16%, reflecting market concerns about its future performance, which may affect investor confidence.
See More
Rising Nuclear Demand Poses Opportunities for NuScale Power Amid Uncertainty
- Surging Electricity Demand: With AI and electric vehicles projected to drive a six-fold increase in electricity demand, nuclear power emerges as a potential solution for baseload power needs, particularly through the increasingly favored small modular reactors (SMRs) under modern safety standards.
- NuScale Power's Outlook: Although NuScale Power is currently unprofitable, its factory-built small modular reactors offer competitive advantages by being transportable and suitable for installation near population centers, making them particularly attractive for AI data centers.
- Lack of Sales Agreements: NuScale Power has yet to secure any definitive sales agreements for its nuclear reactors, despite promising collaborations with a Romanian power company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, with funding still unconfirmed, adding to investment uncertainty.
- Investment Risk Advisory: The company's stock price fell by 30% in 2026, highlighting the risks associated with investing in a young startup; while the technology holds significant promise, investors should proceed with caution until sustainable profitability is achieved, making it suitable primarily for aggressive growth investors.
See More
