BWXT's TRISO Fuel Achieves Critical Milestone with Antares Reactor
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 04 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
BWXT's stock fell as it hit a 20-day low amid broader market declines, with the Nasdaq-100 down 3.13% and the S&P 500 down 1.62%.
The core catalyst for BWXT's recent developments is the successful powering of Antares Nuclear's reactor to achieve its first criticality milestone using BWXT's TRISO nuclear fuel. This milestone, achieved under the Department of Energy's Executive Order 14301, highlights BWXT's leadership in advanced nuclear fuel fabrication and its strategic partnership with Antares, which underscores the importance of their collaboration in advancing nuclear technology.
This achievement positions BWXT favorably in the growing nuclear energy sector, as it continues to meet the increasing demand for advanced reactor fuel, despite the current market challenges.
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Analyst Views on BWXT
Wall Street analysts forecast BWXT stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 183.000
Low
195.00
Averages
216.00
High
230.00
Current: 183.000
Low
195.00
Averages
216.00
High
230.00
About BWXT
BWX Technologies, Inc. is a specialty manufacturer of nuclear components, a developer of nuclear technologies and a service provider. The Company also provides special nuclear materials processing, environmental site restoration services, products, and services. Its Government Operations segment manufactures naval nuclear reactors, including related nuclear fuel, for the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program for use in submarines and aircraft carriers. It also fabricates fuel-bearing precision components that range in weight from a few grams to hundreds of tons, manufactures electromechanical equipment, and performs design, manufacturing, inspection, assembly, and testing activities. The Company is also a provider of advanced specialty materials, fabrication, and high-strength alloy manufacturing. Its Commercial Operations segment designs and manufactures commercial nuclear steam generators, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, reactor components, and other auxiliary equipment.
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.
ATI Signs Long-Term Strategic Agreement with BWXT for Defense Materials
- Strategic Partnership Extension: ATI's new material supply agreement with BWX Technologies extends through fiscal year 2030, reinforcing their decades-long collaboration in supporting the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and ensuring a stable supply of critical defense materials.
- Technological Advantage: With over 70 years of experience in manufacturing specialty materials for nuclear applications, ATI, as the world's largest producer of such materials, combines deep materials science expertise with proprietary process technologies to deliver essential high-performance materials for BWXT's mission.
- Multi-Domain Defense Collaboration: As a strategic defense partner, ATI supplies high-performance titanium, nickel-based alloys, and specialty materials that support next-generation systems across air, land, sea, and missile platforms, ensuring performance and protection in the most demanding environments.
- Innovation-Driven Growth: ATI is committed to solving the world's toughest challenges through materials science, leveraging unique customer partnerships and a commitment to innovation to provide materials and solutions that meet the challenges of today and the future, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
See More
ATI Signs Five-Year Strategic Agreement with BWXT for Defense Materials
- Long-Term Strategic Partnership: ATI's five-year strategic material supply agreement with BWX Technologies extends through 2030, further solidifying their decades-long collaboration supporting the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, ensuring a stable supply of critical defense materials.
- Continuing Technological Advantage: With nearly seventy years of experience in specialty materials for nuclear applications, ATI continues to provide high-performance materials that ensure BWXT's naval systems maintain unmatched performance, reliability, and protection, enhancing the technological superiority of the U.S. Navy.
- Leadership in Materials Science: As the world's largest producer of specialty materials, ATI leverages deep materials science expertise and proprietary process technologies to deliver highly engineered materials essential to BWXT's mission, supporting next-generation systems in extreme environments.
- Multi-Sector Strategic Partner: ATI excels not only in naval applications but also provides high-performance titanium and nickel-based alloys across air, land, and missile platforms, showcasing its extensive capabilities as a strategic defense partner.
See More
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- Critical Milestone: BWXT's TRISO nuclear fuel successfully powered Antares Nuclear's reactor to achieve the first criticality milestone under the Department of Energy's Executive Order 14301, marking a historic advancement in advanced nuclear fuel fabrication in the U.S.
- Efficient Fuel Production: BWXT processed high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) feedstock from scrap materials provided by NNSA, underscoring the company's leadership across the entire spectrum of next-generation fuel production and enhancing its competitive position in the nuclear energy sector.
- Strategic Partnership: Antares CEO Jordan Bramble noted that BWXT's TRISO fuel was essential for their reactor's criticality testing, highlighting the close collaboration between the two companies in advancing nuclear technology development.
- Market Demand Response: BWXT continues to supply TRISO fuel to Antares, demonstrating the company's readiness to meet customer timelines and the growing national demand for advanced reactor fuel.
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- Nuclear Opportunities for BWX Technologies: With the U.S. planning to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, BWX Technologies is poised to benefit from this trend due to its specialized equipment for nuclear reactors, and its role as the exclusive nuclear fuel supplier for the U.S. Navy ensures a steady revenue stream.
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- Investment Trends in the Industry: The U.S. government's encouragement of domestic manufacturing investment and increased defense spending provides strong support for industrial companies, particularly against the backdrop of rapid AI and data center construction, which is expected to further drive growth for these firms.
See More
GE Vernova and Others Benefit from AI Surge
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- Opportunities in Nuclear Market: BWX Technologies, as the sole nuclear fuel provider for the U.S. Navy, ensures a steady revenue stream through its 70-year unique position, while expanding into the small modular reactor market provides new growth avenues.
- Fluence Energy's Innovations: Fluence Energy offers grid-scale energy storage solutions that help data centers tackle grid capacity bottlenecks, with a record backlog of $5.6 billion indicating strong demand in the renewable energy sector.
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- NuScale's Development Challenges: While NuScale's small modular reactors (SMRs) offer potential for building smaller nuclear plants in remote areas, their 77 MWe output is significantly lower than traditional reactors, and with commercial deployment not expected until 2030, its stock has plummeted over 50% in the past year.
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- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Although NuScale may achieve larger growth in the future, current high Treasury yields and macroeconomic pressures make BWX, as a market leader with a robust business model, a more attractive investment in this uncertain market environment.
See More
ATI Signs Long-Term Strategic Agreement with BWXT for Defense Materials
- Strategic Partnership Extension: ATI's new material supply agreement with BWX Technologies extends through fiscal year 2030, reinforcing their decades-long collaboration in supporting the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and ensuring a stable supply of critical defense materials.
- Technological Advantage: With over 70 years of experience in manufacturing specialty materials for nuclear applications, ATI, as the world's largest producer of such materials, combines deep materials science expertise with proprietary process technologies to deliver essential high-performance materials for BWXT's mission.
- Multi-Domain Defense Collaboration: As a strategic defense partner, ATI supplies high-performance titanium, nickel-based alloys, and specialty materials that support next-generation systems across air, land, sea, and missile platforms, ensuring performance and protection in the most demanding environments.
- Innovation-Driven Growth: ATI is committed to solving the world's toughest challenges through materials science, leveraging unique customer partnerships and a commitment to innovation to provide materials and solutions that meet the challenges of today and the future, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
See More
ATI Signs Five-Year Strategic Agreement with BWXT for Defense Materials
- Long-Term Strategic Partnership: ATI's five-year strategic material supply agreement with BWX Technologies extends through 2030, further solidifying their decades-long collaboration supporting the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, ensuring a stable supply of critical defense materials.
- Continuing Technological Advantage: With nearly seventy years of experience in specialty materials for nuclear applications, ATI continues to provide high-performance materials that ensure BWXT's naval systems maintain unmatched performance, reliability, and protection, enhancing the technological superiority of the U.S. Navy.
- Leadership in Materials Science: As the world's largest producer of specialty materials, ATI leverages deep materials science expertise and proprietary process technologies to deliver highly engineered materials essential to BWXT's mission, supporting next-generation systems in extreme environments.
- Multi-Sector Strategic Partner: ATI excels not only in naval applications but also provides high-performance titanium and nickel-based alloys across air, land, and missile platforms, showcasing its extensive capabilities as a strategic defense partner.
See More
BWXT's TRISO Fuel Powers Antares Reactor to Criticality Milestone
- Critical Milestone: BWXT's TRISO nuclear fuel successfully powered Antares Nuclear's reactor to achieve the first criticality milestone under the Department of Energy's Executive Order 14301, marking a historic advancement in advanced nuclear fuel fabrication in the U.S.
- Efficient Fuel Production: BWXT processed high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) feedstock from scrap materials provided by NNSA, underscoring the company's leadership across the entire spectrum of next-generation fuel production and enhancing its competitive position in the nuclear energy sector.
- Strategic Partnership: Antares CEO Jordan Bramble noted that BWXT's TRISO fuel was essential for their reactor's criticality testing, highlighting the close collaboration between the two companies in advancing nuclear technology development.
- Market Demand Response: BWXT continues to supply TRISO fuel to Antares, demonstrating the company's readiness to meet customer timelines and the growing national demand for advanced reactor fuel.
See More
U.S. Industrial Companies Thrive Amid AI Surge
- Robust Demand for GE Vernova: GE Vernova focuses on energy solutions, with its electric power infrastructure technology supplying about 25% of global electricity; as demand for its gas turbines from data centers surges, the company boasts a backlog exceeding $163 billion, indicating strong growth potential in the coming years.
- Nuclear Opportunities for BWX Technologies: With the U.S. planning to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, BWX Technologies is poised to benefit from this trend due to its specialized equipment for nuclear reactors, and its role as the exclusive nuclear fuel supplier for the U.S. Navy ensures a steady revenue stream.
- Market Outlook for Fluence Energy: Fluence Energy, focusing on renewable energy and reliable power solutions, has a record total order backlog of $5.6 billion; as demand for power from data centers increases, the company is developing dedicated battery systems to meet market needs and enhance long-term revenue.
- Investment Trends in the Industry: The U.S. government's encouragement of domestic manufacturing investment and increased defense spending provides strong support for industrial companies, particularly against the backdrop of rapid AI and data center construction, which is expected to further drive growth for these firms.
See More
GE Vernova and Others Benefit from AI Surge
- Strong Demand for GE Vernova: GE Vernova's gas turbines are favored by hyperscalers, with a backlog exceeding $163 billion, highlighting the company's leadership in electric power infrastructure and expected to drive future growth.
- Opportunities in Nuclear Market: BWX Technologies, as the sole nuclear fuel provider for the U.S. Navy, ensures a steady revenue stream through its 70-year unique position, while expanding into the small modular reactor market provides new growth avenues.
- Fluence Energy's Innovations: Fluence Energy offers grid-scale energy storage solutions that help data centers tackle grid capacity bottlenecks, with a record backlog of $5.6 billion indicating strong demand in the renewable energy sector.
- Policy Support and Market Outlook: The U.S. government encourages investment in domestic manufacturing and increases defense spending, creating a favorable environment for industrial companies, particularly in the context of AI and nuclear expansion, which is expected to drive long-term growth for related firms.
See More
Nuclear Market Revival: BWX Outshines NuScale
- Market Revival Trend: After a decade of stagnation following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the nuclear energy market is experiencing a resurgence driven by the surging demand from AI and data centers, highlighting nuclear power's critical role in future energy structures.
- NuScale's Development Challenges: While NuScale's small modular reactors (SMRs) offer potential for building smaller nuclear plants in remote areas, their 77 MWe output is significantly lower than traditional reactors, and with commercial deployment not expected until 2030, its stock has plummeted over 50% in the past year.
- BWX's Growth Potential: As the only large-scale nuclear component producer in North America, BWX's year-end backlog grew 50% year-over-year to $7.3 billion, driven by strong demand for naval propulsion components and microreactors, with revenue and EPS projected to grow at CAGRs of 13% and 17% from 2025 to 2028.
- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Although NuScale may achieve larger growth in the future, current high Treasury yields and macroeconomic pressures make BWX, as a market leader with a robust business model, a more attractive investment in this uncertain market environment.
See More
