BWXT's TRISO Fuel Achieves Criticality Milestone with Antares Reactor
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 04 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
BWX Technologies Inc. shares rose by 5.05% as the stock crossed above its 5-day SMA, reflecting positive market sentiment.
The increase in stock price is attributed to BWXT's TRISO nuclear fuel successfully powering Antares Nuclear's reactor to achieve the first criticality milestone under the Department of Energy's Executive Order 14301. This historic advancement in advanced nuclear fuel fabrication underscores BWXT's leadership in next-generation fuel production and enhances its competitive position in the nuclear energy sector. The close collaboration with Antares highlights the strategic importance of this partnership in advancing nuclear technology development.
This milestone not only demonstrates BWXT's capability to meet growing market demands for advanced reactor fuel but also positions the company favorably within the expanding nuclear energy market, potentially leading to further opportunities and partnerships.
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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: 203.070
Low
195.00
Averages
216.00
High
230.00
Current: 203.070
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.
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- Oklo Microreactor Design: Oklo is designing a microreactor called Aurora that can utilize nuclear waste as fuel and provide power in remote areas; although it has yet to receive commercialization certification, its technology holds potential to meet the electricity demands of AI data centers.
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See More
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- Oklo's Innovative Potential: Oklo is designing a fast-fission microreactor called Aurora, which, while not yet commercialized, could meet the substantial electricity demands of data centers and can be deployed directly in rural areas, addressing infrastructure shortages.
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- Exclusive Deployment Rights: Applied Atomics has secured exclusive rights to utilize BWXT's reactor technology for land-based power generation applications, allowing the company to advance its commercialization efforts without BWXT directly developing or operating nuclear plants.
- Decade of Development: BWXT spent ten years designing the mPower reactor, and Applied Atomics CEO Benjamin Kellie stated that their job is to complete its development and design the first optimized, vertically integrated SMR power plant, indicating confidence in future market opportunities.
- Market Reaction: Following the announcement of the agreement, BWXT's stock traded marginally higher during pre-market hours on Thursday, reflecting market optimism regarding the nuclear revival, particularly driven by activist investor Ananym Capital's influence.
See More
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- Technological Innovation: The mPower reactor is designed as an integral pressurized light water reactor capable of generating 195 megawatts of electricity and 575 MWth of heat, significantly reducing the risk of loss of coolant accidents by eliminating primary coolant piping found in traditional nuclear plants, thereby enhancing safety.
- Growing Market Demand: With domestic electricity demand projected to grow at its fastest rate in a generation, Applied Atomics is targeting the industrial and technology sectors for mPower deployment, addressing the anticipated need for over 300 gigawatts of new power capacity in the U.S. by 2035, showcasing substantial market potential.
- Certification and Support: Under the agreement, Applied Atomics will re-engage with the NRC to resume mPower design certification activities and will collaborate with BWXT to provide technical support, ensuring a smooth licensing process and further advancing the commercialization of nuclear technology.
See More
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- Market Recovery Outlook: The International Energy Agency forecasts that global nuclear capacity could increase by over 50% from 2025 to 2050, presenting significant market opportunities for companies like Cameco, BWX Technologies, and Oklo, especially as governments push for decarbonization initiatives.
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See More
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- 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
