Centrus Energy Stock Falls 3.3% Amidst Unexplained Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Unexplained Stock Decline: Centrus Energy's stock fell 3.3% by 12:25 p.m. ET today, despite uranium prices rising 12% over the past few months to $88.40 per pound, the highest since May 2024, indicating strong market demand.
- Uranium Market Developments: South Korea's announcement to build two large nuclear plants in the 2030s, operational by 2037 and 2038, is bullish for global uranium demand, yet it has not prevented Centrus Energy's stock decline, reflecting complex market sentiments.
- Strong Financial Position: With a price-to-earnings ratio of 46, Centrus Energy is not cheap, but it is profitable and has a solid cash flow, highlighting its investment value in nuclear stocks, particularly in the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel.
- Market Outlook Analysis: Centrus Energy's balance sheet shows more cash than debt, and its free cash flow significantly exceeds net income, with an enterprise value-to-free cash flow ratio of only 34x, indicating strong investment potential in the nuclear sector despite current stock volatility.
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Analyst Views on LEU
Wall Street analysts forecast LEU stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 199.350
Low
117.00
Averages
297.10
High
390.00
Current: 199.350
Low
117.00
Averages
297.10
High
390.00
About LEU
Centrus Energy Corp. is a supplier of nuclear fuel components for the nuclear power industry. Its segments include Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Technical Solutions. Its LEU segment supplies various components of nuclear fuel to commercial customers from its global network of suppliers. The LEU segment consists of two components: SWU and natural uranium hexafluoride. It supplies LEU and its components to both domestic and international utilities for use in nuclear reactors worldwide. It provides LEU from multiple sources, including its inventory, medium- and long-term supply contracts, and spot purchases. It also sells natural uranium hexafluoride and occasionally sells uranium concentrates. The Technical Solutions segment provides advanced engineering, design, and manufacturing services to government and private sector customers. It is deploying uranium enrichment and other capabilities necessary to produce advanced nuclear fuel to power existing reactors around the world.
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.
U.S. Nuclear Expansion Collides with Uranium Supply Constraints
- Nuclear Expansion Initiative: President Trump's signing of four executive orders aims to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity over the next 25 years, addressing the surging electricity demand driven by sectors like AI and quantum computing.
- Uranium Supply Shortage: With projections indicating a significant increase in uranium demand by 2026, domestic mine production is failing to meet reactor requirements, leading to a structural supply deficit that heightens investor focus on resource control.
- Merger Progress: The merger between Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II and Eagle Energy Metals is advancing, with the SEC declaring its registration statement effective, and a shareholder vote scheduled for February 23, 2026, marking a critical step towards NASDAQ listing.
- Technological Investment: Eagle Energy Metals is collaborating with BBA USA Inc. to design a drilling campaign at the Aurora uranium project to support a Pre-Feasibility Study, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the U.S. uranium market to meet rising nuclear energy demands.
See More
Eagle Energy Metals Corp Merger Progress
- Nuclear Capacity Expansion: President Trump's signing of four executive orders aims to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity over the next 25 years, addressing the increasing electricity demand driven by emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing that strain the grid.
- Merger Progress: The merger between Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II and Eagle Energy Metals has received SEC registration approval, with a shareholder meeting scheduled for February 23, 2026, marking a significant step towards its NASDAQ listing.
- Uranium Supply Chain Investment: The U.S. Department of Energy's allocation of $2.7 billion to expand domestic uranium enrichment is expected to create thousands of jobs, further solidifying America's leadership in the global nuclear fuel supply chain.
- Mineral Resource Development: Eagle Energy Metals holds rights to a 32.75 million-pound uranium deposit on the Oregon-Nevada border and is collaborating with BBA USA Inc. on drilling activities to support its feasibility study, ensuring its asset can meet the growing uranium demand.
See More
Amazon Drives Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Restart
- Nuclear Fuel License Breakthrough: Amazon has secured the first nuclear fuel license in 50 years, breaking the bottleneck for deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and restarting the High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) supply chain, ensuring reactor operations and advancing AI infrastructure development.
- Nuclear Capacity Goals: Amazon and X-Energy aim to deploy 5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2039, sufficient to power millions of homes and some of the world's largest AI clusters, highlighting the critical role of nuclear energy in future energy structures.
- Strategic Uranium Supply Chain: This breakthrough shifts nuclear energy from theory to execution, placing the uranium supply chain in focus, with Centrus being one of the few U.S. companies capable of HALEU enrichment, enhancing its market position as a key domestic supplier.
- Infrastructure Investment Opportunity: With the return of nuclear energy, investors should pay attention to this infrastructure narrative, as the increasing demand for power from AI aligns perfectly with nuclear energy solutions, marking a significant shift in the energy landscape.
See More
Centrus Energy Shares Recover as Analysts Remain Bullish
- Price Recovery: Centrus Energy shares have risen by 7% to $13.20, returning to early September levels, indicating a resurgence of investor confidence and positioning the stock to end the week positively.
- Analyst Support: Despite Centrus's recent earnings report failing to meet revenue and profit expectations, leading to some sell-offs, analysts remain optimistic, with JPMorgan lowering its price target to $236, still implying over 12% upside potential.
- Strong Backlog: With a robust $3.8 billion backlog, Centrus is well-positioned to thrive amid the ongoing nuclear renaissance, showcasing consistent profitability despite short-term challenges.
- Market Reaction: Supported by analysts, investor buying interest in Centrus has increased, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future growth potential, even after missing expectations.
See More
Centrus Energy Shares Plunge Over 11% Amid Earnings Miss
- Significant Stock Decline: Centrus Energy's shares fell over 11% on Thursday, marking a 20% loss in 2025 so far, reflecting investor concerns about its future performance after a staggering 500% increase earlier in the year, indicating a sharp shift in market sentiment.
- Earnings Miss Expectations: The company's February 11 earnings report revealed a 3.5% drop in fourth-quarter revenue and a 6.3% decline in net income for the year, coupled with flat revenue guidance for 2026, which raised doubts about its growth prospects and pressured the stock further.
- Backlog and Production Plans: Despite signing $2.1 billion in low-enriched uranium (LEU) sales contracts and plans to expand its Ohio facility for large-scale HALEU production, the failure to meet analyst expectations has led to skepticism about Centrus's execution capabilities, impacting investor confidence.
- Analysts Remain Optimistic: Even amidst short-term volatility, Roth Capital raised Centrus's price target from $125 to $137 post-earnings, reflecting analysts' confidence in its long-term growth potential, particularly given its dominant position in the HALEU market, which is expected to support future development.
See More
Shift in Nuclear Energy Sentiment Benefits Centrus Energy
- Growing Nuclear Demand: With the surge in electricity needs from artificial intelligence and data centers, the U.S. Department of Energy has set an ambitious target to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, which is expected to drive rapid growth in the nuclear energy market.
- Centrus Energy Opportunity: Centrus Energy aims to transition from a procurer to a producer of nuclear fuel, particularly as the U.S. seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian uranium imports, which will significantly increase market demand for domestic suppliers.
- Funding Support: In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Centrus a $900 million task order to expand its Ohio facility, which will help strengthen domestic enrichment capabilities and kickstart high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) supply chains.
- Production Timeline: Centrus projects that the first new production cascade at Piketon will be operational within 42 months after securing funds and commercial commitments, with subsequent cascades taking progressively shorter build times, highlighting its strategic potential in the nuclear fuel supply chain.
See More
U.S. Nuclear Expansion Collides with Uranium Supply Constraints
- Nuclear Expansion Initiative: President Trump's signing of four executive orders aims to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity over the next 25 years, addressing the surging electricity demand driven by sectors like AI and quantum computing.
- Uranium Supply Shortage: With projections indicating a significant increase in uranium demand by 2026, domestic mine production is failing to meet reactor requirements, leading to a structural supply deficit that heightens investor focus on resource control.
- Merger Progress: The merger between Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II and Eagle Energy Metals is advancing, with the SEC declaring its registration statement effective, and a shareholder vote scheduled for February 23, 2026, marking a critical step towards NASDAQ listing.
- Technological Investment: Eagle Energy Metals is collaborating with BBA USA Inc. to design a drilling campaign at the Aurora uranium project to support a Pre-Feasibility Study, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the U.S. uranium market to meet rising nuclear energy demands.
See More
Eagle Energy Metals Corp Merger Progress
- Nuclear Capacity Expansion: President Trump's signing of four executive orders aims to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity over the next 25 years, addressing the increasing electricity demand driven by emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing that strain the grid.
- Merger Progress: The merger between Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II and Eagle Energy Metals has received SEC registration approval, with a shareholder meeting scheduled for February 23, 2026, marking a significant step towards its NASDAQ listing.
- Uranium Supply Chain Investment: The U.S. Department of Energy's allocation of $2.7 billion to expand domestic uranium enrichment is expected to create thousands of jobs, further solidifying America's leadership in the global nuclear fuel supply chain.
- Mineral Resource Development: Eagle Energy Metals holds rights to a 32.75 million-pound uranium deposit on the Oregon-Nevada border and is collaborating with BBA USA Inc. on drilling activities to support its feasibility study, ensuring its asset can meet the growing uranium demand.
See More
Amazon Drives Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Restart
- Nuclear Fuel License Breakthrough: Amazon has secured the first nuclear fuel license in 50 years, breaking the bottleneck for deploying Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and restarting the High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) supply chain, ensuring reactor operations and advancing AI infrastructure development.
- Nuclear Capacity Goals: Amazon and X-Energy aim to deploy 5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2039, sufficient to power millions of homes and some of the world's largest AI clusters, highlighting the critical role of nuclear energy in future energy structures.
- Strategic Uranium Supply Chain: This breakthrough shifts nuclear energy from theory to execution, placing the uranium supply chain in focus, with Centrus being one of the few U.S. companies capable of HALEU enrichment, enhancing its market position as a key domestic supplier.
- Infrastructure Investment Opportunity: With the return of nuclear energy, investors should pay attention to this infrastructure narrative, as the increasing demand for power from AI aligns perfectly with nuclear energy solutions, marking a significant shift in the energy landscape.
See More
Centrus Energy Shares Recover as Analysts Remain Bullish
- Price Recovery: Centrus Energy shares have risen by 7% to $13.20, returning to early September levels, indicating a resurgence of investor confidence and positioning the stock to end the week positively.
- Analyst Support: Despite Centrus's recent earnings report failing to meet revenue and profit expectations, leading to some sell-offs, analysts remain optimistic, with JPMorgan lowering its price target to $236, still implying over 12% upside potential.
- Strong Backlog: With a robust $3.8 billion backlog, Centrus is well-positioned to thrive amid the ongoing nuclear renaissance, showcasing consistent profitability despite short-term challenges.
- Market Reaction: Supported by analysts, investor buying interest in Centrus has increased, reflecting strong confidence in the company's future growth potential, even after missing expectations.
See More
Centrus Energy Shares Plunge Over 11% Amid Earnings Miss
- Significant Stock Decline: Centrus Energy's shares fell over 11% on Thursday, marking a 20% loss in 2025 so far, reflecting investor concerns about its future performance after a staggering 500% increase earlier in the year, indicating a sharp shift in market sentiment.
- Earnings Miss Expectations: The company's February 11 earnings report revealed a 3.5% drop in fourth-quarter revenue and a 6.3% decline in net income for the year, coupled with flat revenue guidance for 2026, which raised doubts about its growth prospects and pressured the stock further.
- Backlog and Production Plans: Despite signing $2.1 billion in low-enriched uranium (LEU) sales contracts and plans to expand its Ohio facility for large-scale HALEU production, the failure to meet analyst expectations has led to skepticism about Centrus's execution capabilities, impacting investor confidence.
- Analysts Remain Optimistic: Even amidst short-term volatility, Roth Capital raised Centrus's price target from $125 to $137 post-earnings, reflecting analysts' confidence in its long-term growth potential, particularly given its dominant position in the HALEU market, which is expected to support future development.
See More
Shift in Nuclear Energy Sentiment Benefits Centrus Energy
- Growing Nuclear Demand: With the surge in electricity needs from artificial intelligence and data centers, the U.S. Department of Energy has set an ambitious target to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, which is expected to drive rapid growth in the nuclear energy market.
- Centrus Energy Opportunity: Centrus Energy aims to transition from a procurer to a producer of nuclear fuel, particularly as the U.S. seeks to reduce its reliance on Russian uranium imports, which will significantly increase market demand for domestic suppliers.
- Funding Support: In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Centrus a $900 million task order to expand its Ohio facility, which will help strengthen domestic enrichment capabilities and kickstart high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) supply chains.
- Production Timeline: Centrus projects that the first new production cascade at Piketon will be operational within 42 months after securing funds and commercial commitments, with subsequent cascades taking progressively shorter build times, highlighting its strategic potential in the nuclear fuel supply chain.
See More
