ETF Movers for Thursday: URA and REMX
ETF Performance: The VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic Metals ETF is down approximately 3.3% in Thursday afternoon trading, underperforming other ETFs.
Weakest Components: Key components contributing to the ETF's decline include Tronox Holdings, which fell by about 3.2%, and Albemarle, which decreased by around 2.5%.
Market Context: The article provides insights into the performance of specific ETFs and their components on a particular trading day.
Author's Perspective: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.
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- New Investment Activity: According to an SEC filing dated May 14, 2026, RPG Investment Advisory initiated a position in Centrus Energy by purchasing 50,460 shares, with a quarter-end value of $8.76 million, highlighting the company's potential and growth prospects in the nuclear sector.
- Holding Proportion Analysis: This acquisition positions Centrus Energy at 1.06% of RPG's 13F reportable assets, indicating its increasing significance within the investment portfolio.
- Performance Highlights: As of May 13, 2026, Centrus Energy's shares were priced at $192.31, reflecting a 107.7% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 by 81.28 percentage points, showcasing its strong performance in the nuclear energy industry.
- Market Outlook: Centrus Energy focuses on rebuilding U.S. uranium enrichment capacity, with a backlog of $3.9 billion; despite rising technology costs, its future production capacity and market demand remain areas of keen interest for investors.
- Constituent Changes: FTSE Russell has released a preliminary list indicating that ChargePoint, Canadian Solar, Nine Energy Service, Stem, and Battalion Oil will join the Russell Microcap Index on June 26, which is expected to enhance their market visibility and liquidity.
- Removal of Companies: Companies such as Centrus Energy, American Superconductor, Select Water Solutions, National Energy Services, XCF Global, and SolarMax Technology will be removed from the index, which may pressure their stock prices and affect investor confidence.
- Nine Energy Service Outlook: Nine Energy Service anticipates Q2 revenue between $136 million and $146 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $10 million and $15 million, indicating signs of recovery post-Chapter 11, which may attract investor interest.
- EV Charging Sector Activity: A significant M&A deal in the EV charging sector sees Revel merging with Voltera, indicating industry consolidation to address market competition, which could impact the market share and strategic positioning of related companies.
- Domestic Uranium Supply Chain: The U.S. consumes approximately 50 million pounds of uranium annually, with 95% imported; Eagle Nuclear Energy's Aurora project holds 32.75 million pounds of uranium resources, highlighting its strategic importance in the domestic supply chain.
- Drilling Program Launch: Eagle plans to commence a 27,000-foot drilling program in July 2026 aimed at addressing data gaps and advancing the Pre-Feasibility Study, which is expected to positively impact the regulatory process for U.S. uranium development.
- Environmental Baseline Studies: Prior to the drilling program, the company initiated environmental baseline studies in May 2026, which will support federal and state permitting interfaces, ensuring compliance and sustainability for the project.
- Strategic Partnerships and Policy Alignment: By joining the Uranium Producers of America in March 2026, Eagle demonstrates its engagement in domestic uranium policy discussions, while integrating Small Modular Reactor technology enhances its competitive edge in the nuclear energy sector.
- Uranium Resource Holdings: Eagle Nuclear Energy holds 32.75 million pounds of indicated uranium and 4.98 million pounds of inferred uranium at its Aurora project along the Oregon-Nevada border, highlighting its strategic position in the U.S. uranium market amid increasing focus on domestic supply chains.
- Drilling Program Launch: The company plans to initiate a 27,000-foot drilling program in July 2026 aimed at addressing data gaps identified through a Gap Analysis study, which will provide critical data for the Aurora project's feasibility study targeted for completion in the second half of 2027.
- Environmental Baseline Studies: Prior to the drilling program, Eagle Nuclear began environmental baseline studies in May 2026 to support federal and state permitting processes for uranium development, which will help accelerate the project's advancement.
- Policy Environment Engagement: By joining the Uranium Producers of America in March 2026, the company demonstrates its involvement in domestic uranium policy discussions, and combined with its Small Modular Reactor technology, Eagle Nuclear aims to position itself favorably within the tightening uranium supply chain.
- Historic Expansion Launch: Centrus initiated its historic project to return the U.S. to domestic commercial uranium enrichment in Q1 2026, with CEO Amir Vexler emphasizing the company's unique American technology that meets the growing demands of the commercial LEU and HALEU markets, highlighting its strategic importance in national security.
- Strong Backlog: As of the end of Q1, Centrus reported a backlog of $3.9 billion extending through 2040, indicating robust market positioning as the company has contractually produced over 1.6 metric tons of HALEU UF6 under its operations contract, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Cost Savings and Partnerships: Since late January, Centrus has identified approximately $300 million in potential cost savings and formed partnerships with Fluor and Palantir, aimed at reducing manufacturing lead times and accelerating project timelines, thereby improving operational efficiency.
- Revenue Guidance Increase for 2026: Centrus raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $450 million to $500 million from the previous range of $425 million to $475 million, reflecting the company's positive commercial progress and ongoing discussions regarding potential new enrichment offtake contracts.

Domestic Uranium Development Update: Eagle Nuclear Energy (NASDAQ: NUCL) has initiated pre-drill environmental baseline studies at the Auroral project site.
Environmental Studies: The studies are aimed at assessing the environmental conditions prior to drilling activities, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.









