Nuclear Energy Experiences $10 Trillion Renaissance
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 59 minutes ago
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Should l Buy SMR?
Source: Fool
- Market Potential: According to Bank of America, nuclear energy is being 'rediscovered' amid surging electricity demand, with projections indicating a $10 trillion market opportunity over the next decade, providing reliable baseload power and a smaller carbon footprint.
- NuScale Power's Upside: With a market cap of $4.1 billion, NuScale Power is developing small modular reactors (SMRs) that, if commercialized, could offer significant advantages in cost, safety, and CO2 emissions, with large-scale deployment expected post-2030.
- Oklo Inc.'s Strategy: Oklo Inc., valued under $20 billion, focuses on smaller, bespoke projects, contrasting with NuScale's utility-scale approach, yet both companies are positioned to benefit from the widespread adoption of SMR technology.
- SpaceX's Potential: SpaceX plans to go public this summer, and while primarily a rocket company, its involvement in energy-intensive data center infrastructure could position it as a significant player in the nuclear energy sector, depending on its investment strategies post-IPO.
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Analyst Views on SMR
Wall Street analysts forecast SMR stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
6 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 13.520
Low
18.50
Averages
32.77
High
60.00
Current: 13.520
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.
- Surge in Nuclear Demand: As energy demand from data centers grows rapidly, nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence, particularly with promising technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) from NuScale Power, which could revolutionize the industry.
- Fluor's Stake Sale: Fluor, an early investor in NuScale with a $570 million investment, sold its entire stake for $2.43 billion amid rising stock prices, which has contributed to significant downward pressure on NuScale's stock, now nearly 80% below its 52-week high.
- Significant Technological Edge: NuScale is the only company with standard design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its 77-megawatt electric module, providing a first-mover advantage that could attract more customers, especially data center operators seeking reliable power.
- Slow Project Progress: Despite the promising technology, NuScale's project in Romania is years away from commercialization, and the lack of additional firm commitments raises concerns among investors about the company's stability and profitability moving forward.
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- Market Potential: According to Bank of America, nuclear energy is being 'rediscovered' amid surging electricity demand, with projections indicating a $10 trillion market opportunity over the next decade, providing reliable baseload power and a smaller carbon footprint.
- NuScale Power's Upside: With a market cap of $4.1 billion, NuScale Power is developing small modular reactors (SMRs) that, if commercialized, could offer significant advantages in cost, safety, and CO2 emissions, with large-scale deployment expected post-2030.
- Oklo Inc.'s Strategy: Oklo Inc., valued under $20 billion, focuses on smaller, bespoke projects, contrasting with NuScale's utility-scale approach, yet both companies are positioned to benefit from the widespread adoption of SMR technology.
- SpaceX's Potential: SpaceX plans to go public this summer, and while primarily a rocket company, its involvement in energy-intensive data center infrastructure could position it as a significant player in the nuclear energy sector, depending on its investment strategies post-IPO.
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- Stock Volatility Reasons: NuScale Power's stock price surged from $10.70 at its IPO to a record high of $53.43, but has since fallen to $12.53, indicating a waning investor enthusiasm for its small modular reactors (SMRs) and concerns over future profitability.
- Technical Advantages and Market Potential: As the only SMR manufacturer with Standard Design Approvals (SDAs) from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NuScale's 50 MWe and 77 MWe designs approved in 2023 and 2025 respectively, highlight its unique position in the small nuclear market, enabling deployment in remote areas to meet specific market demands.
- Project Delay Impact: The deployment of SMRs in Romania, initially planned for 2027 and 2028, has been postponed to 2030, with analysts not expecting the first reactors to be operational until 2033-2034, leading to a decline in investor confidence, as evidenced by Fluor liquidating its holdings in NuScale, reflecting a pessimistic outlook on the company's future.
- Future Revenue Expectations: Although NuScale anticipates revenue growth from $76 million to $321 million between 2025 and 2028, with a 30% CAGR, it remains deeply unprofitable, and any further delays could negatively impact its valuation and stock performance.
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- Future of Nuclear Energy: Founded in 2009, X-Energy focuses on developing industrial-sized nuclear reactors, with its Xe-100 gas-cooled SMRs capable of producing 80 megawatts of electricity each, addressing the urgent demand for low-cost clean energy in data centers.
- Funding Collaboration: In 2024, Amazon became the anchor investor in X-Energy's $500 million Series C funding round, with plans to jointly produce 5 gigawatts of energy by 2039, reflecting confidence in the future nuclear energy market.
- Market Performance: X-Energy went public on April 24 at $23 per share, and despite experiencing short-term volatility, its stock price has risen 30% from the IPO, reaching a market cap of $9.2 billion, indicating investor interest in its future potential.
- Financial Challenges: Although X-Energy reported $109 million in revenue for 2025, its $390 million comprehensive loss indicates that the company is not yet profitable and is unlikely to launch any products for the next five years, facing competition from companies like Oklo and NuScale.
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- Partnership Agreement: X-Energy has entered into a partnership with Amazon to produce 5 gigawatts (GW) of power by 2039, with Amazon serving as the anchor investor in a $500 million Series C funding round, indicating strong confidence in small modular reactor technology.
- Product Development Progress: Although X-Energy's Xe-100 gas-cooled small modular reactors can generate 80 megawatts (MW) each, the company currently lacks finished products and aims to launch them by 2030, reflecting challenges in its product development timeline.
- Financial Status: In 2025, X-Energy reported $109 million in revenue and grant income but faced a comprehensive loss of $390 million, indicating that its business model has yet to achieve profitability and carries significant investment risks.
- Market Competition: X-Energy faces competition from companies like Oklo and NuScale, as well as traditional nuclear reactor manufacturers, creating a highly uncertain market outlook for its future.
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- Significant Stock Volatility: NuScale Power's shares surged over 20% in the past 30 days; however, since reaching an all-time high last October, the stock has plummeted approximately 77%, from over $50 to $13, indicating extreme market volatility.
- Massive Market Opportunity: According to Bank of America, nuclear energy could create a $10 trillion global market opportunity over the next 20 to 30 years, while NuScale's current market cap stands at only $4.3 billion, highlighting substantial potential for growth.
- Technology Maturity Timeline: NuScale does not expect its first small modular reactor system to be operational until around 2032, with other competitors facing similar construction timelines, suggesting that significant market demand growth is unlikely in the short term.
- Investment Risk Advisory: Given the scarcity of real-world deployment examples for small modular reactors, investors should brace for extreme stock price volatility, particularly in the coming years, as market acceptance and risk tolerance for these emerging technologies will directly impact stock performance.
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