Analysts Say These 2 Nuclear Power Stocks Offer Compelling Value — Here’s Why
A quiet shift is taking place in the nuclear energy space, and a recent update from the International Atomic Energy Agency brings that into clearer view. The agency raised its outlook for nuclear power expansion in 2026 for the fourth year in a row, while its longer-term projection points to global capacity more than doubling by 2050.
There are several reasons for the increasing global appetite for nuclear power. The socio-political push for clean energy is one – nuclear power is the most energy-dense of the ‘carbon-free’ energy sources. Crossing that is the growing demand for reliable electricity to feed the power requirements of the digital economy, especially the rapidly expanding data center segment. And behind all of that, the Trump Administration is proving to be policy-friendly on nuclear power.
All of these factors point to 2026 emerging as a strong year for the nuclear power industry. Project activity already reflects that trajectory, with 75 reactors currently under construction worldwide and well over 100 more in development. In the United States alone, 25 reactor projects are planned, pointing to a growing buildout and a widening set of opportunities linked to the sector.
Wall Street’s analysts are taking notice and have been picking out various nuclear power-related stocks as potential winners. Using the TipRanks database, we’ve pulled up the details on two of them. Let’s dive in.
NuScale Power (SMR)
NuScale, the first stock we’re looking at here, was founded in 2007 to work on a new frontier in nuclear power generation, the small modular reactor, or SMR. This technology has two main tracks: the development of a small, self-contained nuclear reactor power unit; and the ability to link a series of those units, or modules, to work in tandem and meet power production needs at any scale.
It’s an ambitious program, and NuScale has managed to bring it to life. The company has created a workable 77 megawatt module, housed in a cylindrical containment vessel just 76 feet long by 15 feet wide, and holding both the reactor and steam vessel. The reactor weighs ~700 tons, and is designed to be shipped, by rail, truck, or barge, in three segments.
NuScale’s modular technology has a number of advantages. For starters, the factory-built modules can be put into operation on a 36-month construction timeline – far more quickly than traditional nuclear power projects. The design is scalable, and is intended for flexible plant siting – making it easy to expand as the user’s needs grow. And finally, the company’s SMR design can withstand a wide range of ‘extreme events,’ including aircraft crashes, severe weather impacts, and even electromagnetic pulses.
All of that makes NuScale attractive as a nuclear power provider – and underlies the company’s September 2025 announcement of a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and ENTRA1 Energy. The partnership involves the launch of an SMR deployment using NuScale’s proven technology. The deployment, planned to reach 6 gigawatts, will be the largest SMR program put in play in the US.
We should note here that NuScale’s stock took a serious hit last fall, when Fluor, a global engineering, fabrication, and construction company, pulled out of its stake in NuScale. Fluor sold its position, 71 million shares, for approximately $1.35 billion – and afterwards, NuScale stock dropped sharply. Fluor’s move, however, did not mark an end to the connection between the companies; they remain partners, and have an agreement to monetize Fluor’s remaining 40 million share stake in the reactor company.
NuScale is currently operating in a pre-commercial setting, establishing partnerships and entering agreements to provide power reactors. In the fourth quarter of last year, the company reported generating $750 million in gross proceeds from an at-the-market sale of 39.3 million shares. NuScale finished 2025 with $1.3 billion available in cash and other liquid assets.
Eric Stine, a 5-star analyst from Craig-Hallum, covers NuScale, and he is impressed by the company’s current position. Stine says, “NuScale Power has put all the necessary pieces in place, and we believe it is in the pole position to be a first mover on the small modular reactor project front. SMR has ENTRA1 in place as its project development and financing partner in order to move projects forward in this nascent industry. Its supply chain progress is unmatched with Doosan and its alignment with a leading EPC in Fluor (FLR) are additional differentiators and SMR remains the only advanced reactor company with standard design approval (SDA) from the NRC. Add this all up and the steps taken to get to this point mean that NuScale’s focus is now on commercialization in 2026.”
Looking ahead, Stine says of NuScale’s prospects, “The expanding and urgent need for incremental power for AI/data center and a growing list of applications puts nuclear energy and small modular reactors at the front of the line to meet baseload power needs. Against this backdrop, we see upside share potential for SMR shares with catalysts, especially when the FLR share overhang is gone (targeted by the end of 2Q26).”
Stine quantifies his stance on SMR with a Buy rating, and a $24 price target that points to a one-year upside potential of 110%. (To watch Stine’s track record, click here)
Overall, NuScale has a Moderate Buy consensus rating on Wall Street, based on 12 recent analyst reviews that include 5 Buys, 6 Holds, and 1 Sell. The stock is trading for $11.41, and its $17.39 average price target suggests that it will gain 52% over the next 12 months. (See SMR stock forecast)
Energy Fuels (UUUU)
From SMRs, we’ll shift gears and look at one of the most basic requirements for all nuclear programs: uranium. Specifically, uranium mining. Energy Fuels, which is based in Denver, Colorado, is the leading uranium supplier in the US, and is also an important producer of rare earth metals. The company operates the Pinyon Plain mine in Arizona, the nation’s highest-grade uranium mine, as well as La Sal complex in Utah. In addition, Energy Fuels operates the White Mesa Mill, the only fully-licensed conventional uranium mill operating in the US.
In practical terms, this means that Energy Fuels can manage the full pipeline of uranium, from digging the ore out of the ground to producing the U3O8 that starts the nuclear fuel cycle in power reactors. White Mesa’s licensed capacity exceeds 8 million pounds of uranium annually.
On the rare earth side, Energy Fuels is working to become a major supplier in the global production chain for titanium and zirconium minerals. The company has three heavy mineral sand operations, located in the southern hemisphere. These are Madagascar’s Toliara Project; the exploration at the Brazilian Bahia Project; and a joint venture with Astron Corporation for development of Australia’s Donald Project.
The main products from these heavy mineral sand (HMS) operations are such minerals as ilmenite, rutile, and zircon – but the company is also working to monetize the common by-products of the HMS ops. The by-products, known as monazite concentrates, are sources of high-grade ‘magnet’ rare earth elements, such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.
Last month, Energy Fuels announced that the White Mesa Mill has produced its first kilogram of terbium oxide, following a recent announcement that it had produced 30 kilograms of dysprosium oxide. Both materials are used in the production of permanent magnets – and Energy Fuels was able to refine them to 99.9% purity.
This stock has caught the attention of Goldman Sachs analyst Brian Lee, whose write-up hits a simple theme: that Energy Fuels has a strong position in an important sector. Lee says of the company, and of its prospects, “We see a major structural shift occurring in the both the uranium sector, given growing political support for nuclear energy amid increased power demand trends, as well as the rare earths sector due to a growing focus on reducing over reliance on supply chains in China. UUUU maintains top-tier assets across both end markets, including a single processing facility that can process uranium and light/heavy rare earths and is nearing a meaningful expansion, providing a key competitive advantage as it looks to capitalize on these emerging positive trends… We see UUUU benefiting from operational execution as well as supportive dynamics across its end markets to drive continued outperformance.”
Following from this, Lee rates UUUU shares as a Buy, and gives the stock a $30 price target that suggests a one-year upside potential of 43%. (To watch Lee’s track record, click here)
There are 5 recent analyst reviews on file for this stock, and their breakdown – 4 Buys and 1 Hold – supports a Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares in UUUU are trading for $20.93, and the average price target of $24.06 implies a gain of 15% in the year ahead. (See UUUU stock forecast)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.