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Nuclear energy has come roaring back as countries and corporations seek reliable, low-carbon power options.
The AI explosion and the data centers required are a big part of nuclear energy renaissance.
Top nuclear energy stocks right now include BWX Technologies, Denison Mines and NANO Nuclear Energy.
Nuclear energy is stepping back into the spotlight as governments and corporations look for reliable, low-carbon power that can run around the clock. From life-extending existing reactors to backing next-generation technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs), policy support is strengthening across the globe. For investors, that creates opportunities spanning established utilities, advanced reactor developers, and specialized nuclear technology firms.
Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Several signals suggest the industry may be at an inflection point. Countries are approving new reactor projects, extending operating licenses, and committing capital to SMR commercialization to support grid stability and decarbonization goals. At the same time, power-hungry customers such as AI data centers and large industrial users are locking in long-term nuclear supply contracts, improving visibility into future cash flows.
That said, nuclear investing rewards patience. Long development timelines, regulatory complexity, and project-execution risks mean results can vary widely from company to company.
Below, we analyze and rank the best nuclear stocks using a blend of Zacks Rank signals, Style Scores, and fundamentals to highlight compelling opportunities today. (To see a full list of nuclear energy stocks, visit our Nuclear Energy thematic stock screen).
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
BWX Technologies supplies nuclear components and fuel services for U.S. naval propulsion, as well as a growing set of commercial nuclear and radioisotope programs. In Q4 2025, the company capped a record year with strong cash generation, raised 2026 profit and free cash flow targets, and ended with a sharply higher backlog tied to multi-year Navy and commercial awards.
Potential Risks
As BWXT is a contract-driven business, program timing, cost discipline, and government budget shifts can impact results. Execution missteps in scaling commercial nuclear projects could compress margins after a big run in the stock.
Forecast
Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) signals upward earnings revisions, even as Scores of B for Growth, and F for Value and Momentum flag limited valuation support. The Price, Consensus & EPS Surprise chart shows a price uptrend alongside upward-stepping forward EPS expectations and a pattern of mostly positive surprises, suggesting fundamentals have been doing the lifting.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Denison Mines is a uranium developer leveraged to nuclear-fuel demand through its Athabasca Basin assets and uranium interests. In its latest annual update, Denison made a final investment decision to build the Phoenix ISR project and moved into early construction, shifting the narrative from “optionality” toward execution. The company also cited progress at the McClean North project, helping maintain operating relevance while the Phoenix project advances.
Potential Risks
As the stock trades with uranium sentiment, a softer spot market or dilution to fund development can pressure shares. Equity dilution is another risk if capital needs rise or markets tighten.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) is supportive, but Style Scores of F for Value, D for Growth, and A for Momentum frame DNN as momentum-led, not value-backed. On the chart, the stock spikes while forward EPS lines drift lower and surprises are mixed, suggesting price strength is outpacing the estimated trend for now.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
NANO Nuclear Energy is an early-stage developer of microreactors and nuclear fuel services, offering optionality to next-gen nuclear deployment. The company ended Q1 fiscal 2026 with roughly $578 million of cash and high microreactor R&D spending. That balance-sheet flexibility can fund engineering, licensing work, and selective acquisitions without an immediate capital raise.
Potential Risks
The company’s operating losses are widening, timelines are long, and regulatory or technical setbacks could reset the story. Share-price swings can be extreme, and dilution remains possible despite today’s cash.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank #2 is constructive, while Scores of F for Value and Growth, and B for Momentum highlight a sentiment-driven profile. The company’s chart shows forward EPS lines that are volatile, alongside mixed surprises, which suggests that expectations are unstable and prone to quick revisions.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Rolls-Royce is an aerospace and power systems leader with meaningful nuclear exposure through submarine reactor work and its small modular reactor (SMR) development arm. In its full-year 2025 results, the company delivered materially higher profit and free cash flow and reiterated confidence in its mid-term targets, improving flexibility for investment and shareholder returns. Its strength in core business with strong aftermarket economics, a multi-year efficiency and portfolio-reset story can lift margins and cash generation.
Potential Risks
Execution remains the swing factor. Civil aerospace supply-chain constraints or widebody demand shifts can spill into cash timing, and SMR progress still depends on approvals, contracting, and project financing.
Forecast
Zacks Rank #2 with Scores of C for Value, and B for Growth and Momentum, suggests a reasonably well-rounded profile. The company’s chart shows a steady price climb alongside rising forward EPS lines, supporting the case for continued estimate momentum into 2026–2027.
This is our short term rating system that serves as a timeliness indicator for stocks over the next 1 to 3 months. How good is it? See rankings and related performance below.
The Zacks Industry Rank assigns a rating to each of the 265 X (Expanded) Industries based on their average Zacks Rank.
An industry with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The industry with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top industry (1 out of 265), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Industries. The industry with the worst average Zacks Rank (265 out of 265) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Zacks Sector Rank assigns a rating to each of the 16 Sectors based on their average Zacks Rank.
A sector with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #1's and #2's will have a better average Zacks Rank than one with a larger percentage of Zacks Rank #4's and #5's.
The sector with the best average Zacks Rank would be considered the top sector (1 out of 16), which would place it in the top 1% of Zacks Ranked Sectors. The sector with the worst average Zacks Rank (16 out of 16) would place in the bottom 1%.
The Style Scores are a complementary set of indicators to use alongside the Zacks Rank. It allows the user to better focus on the stocks that are the best fit for his or her personal trading style.
The scores are based on the trading styles of Value, Growth, and Momentum. There's also a VGM Score ('V' for Value, 'G' for Growth and 'M' for Momentum), which combines the weighted average of the individual style scores into one score.
Value ScoreA
Growth ScoreA
Momentum ScoreA
VGM ScoreA
Within each Score, stocks are graded into five groups: A, B, C, D and F. As you might remember from your school days, an A, is better than a B; a B is better than a C; a C is better than a D; and a D is better than an F.
As an investor, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. That means you want to buy stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2, Strong Buy or Buy, which also has a Score of an A or a B in your personal trading style.
Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) looks to find companies that have recently seen positive earnings estimate revision activity. The idea is that more recent information is, generally speaking, more accurate and can be a better predictor of the future, which can give investors an advantage in earnings season.
The technique has proven to be very useful for finding positive surprises. In fact, when combining a Zacks Rank #3 or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time, while they also saw 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Duke Energy is a large regulated electric and gas utility with meaningful nuclear exposure through its owned nuclear generation fleet. In Q4 2025, Duke introduced higher 2026 EPS guidance and reiterated a massive five-year regulated capital plan designed to expand the earnings base. The company’s earnings are primarily driven by state-approved capital investment and rate recovery rather than volatile commodity prices.
Potential Risks
As utilities are rate-and regulator-sensitive, higher financing costs, storm activity, and adverse rate outcomes can pressure returns. Nuclear assets also carry outage and license-extension execution risk.
Forecast
Zacks Rank #2 with Scores of C for Value and Momentum, and D for Growth, points to a defensive profile. The company’s chart shows price recovery while forward EPS lines stay fairly flat and surprises are mixed, implying incremental upside unless estimates begin to rise.
The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that uses trends in earnings estimate revisions and earnings-per-share (EPS) surprises to classify stocks into five groups: #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy), #3 (Hold), #4 (Sell) and #5 (Strong Sell). The Zacks Rank is calculated through four primary factors related to earnings estimates: analysts' consensus on earnings estimate revisions, the magnitude of revision change, the upside potential and estimate surprise (or the degree in which earnings per share deviated from the previous quarter).
Zacks builds the data from 3,000 analysts at over 150 different brokerage firms. The average yearly gain for Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks is +23.62% per year from January, 1988, through June 2, 2025.
Selections for Best Nuclear Energy Stocks are based on the current top ranking stocks based on Zacks Indicator Score, Style Scores and fundamentals. All information is current as of market open, March 30, 2026.
Learn More About Nuclear Energy Stocks
What Are Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Nuclear energy stocks represent ownership in publicly traded companies involved in nuclear power generation, reactor engineering, fuel manufacturing, and related services. These companies form part of the broader clean-energy transition while offering diversification away from fossil fuels.
What Are Some Examples of Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Best Nuclear Reactor Technology Stocks
NuScale Power (SMR) – Leading developer of SMR technology with NRC-certified designs that are scalable for diverse power needs. .
Oklo Inc. (OKLO) – Focused on compact fast reactors and advanced fuel solutions that may serve both grid and industrial customers.
Best Nuclear Energy Utility Stocks
Constellation Energy (CEG) – Major U.S. utility with extensive nuclear generation assets and recent federal support to restart legacy reactors.
Dominion Energy (D) – Diversified utility operating nuclear plants alongside renewables and other generation sources.
Best Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Stocks
NuScale Power (SMR) – First mover in NRC-approved SMR designs intended for global deployment. .
NANO Nuclear Energy (NNE) – Targeting the micro-reactor niche with portable reactor designs for specialized applications. .
What Are the Benefits of Buying Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Access to baseload power generation supporting grid stability.
Exposure to long-term structural growth in clean energy demand.
Potential dividends from established utilities.
Diversification from traditional fossil fuel exposures.
What Are the Risks of Buying Nuclear Energy Stocks?
High capital intensity with long project timelines.
Regulatory and permitting uncertainties.
Public sentiment can affect policy and plant approvals.
Some technology stocks may not generate revenue for years.
Nuclear Energy Stocks vs Nuclear Energy ETFs
Investors seeking broader exposure with lower company-specific risk may prefer ETFs, which bundle multiple nuclear stocks — from uranium miners and utilities to reactor builders. Individual stocks can offer higher upside but come with greater volatility.
How Does Nuclear Energy Demand Affect Nuclear Stocks?
Strong demand for reliable electricity — especially from industrial users and data centers — typically increases utility earnings visibility and supports long-term contracts that benefit nuclear power producers.
Is Nuclear Energy Considered Clean Energy?
Nuclear power produces electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions during operation and is widely recognized in many clean energy frameworks, despite ongoing debates over waste management.
Are Nuclear Energy Stocks Good During Economic Uncertainty?
Utility-focused nuclear stocks often provide stable cash flows and dividends, acting as defensive assets in uncertain markets. Tech-heavy nuclear firms can be more cyclical and sensitive to investor sentiment.
Nuclear vs Uranium Stocks: What’s the Difference?
Nuclear energy stocks involve companies producing power or technology for reactors.
Uranium stocks focus on mining and commodity exposure to nuclear fuel prices.
Both benefit from overall nuclear sector growth, but they perform differently in response to market drivers.
Evaluating if Nuclear Energy Stocks Fit Your Investing Portfolio
How Does Uranium Price Affect Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Spikes in uranium pricing may increase fuel costs but can signal higher long-term nuclear demand, often bolstering related infrastructure investment.
Will Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Increase Nuclear Stock Growth?
Commercial success for SMRs could open new market segments and accelerate capacity buildouts, potentially lifting shares of developers and their industrial partners.
How Will Government Policies Impact Nuclear Energy Companies?
Tax incentives, loan guarantees, and streamlined licensing improve nuclear project economics and can materially affect investor returns over the long term.
What Metrics Should I Evaluate When Picking Nuclear Stocks?
Assess balance-sheet strength, regulatory progress, contract pipelines, dividend history, and strategic partnerships that signal future growth potential.
How to Buy Nuclear Energy Stocks
How Do I Invest in Nuclear Energy Stocks?
You can buy shares of public companies through a brokerage platform. For stocks with higher volatility or lower liquidity, rigorous research is essential.
What Is the Easiest Way to Get Exposure to Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear-focused ETFs provide broad sector exposure without relying on the success of single companies.
Should I Buy Nuclear Stocks, Uranium Stocks, or Nuclear ETFs?
Choose based on your risk tolerance: individual nuclear stocks for targeted exposure, uranium stocks for commodity leverage, and ETFs for diversified sector participation.
Top Nuclear Energy ETFs to Invest In
VanEck Uranium+Nuclear ETF (NLR). Broad industry exposure across utilities, reactor tech, and fuel services.
Range Nuclear Renaissance ETF (NUKZ). Focused on companies positioned to benefit from the nuclear revival.
Managing Nuclear Energy Stocks
When Should I Sell Nuclear Energy Stocks?
Consider reducing positions after major overvaluation, project delays, or if fundamentals deteriorate relative to industry peers.
How Will Global Energy Transition Goals Affect My Nuclear Investments?
Global decarbonization targets and reliability concerns point to continued relevance for nuclear energy in balanced clean-energy portfolios.
Alternatives to Nuclear Energy Stocks
Are Nuclear Energy Stocks Too Risky?
Early-stage technology plays carry higher risk, but utilities with nuclear exposure tend to be more stable
Should I Invest in Renewable Energy Stocks Instead?
Renewables are expanding faster, but nuclear offers continuous baseload power, making it a complementary clean-energy asset.
Are Traditional Utility Stocks Safer Than Nuclear Stocks?
Traditional regulated utilities may be less volatile and provide dependable income, while nuclear stocks can offer greater thematic growth potential.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Strong Buy 
