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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 Denison Mines, BWX Technologies and Rolls-Royce.
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.
Denison Mines is a uranium developer with nuclear fuel exposure through the Wheeler River project in Saskatchewan and an interest in the McClean Lake mill. The core catalyst is Phoenix, an in situ recovery mine that now has final federal approval and a construction licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, plus a board-approved final investment decision that moves the project into site work and procurement. Physical uranium holdings and a large Athabasca land position add optionality if contracting activity stays firm.
Potential Risks
Cost inflation, contractor issues, or ISR ramp delays could slip timelines, while uranium price dips can cool sentiment.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) is supportive even with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of D and VGM Score of F. The Price, Consensus & EPS Surprise chart shows a sharp price rerating while 2026 and 2027 loss estimates shift modestly and surprises stay mixed.
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, with core exposure to US naval propulsion and expanding commercial nuclear and medical work. The model is built on long-duration government contracts, high switching costs, and a growing backlog that supports steady reinvestment. Management is also pushing into domestic commercial manufacturing capacity, positioning BWXT for a broader wave of reactor life extensions, new builds, and fuel cycle demand beyond defense.
Potential Risks
Program timing can be lumpy, and any slip in Navy or commercial schedules can pressure sentiment. After a strong run, valuation risk rises, and margin volatility from project mix or integration can weigh on shares.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) aligns with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of C, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of D. The chart shows estimates trending higher into 2026 and 2027 and a pattern of frequent beats, matching the durable price uptrend.
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 defence leader with nuclear exposure through submarine reactor work and the Rolls Royce SMR venture. Fundamentals are improving as the company leans into a service-heavy engine model, pricing discipline and cost actions that support cash generation and balance sheet strength. On nuclear, a UK contract with Great British Energy Nuclear starts SMR design work, while an early works deal with Czech utility CEZ extends the pipeline beyond the UK.
Potential Risks
Civil Aerospace remains sensitive to supply chain constraints and any travel shock that hits high-margin aftermarket demand. SMR progress is still gated by licensing, customer financing and government schedules.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank 2 pairs with a Value Score of D, Growth Score of A, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of B. The chart shows steadily rising 2026 and 2027 estimates and a clean uptrend, suggesting revisions are following the share move rather than leading it.
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.
NuScale designs small modular reactors, offering direct exposure to new-build nuclear deployments. In Q1 2026, it highlighted ENTRA1’s agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority for up to 6 GW of NuScale capacity and continued progress at Romania’s RoPower project, while reporting roughly $1 billion of liquidity to fund development.
Potential Risks
SMR is still early-stage: customer and regulator timelines can slip, supply-chain execution must prove scalable, and additional dilution is possible if commercialization stretches out. The shares have also shown extreme volatility.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank 2 comes with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of F. The chart shows volatile price swings, negative EPS tracks into 2027, and more downside surprises, which keep the setup headline-driven.
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.
Uranium Energy is a US uranium producer with nuclear fuel exposure through in situ recovery hubs in Wyoming and South Texas plus a physical uranium portfolio. The company is scaling a restart model, with production commenced at Burke Hollow after Texas regulator approval, and it has highlighted additional capacity work at Christensen Ranch and longer dated development at Sweetwater under FAST 41. A debt light balance sheet and inventory provide flexibility to pace sales into term contracting.
Potential Risks
Operations are still sensitive to permitting cadence, wellfield performance and uranium price swings, while holding physical uranium adds mark to market volatility. Any ramp stumbles can weigh on investor confidence.
Forecast
A Zacks Rank 2 is constructive despite a Value Score of F, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of C and VGM Score of F. The chart shows a sharp price move while forward estimates drift lower and surprises skew negative, implying execution must catch up to expectations.
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, May 11, 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 - Free Report ) – Leading developer of SMR technology with NRC-certified designs that are scalable for diverse power needs.
Oklo Inc. (OKLO - Free Report) – 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 - Free Report) – Major U.S. utility with extensive nuclear generation assets and recent federal support to restart legacy reactors.
Dominion Energy (D - Free Report) – 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 - Free Report) – 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
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