In this article, we are going to discuss the best nuclear power stocks to buy now.
The United States of America is the largest producer of nuclear power in the world, accounting for almost 30% share of the global generation of nuclear electricity. The sector has witnessed an accelerated investor interest over the last year, largely driven by a continued focus on the goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and the widespread recognition of nuclear’s importance in the global ‘clean energy transition’. The International Energy Agency recently revealed that nuclear is set to generate a record level of electricity in 2025. There are more than 70 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity under construction around the world, one of the highest levels in the last 30 years, and more than 40 countries have plans to expand nuclear power’s role in their energy systems.
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One of the largest modern growth drivers of nuclear energy is SMRs, or small modular reactors, that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit and are quicker to build with greater scope for cost reductions. The IEA estimates that with the right support, SMR installations could reach 80 GW by 2040, accounting for 10% of the overall nuclear capacity globally. Several major US corporations are now actively working to develop the technology in the country, offering a potentially more flexible and cost-effective approach to nuclear power generation.
Another major accelerator for the industry is the ongoing AI boom and the accompanying data centers, which could consume as much as 9% of all energy generated in the US by 2030. This energy needs to come from a relatively cheap, clean, and reliable source where nuclear has massive potential. Several American tech giants are already investing billions of dollars in nuclear power and SMRs as an emissions-free source of electricity for their AI and other businesses. On the sidelines of the CERAWeek conference in Houston earlier this month, several major companies have even signed a pledge to support the goal of at least tripling the world’s nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
That said, a large number of nuclear energy stocks have lost momentum over the last year, primarily due to a steep fall in the prices of uranium. From highs of more than $105 per pound at the start of 2025, uranium prices have plunged to just over $63 currently. The decline of over 26% is influenced by factors such as the winding up of the Kazakh-based ANU, Trump tariff uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions with Russia, which account for around 44% of the global uranium enrichment capacity.
The United States imports the lion’s share of its uranium from Canada and President Trump’s 10% tariffs on energy imports from the northern neighbor could significantly hamper the growth of the nuclear sector. A Canadian uranium miner and producer stated last month that prices for US customers could jump by 10% if Trump’s tariff threats were to be implemented, raising costs for a sector that is looking to explode over the coming decade.
With that said, here are the Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Invest in.
An aerial view of a nuclear plant, its domes casting a unique shadow.
Our Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we scanned Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 hedge funds and picked the top 12 companies operating in the nuclear power sector with the highest number of hedge fund investors in Q4 of 2024. When two or more companies had the same number of hedge funds investing in them, we ranked them by the revenue of their last financial year. Following are the Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
12. Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE:DNN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE:DNN) is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE:DNN) reported a revenue of $4.02 million for the full year 2024, up almost 117% from the previous year. However, the company reported a net loss of $91.59 million, compared to a net income of $89.36 million in 2023, primarily due to increased exploration and evaluation expenses, as well as fluctuations in the fair value of investments. DNN ended the year with $108.52 million in liquidity, down from just over $131 million the year before.
Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE:DNN) is in for a big win from Wheeler River, which is to become one of the largest, untouched uranium mining areas in the world. The crown jewel of the project is the high-grade Phoenix uranium deposit, where DNN had already achieved a total engineering completion of approximately 65% at the end of 2024. The project is expected to achieve first production by the first half of 2028.
Shares of Denison Mines Corp. (NYSE:DNN) were held by 31 hedge funds in the Insider Monkey database at the end of Q4 2024, with Hood River Capital Management holding the largest stake worth over $47.9 million.
11. Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34
Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) is engaged in uranium mining and related activities. The company is the fastest-growing uranium supplier in North America, fueling the growing demand for carbon-free nuclear energy.
Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) made significant progress in ramping up its production in Q2 2025. The company reported a revenue of $49.8 million on sales of 600,000 pounds of U3O8 at $82.92 per pound from its physical portfolio, generating a gross profit of $18.2 million during the quarter. UEC also holds an inventory of over 1.35 million pounds of uranium, valued at $97.3 million based on current market prices. The company maintains strong liquidity, with $214 million in liquid assets and no debt at the end of the quarter.
Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) further bolstered its position as the largest and fastest-growing uranium company in the US with the closing of Rio Tinto America’s Sweetwater Plant acquisition in December 2024. The deal added 4.1 million pounds U3O8 per year of licensed capacity and 175 million pounds of historic resources to the company’s portfolio. UEC expects the constrained availability of US-origin uranium to drive premium pricing, creating a significant competitive advantage for the company.
10. NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37
NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) is a Canadian uranium explorer and developer operating particularly in the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan. The company is focused on optimally developing the Rook I Project into the largest, low-cost uranium mine in the world and is awaiting its final permit from the Canadian government to start construction later this year.
NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) is currently engaged in advanced engineering and exploration drilling to support future mining operations and anticipates annual delivery of about 1 million pounds of uranium from 2029 to 2033, subject to the commencement of commercial production. The company announced in December 2024 that it had signed its first agreements with US utility companies to supply 5 million pounds of the nuclear fuel ingredient. NXE further revealed last month that it is nearing more deals with other utilities in the country, indicating that the ongoing trade tensions between the two neighboring countries have not hampered its progress.
Shares of NexGen Energy Ltd. (NYSE:NXE) have fallen by over 36% over the last year, as investors remain concerned about rising costs. The company’s Arrow Deposit (part of the Rook I project) has seen a 70% jump in pre-production cost, from CAD$1.3 billion to CAD$2.2 billion, causing its IRR to fall from a sensational 71.5% to a much lower 39.6%.
