What is nuclear energy?

Nuclear energy is the energy produced from either the chain reaction of splitting (fission) atoms or the combining (fusion) of light atoms into heavier atoms. Fission is the only commercially viable source of nuclear energy to date, and the heat it releases is used to generate steam to power turbines.

What is the leading company in nuclear energy?

Nuclear energy has only a small number of global players, and two companies are major leaders. Cameco is one of the largest producers of uranium and uranium products used to make nuclear fuels, while Westinghouse is one of the largest providers of equipment, parts, and services to the global fleet of nuclear reactors in operation.

What nuclear company is Bill Gates investing in?

The Microsoft co-founder is the largest investor in TerraPower, a start-up attempting to develop a compact nuclear power plant that uses molten salt for energy storage. The company has started construction on a demonstration plant in Wyoming.

Is there an ETF for nuclear energy?

There are a number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on nuclear energy, including the Global X Uranium ETF (NYSEMKT: URA), VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NYSEMKT: NLR), and Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NYSEMKT: NUKZ).

Are nuclear energy stocks a good investment during times of economic uncertainty?

It depends on your tolerance for risk. As a highly regulated industry that provides an essential service, established nuclear energy companies can offer a safe, stable, and recurring source of revenue. New projects, however, have seldom, if ever, been completed on time and under budget and have tended to roil share prices.

Best Nuclear Energy Stocks in 2026 and How to Invest

Q: Is Cameco a good stock to buy?

It's easy to be pulled in by rising share prices for nuclear energy stocks. Cameco is a great business, but investors should make sure to buy shares at a good valuation and monitor uranium prices to avoid overpaying.

By Frank Bass – Updated Apr 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Nuclear energy has come back into favor because it's a carbon-free source of energy.
Stocks like Cameco, GE Vernova, and Brookfield Renewable offer exposure to nuclear energy.
Understand the risks and cyclical nature of nuclear stocks before investing, despite favorable trends.

Nuclear energy stocks have become far more compelling to many investors in recent years. Between the implications of climate change, the limits on solar and wind energy, and storage technology, the still-high costs of hydrogen energy, and decades of data that support nuclear energy as safe, there are good reasons to support this carbon-free source of energy.

Given that context what are top stocks in the nuclear energy industry, opportunities, risks, and what investors need to understand. Let's take a closer look at the five top nuclear energy stocks.

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A nuclear power plant. — Source: Getty Images.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
Cameco (NYSE:CCJ)	$52.5 billion	0.14%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV)	$285.6 billion	0.14%	Electrical Equipment
Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP)	$10.2 billion	4.53%	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG)	$111.5 billion	0.52%	Electric Utilities
NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR)	$3.9 billion	0.00%	Electrical Equipment

Data as of May 2, 2026. Showing 5 of 5 tickers.

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NYSE: CCJ

Cameco

Today's Change

(-1.98%) $-2.44

Current Price

$120.60

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$53B

Day's Range

$117.90 - $122.39

52wk Range

$45.42 - $135.24

Volume

2.2M

Avg Vol

3.6M

Gross Margin

26.70%

Dividend Yield

0.14%

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Its McArthur River/Key Lake facility came back into operation in 2022 after being shut down for several years. Cameco's operations there have produced 567.9 million pounds of uranium from the largest high-grade uranium mine and mill in the world. Cameco also produces uranium hexafluoride and uranium dioxide, which are used in uranium enrichment and fuel rod production.

Like many other natural resources companies, Cameco is heavily affected by the cyclical pricing of the underlying commodities it produces and sells. As a result of these commodity swings, it can be a very cyclical stock, going through boom-and-bust periods when its earnings can spike and then fall sharply before recovering again.

The good news is that despite this cyclical reality, Cameco has a long track record of generating strong positive operating cash flow. It has generated positive operating cash every year since 2010.

In mid-2025, Cameco's share price was riding high on high uranium prices and the promise of a nuclear renaissance. But as with other cyclical, commodity-price-driven stocks, it's important to exercise patience, determine a reasonable valuation, and monitor current events especially in regards to energy production and short-falls.

With a strong record of making money, Cameco is a great business. But investors should make sure to buy shares at a good valuation and avoid overpaying when uranium prices are high. Current stock forecasting by experts for 2026 is set to an average of $121 per share with a high of $132.

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2. GE Vernova

General Electric completed its decade-long restructuring in April 2024. The legacy business was split into its remaining stand-alone entities, with GE Aerospace (GE -1.18%) keeping the stock ticker and CEO Larry Culp, and its energy business now standing on its own as GE Vernova.

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NYSE: GEV

GE Vernova

Today's Change

(-1.93%) $-20.91

Current Price

$1062.55

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$286B

Day's Range

$1062.00 - $1092.75

52wk Range

$387.03 - $1181.95

Volume

62K

Avg Vol

2.6M

Gross Margin

20.16%

Dividend Yield

0.14%

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The new energy-focused company has been good to shareholders so far, and investors interested in nuclear should consider owning it. GE has been in the nuclear power business since the 1950s, and Vernova is one of a handful of companies with significant market share in nuclear reactors.

The spinoff of GE Vernova includes GE's nuclear business; part of its Power segment, which also includes its gas, steam, and hydroelectric business; its Wind segment; and its Electrification segment. A few things make this GE spinoff a compelling nuclear energy stock. As a starting point, Vernova's allocation of capital as a standalone, energy-focused company should deliver better results.

Through GE Vernova, the nuclear reactors and services spinoff, investors will also get exposure to GE's leading gas, hydroelectric, and steam power technologies, as well as its leading onshore and offshore wind energy business.

Part of GE Vernova's growth market includes small modular reactors (SMRs), which are expected to be an important part of a more decentralized and flexible electric grid. The company received permission in mid-2025 to begin construction on an SMR in Ontario that would be the first reactor of its type in the Western hemisphere, capable of powering roughly 300,000 homes.

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3. Brookfield Renewable

Like GE Vernova, this isn't a pure-play nuclear energy stock. Brookfield Renewable owns, operates, and invests in hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities today.

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NYSE: BEP

Brookfield Renewable Partners

Today's Change

(0.57%) $0.19

Current Price

$33.30

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$10B

Day's Range

$32.88 - $34.35

52wk Range

$22.17 - $35.97

Volume

128K

Avg Vol

805K

Gross Margin

18.64%

Dividend Yield

4.53%

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It moved into the nuclear market in November 2023 when it bought a majority share of Westinghouse -- one of the world's largest nuclear services companies -- from Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU), taking on Cameco as a minority partner in the $8.2 billion deal. This move into nuclear energy isn't the first time Brookfield Renewable has spread its wings and diversified.

Historically focused on hydroelectric, it moved heavily into wind and solar in the mid-2010s and has more recently begun investing in energy storage. With nuclear now on the menu, Brookfield has a long, solid legacy of moving into nascent and formerly out-of-favor technologies when there's a clear path to profits. The latter seems to be the case with its investment in Westinghouse.

By the end of 2025 Brookfield Renewable delivered incredible grow in it's ability to generate income at least in the short term. The company reported a net loss of $9 million in 2024 and grew to $410 million. If this trend continues only time will tell.

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NASDAQ: CEG

Constellation Energy

Today's Change

(-1.65%) $-5.18

Current Price

$307.82

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$112B

Day's Range

$307.68 - $317.27

52wk Range

$241.46 - $412.70

Volume

82K

Avg Vol

3.4M

Gross Margin

17.35%

Dividend Yield

0.52%

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The company signed a 20-year power production agreement (PPA) with Microsoft (MSFT +1.62%) in September 2024 to support the launch of the Crane Clean Energy Center -- formerly known as Three Mile Island -- slated for 2028. The agreement gives 835 megawatts of power to the tech giant for data center operations.

Constellation also plans to offer nuclear power from the 1.1 GW Clinton Clean Energy Center, which has been heavily subsidized by Illinois taxpayers due to poor economics.

Constellation is expected to become the largest clean energy producer when it closes its $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine. The deal is expected to boost its capacity to more than 60 GW while increasing earnings per share (EPS) by more than 20% and adding $2 billion to its annual free cash flow.

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5. NuScale Power

Investors looking for more pure-play nuclear companies and a high risk tolerance level may prefer a company like NuScale, a start-up that's trying to take small-scale reactors commercial. The company's stock has been boosted by the Trump administration's plans to loosen regulations for new nuclear plants and boost the production of small modular reactors (SMRs).

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NYSE: SMR

NuScale Power

Today's Change

(-2.57%) $-0.32

Current Price

$12.14

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.9B

Day's Range

$11.85 - $12.41

52wk Range

$8.85 - $57.42

Volume

21M

Avg Vol

27M

Gross Margin

33.84%

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And while the U.S. Army announced an initiative to build small reactors to power its hundreds of military installations in the United States, NuScale should still be treated as an extremely speculative investment. While NuScale could prove a huge winner, it's still very early in its existence.

It went public via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in May 2022 and isn't likely to have its first VOYGR SMR power plant fully operational in the U.S. anytime soon. NuScale pulled the plug on a Utah reactor project in November 2023 and currently has no new projects announced with a definitive completion date.

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Nuclear energy stocks FAQ

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About the Author

Frank Bass is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and editor covering energy, healthcare, consumer, and financial sectors. Frank has decades of experience in financial journalism, holding reporting and editing roles at The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Bloomberg. He also currently edits research on the global energy transition. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and is a graduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Fun Facts: Frank has hiked The Long Trail in Vermont from end to end, and currently lives in a semi-dry cabin in Interior Alaska.

TMFEditFool

Frank Bass has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Cameco, Constellation Energy, GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable Partners and NuScale Power. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Nuclear Energy Stocks in 2026 and How to Invest

Key Points

Key Data Points

2. GE Vernova

Key Data Points

3. Brookfield Renewable

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

5. NuScale Power

Key Data Points

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Nuclear energy stocks FAQ

What is nuclear energy?

What is nuclear energy?

What is the leading company in nuclear energy?

What is the leading company in nuclear energy?

What nuclear company is Bill Gates investing in?

What nuclear company is Bill Gates investing in?

Is there an ETF for nuclear energy?

Is there an ETF for nuclear energy?

Is Cameco a good stock to buy?

Is Cameco a good stock to buy?

Are nuclear energy stocks a good investment during times of economic uncertainty?

Are nuclear energy stocks a good investment during times of economic uncertainty?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Premium Investing Services

Nuclear energy stocks FAQ

What is nuclear energy?

What is nuclear energy?

What is the leading company in nuclear energy?

What is the leading company in nuclear energy?

What nuclear company is Bill Gates investing in?

What nuclear company is Bill Gates investing in?

Is there an ETF for nuclear energy?

Is there an ETF for nuclear energy?

Is Cameco a good stock to buy?

Is Cameco a good stock to buy?

Are nuclear energy stocks a good investment during times of economic uncertainty?

Are nuclear energy stocks a good investment during times of economic uncertainty?

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Best Solar Energy Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest

Best Natural Gas Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Best Wind Energy Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

Key Data Points

Five top nuclear energy stocks

1. Cameco

3. Brookfield Renewable

4. Constellation Energy

5. NuScale Power

How to invest in nuclear energy stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in nuclear energy stocks

The bottom line

Related investing topics

FAQ

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

2. GE Vernova