Trump Positions Nuclear Energy as Key to US Manufacturing Growth
- Nuclear Sector Rally: Following Trump's address at the World Economic Forum framing nuclear energy as a safe and efficient solution, nuclear stocks surged, indicating strong market confidence in the sector.
- Policy Initiatives: The executive orders mentioned by Trump aim to streamline nuclear reactor licensing and fast-track small modular reactors (SMRs), which are expected to further solidify the U.S. position as an energy superpower.
- Investor Enthusiasm: Stocks of companies like Oklo, Nano Nuclear Energy, and NuScale Power spiked in response to Trump's support for nuclear power, reflecting investor optimism in the nuclear industry.
- Economic Confidence: Trump asserted that the U.S. is the economic engine of the world, with all three major indexes rising, including a 0.32% increase in the S&P 500, showcasing market confidence in the recovery of the American economy.
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- Surge in Investments: The Trump administration has made unprecedented equity investments in at least 10 companies over the past year, including critical minerals and chipmakers, aiming to build a domestic supply chain and reduce reliance on China, indicating a proactive government role in economic strategy.
- U.S. Steel Golden Share: The administration secured a golden share in U.S. Steel as a condition for approving Nippon Steel's acquisition, granting the president veto power over key business decisions, which ensures stability and growth in the U.S. steel industry, reflecting direct government intervention in vital sectors.
- Strategic Deal with MP Materials: The Defense Department struck a landmark deal with MP Materials, investing $400 million in preferred stock with rights to purchase additional shares, positioning the Pentagon as the largest single shareholder and further solidifying U.S. dominance in the rare earth mining sector.
- L3Harris and Defense Partnership: L3Harris announced a proposed partnership with the U.S. government, where the Pentagon will invest $1 billion in its rocket motor business, with plans for an IPO in the second half of 2026, allowing the Pentagon's investment to convert into common equity, enhancing the capital base of the defense industry.
- Market Recovery: Following a decade-long slump post-Fukushima, the nuclear energy market is rebounding due to rising power demands and AI market expansion, with global nuclear capacity projected to increase by 2.6 times by 2050.
- Cameco's Growth Potential: As the world's second-largest uranium miner, Cameco's uranium price has surged from $18 per pound in 2016 to $94, with expectations to reach $100, prompting the company to restart idled mines to meet demand; analysts forecast revenue and EPS growth of 9% and 91%, respectively, from 2024 to 2027.
- NuScale's Innovation: NuScale's small modular reactors (SMRs) are designed for deployment in areas unsuitable for conventional reactors; while still in the front-end engineering phase, a contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority will facilitate expansion before 2032.
- Investment Value: Despite Cameco's P/E ratio of 69 and NuScale's P/S ratio of 37, both companies' strategic investments and growing market demand may support their high valuations, positioning them as key players in the future of nuclear energy.
- Market Performance Comparison: In 2022, Canada's S&P/TSX Composite Index rose by 28.3%, marking the first time it outperformed the S&P 500's 16.4% gain in a bull market, highlighting the strength of the Canadian market and attracting investor interest.
- Sector Structure Differences: Unlike the U.S. market where tech stocks account for one-third, Canadian tech stocks make up only 10%, allowing the market to remain insulated from tech bubble concerns and maintain stable growth potential.
- Interest Rate Environment Impact: With Canadian interest rates at 2.3%, significantly lower than the U.S. range of 3.5%-3.75%, Canadian financial firms benefit from a more favorable financing environment, boosting stock prices, particularly in infrastructure and defense sectors.
- Investment Opportunities: The iShares MSCI Canada ETF achieved a 36% return in 2025, with an average annual return of 14.12% over the past five years, providing investors with a simple and diversified way to capitalize on the undervalued Canadian stocks in the current market context.
- Stock Performance: Cameco's stock surged nearly 750% over the past five years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's less than 80% rise, highlighting its strong position in the resurgent nuclear energy market and attracting investor interest.
- Uranium Price Recovery: The spot price of uranium has rebounded from $18 per pound in 2016 to $94, driven by surging demand from the cloud and AI sectors, prompting countries to restart nuclear projects and enhancing Cameco's market outlook.
- Revenue Growth: Cameco is projected to achieve a 29% CAGR in revenue from 2021 to 2024, with analysts forecasting revenue and EPS growth rates of 9% and 91%, respectively, from 2024 to 2027, indicating a significant enhancement in the company's profitability.
- Dividend Potential: Although Cameco's current dividend yield is only 0.15%, its 13% payout ratio provides ample room for future increases, and analysts expect uranium prices to continue rising, which will generate additional cash flow to support dividend hikes.
AI Growth and Energy Demand: The narrative around artificial intelligence (AI) has shifted from processing power to the need for reliable electrical power, as tech giants adapt to ensure their services remain online amidst increasing demand for AI capabilities.
Nuclear Energy's Rising Importance: Companies like Oracle and Meta are investing heavily in nuclear energy, recognizing it as a crucial, scalable solution to meet the energy demands of AI technologies, moving beyond traditional energy sources.
Investment Trends and Market Dynamics: Oracle's plan to raise $50 billion for nuclear reactor construction highlights a significant capital shift in the tech sector, indicating that nuclear energy is becoming foundational to the technology stack rather than just a commodity.
Regulatory Changes and Future Outlook: Recent regulatory shifts are expediting the deployment of nuclear energy projects, which could lead to a more stable and efficient energy supply for tech companies, ultimately benefiting investors as the demand for AI computing power continues to grow.
- Surging Market Demand: The demand for nuclear power is rising due to increased electricity needs driven by technologies like AI and electric vehicles, which has attracted investor interest, despite the historical downturns following nuclear accidents.
- Supply Gap Forecast: Cameco estimates a small supply-demand gap by 2030, which could widen over time, potentially leading to skyrocketing uranium prices and significant sales and earnings growth for the company.
- Valuation Risks: Currently, Cameco's P/E ratio stands at 140, significantly above its five-year average, and its price-to-sales ratio is 21, indicating that the stock may be overpriced, which could deter value investors.
- Investment Decision Complexity: Although Cameco's stock has risen over 800% in the past five years, investors must carefully assess whether they believe the market has not fully priced in the long-term opportunities while the stock hovers near all-time highs.











