Fluor’s Nuclear Gamble: A Wild Ride

Fluor Corp. (FLR +5.39%). The name itself sounds like something you’d find corroding in a forgotten government facility. And this week, it’s been LAUNCHED into the stratosphere. Thirty-five percent year-to-date? That’s not growth, people, that’s ESCAPE VELOCITY. I’ve seen slower rockets at Cape Canaveral. This isn’t your grandfather’s engineering firm; it’s a goddamn casino with blueprints. The stock jumped another 18% this week. Eighteen! While the rest of the market is picking at scraps, Fluor is apparently printing money… or at least, monetizing its dreams.

The Nuclear Roulette

Let’s talk NuScale Power. Nuclear. The word alone conjures images of glowing green goo and politicians sweating under hot lights. Fluor’s been quietly amassing a stake in this start-up, and now they’re cashing in. $1.35 BILLION for 71 million shares. It’s a beautiful, terrifying dance with the atom. They already raked in $605 million last year, and they’re promising another influx soon. It’s like they’re selling pieces of the future to keep the lights on today. Frankly, it feels… unsustainable. But who am I to judge? I’m just a guy staring into the abyss of the market, and the abyss is apparently buying Fluor stock.

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They’re also busy buying back their own shares – almost 17 million of them, for over $700 million. It’s the corporate equivalent of stuffing your mattress with cash. A desperate attempt to prop up the price? Or a sign of genuine confidence? I’m leaning towards the former, but hey, what do I know? They’ve got a $25.5 billion backlog of projects, too. Energy and infrastructure. The kind of stuff that keeps the world spinning… or collapsing, depending on your perspective.

Investors are lining up to get a piece of this nuclear pie, while simultaneously hoping Fluor doesn’t melt down before they can cash out. It’s a high-stakes game, a beautiful, chaotic mess. And I, for one, am strapped in for the ride. It’s either going to be a brilliant triumph or a spectacular disaster. And either way, it’s going to be one HELL of a story.

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2026-02-19 20:53