NuScale: A Tiny Reactor, Big Hopes (and Risks)

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Right. So, NuScale Power. It’s one of those things that keeps appearing on my investment feeds, and frankly, it’s a bit unsettling. Tiny nuclear reactors. It feels…ambitious. Like deciding to run a marathon after a prolonged period of Netflix and biscuits. Anyway, I’ve been doing some digging. The company, you see, believes in the power of small. Literally. Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs, they’re calling them. Apparently, they’re all the rage. Or, at least, they could be.

The earnings report is due Thursday, and honestly, I’m bracing myself. It’s like waiting for the results of a particularly disastrous online shopping spree. You know it’s not going to be pretty, but you peek anyway. The shares are down, significantly – over 33% in the last year, and a depressing 11% so far this year. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, there’s a tiny sliver of hope. Or, at least, that’s what I’m telling myself to justify spending another hour researching this.

Here’s my list of reasons why, despite everything, I might actually take the plunge. It’s a very short list, admittedly. I’m a cautious investor. Mostly.

  • First-to-Market Advantage: Apparently, being first isn’t just good for marathons. NuScale has actually had an SMR approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo and TerraPower are trying, bless them, but NuScale got there first. Two designs approved, no less. One 50MW, another 77MW. It’s like being the first to order avocado toast. Suddenly everyone wants one. They can even scale up to 924MW, enough to power a city. San Francisco, Seattle…or a very large data center. Which, let’s face it, is probably more realistic. And unlike solar or wind, it doesn’t depend on the weather. Which is a relief, frankly.
  • Bad News Already Baked In: This is the key. The company hasn’t made a profit since going public in 2022 (via a SPAC, naturally. It’s always a SPAC). And frankly, nobody expects them to anytime soon. So, the bottom line won’t be a shock. It’s a bit like knowing your jeans don’t fit before you try them on. The pain is anticipated, therefore manageable. Investors will be looking for contracts, though. A deal with a Romanian nuclear provider, Nuclearelectrica, for a project costing $6-$7 billion. That’s…substantial.
  • Low Market Cap, High Potential: The market cap is only $3.8 billion. Which means a relatively small piece of good news could send the shares soaring. It’s a bit like winning a raffle. The odds are low, but the potential reward is…tempting. Apparently, the House of Representatives held hearings on nuclear power in January, and the stock jumped 23%. And Trump, of all people, is pushing for more nuclear energy. Which is…unexpected. They even airlifted a small nuclear reactor (minus the fuel, thankfully) to Utah for testing. It’s all very…futuristic.

Units of Cryptocurrency Lost: 7. Hours Spent Watching Charts: 11. Number of Panicked Texts to Friends: 18. I’m starting to think I need a financial advisor. Or a very long holiday.

So, is NuScale a good investment? I honestly don’t know. It’s a high-risk, high-reward scenario. But, as my grandmother used to say, “Fortune favors the brave…or the slightly reckless.” And frankly, after a year of mostly sensible investments, I’m feeling a little bit reckless. Perhaps. I’ll keep you posted. Though, if it all goes horribly wrong, please don’t judge me too harshly.

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2026-02-25 11:32