Fluor Corporation surged 16.92% on Friday after posting strong second-quarter earnings that beat analyst expectations. The company reported $4.3 billion in revenue (up 9% YoY) and adjusted net income of $0.91 per share (up 79% YoY), exceeding analyst estimates of $3.9 billion revenue and $0.70 EPS. New awards more than tripled to $6.1 billion from $1.8 billion year-over-year, demonstrating strong client confidence and business expansion.

Fluor stock surged 17.26% to a new 52-week high following strong Q2 2026 earnings. The construction and engineering company reported 9% year-over-year revenue growth to $4.3 billion, adjusted EPS of $0.91 (112% higher than prior year), and significantly increased new awards to $6.1 billion from $1.8 billion year-over-year, driven by major projects in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

UPS and Fluor, both trading 40% below their all-time highs, present buying opportunities for long-term value investors. UPS is stabilizing its business after pandemic-related challenges and union negotiations, with expected revenue and EPS growth returning in 2026. Fluor is shifting to less risky reimbursable contracts and benefiting from cloud, AI, and nuclear market expansion, with profitability expected to return in 2026.

NuScale Power's stock crashed 29% in H1 2026 as investors faced reality: the company hasn't built a reactor yet and won't deliver its first module until 2031. Key setbacks included a $507.4 million milestone payment to commercialization partner ENTRA1 Energy, a $690 million operating loss in Q4 2025, plummeting Q1 2026 revenue, and major shareholder Fluor's complete exit. Despite $890 million in cash reserves, mounting losses and lack of firm revenue-generating contracts have made the stock highly speculative.

Octave Intelligence plc has launched Octave CoLabs, a collaborative innovation program that embeds Octave's technical expertise with customers to develop AI workflows for industrial operations. The 11-week program leverages decades of siloed operational data to create production-ready AI applications. Initial participants include Bechtel and Fluor, with Dan Brennan appointed as VP of Customer Innovation.

Fluor, a major engineering and construction firm, has stabilized its business after pandemic-related challenges by shifting from fixed-price to reimbursable contracts. With over 80% of its backlog now in reimbursable contracts and tailwinds from cloud, AI, industrial, and nuclear markets, analysts expect adjusted EPS growth of 18% in 2026 and 28% in 2027. The company's recent $1.86 billion profit from liquidating its NuScale stake positions it for more stable growth, with potential 28% stock appreciation over the next 12 months if current valuations hold.

The article compares two nuclear energy companies: Nano Nuclear Energy, which develops portable microreactors for military and industrial use, and NuScale Power, which focuses on larger small modular reactors for utilities. Both are unprofitable pre-commercial ventures facing significant risks. NuScale is recommended as the better 2026 buy due to its regulatory approval and faster path to commercialization, though Nano's HALEU fuel technology may offer long-term advantages.

NuScale Power, the only U.S.-approved small modular reactor (SMR) designer, is positioned to benefit from surging AI data center energy demand and a major 6 GW deployment agreement with ENTRA1 Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority. However, the stock remains highly speculative with significant execution risks, including a previous project cancellation due to cost overruns. The company has minimal revenue and success depends on multi-year project timelines and sustained political support for nuclear energy.

Fluor, a leading engineering and construction firm, has seen its stock decline recently after Q1 2026 earnings. However, the company benefits from strong tailwinds in data center and energy infrastructure markets, a $3.2 billion cash position from selling its NuScale Power stake, and a $25.7 billion project backlog. With analyst estimates showing 15% annual earnings growth and a reasonable 15.5x P/E valuation, the stock decline may present a buying opportunity despite cyclical risks.

U.S. stock futures fell on Monday following President Trump's rejection of Iran's peace proposal response. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq futures all declined slightly. Key movers included Moderna jumping 8.57% on positive flu-vaccine data, Micron Technologies rising 2.10% after strong weekly gains, and Innodata falling 2.82% despite Friday's surge. Geopolitical tensions and persistent inflation concerns weighed on markets as analysts warn of a divergence between record stock prices and weakening economic fundamentals.

NuScale Power, a small modular reactor (SMR) developer, has seen its stock plunge 80% from its all-time high of $53.43 to $12. While the company holds exclusive NRC design approvals and has secured major contracts with Romania and the TVA, commercial deployment is delayed until 2030-2034. Near-term revenue will come from engineering and consulting work rather than reactor sales. Analysts project revenue could quadruple by 2028, but the stock remains unprofitable with limited near-term upside due to insider selling and execution risks.

Fluor completed the sale of its 126 million-share stake in NuScale Power, realizing a 326% return on its initial $570 million investment by selling for $2.43 billion. The company plans to use the windfall to strengthen its balance sheet, reduce debt, and support its $1.4 billion share repurchase program, while remaining a preferred EPC partner with NuScale and pursuing broader opportunities in nuclear energy, carbon capture, and critical minerals infrastructure.