Oklo stock has declined 14% since 2026 began and 61% from October highs due to lack of major announcements and real-world project traction. However, the company expects a momentum boost in July when its Groves Isotopes Test Reactor is expected to reach criticality by July 4, 2026, marking a significant milestone for the advanced nuclear reactor developer.

Oklo, a small modular nuclear reactor developer, is positioned to capitalize on growing data center power demands. The company has partnered with Meta to develop up to 1.2 gigawatts of nuclear capacity, with first reactors potentially online by 2030. While regulatory approval and demonstration of its Aurora reactor technology remain pending, the nuclear power market could represent a multitrillion-dollar opportunity as data centers require massive amounts of clean, reliable energy.

BWX Technologies emerges as the clear winner in a comparison with Oklo, driven by its established revenue generation and strong backlog. While Oklo remains in pre-revenue stage developing advanced fission reactors, BWX Technologies generates consistent quarterly revenues exceeding $680 million and has secured $8.7 billion in backlog, including $1.4 billion in recent U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program contracts. The analyst recommends BWX stock for investors seeking exposure to the nuclear energy sector.

Oklo Inc., a pre-revenue nuclear power company valued at $12 billion, is developing small modular reactors to power AI data centers. The company has secured non-binding agreements with Meta and Switch but faces significant regulatory hurdles, execution risks, and won't generate revenue until at least 2028. Success depends on NRC licensing approval and avoiding construction delays common in nuclear projects.

Oklo, a nuclear microreactor startup, has experienced significant volatility after rising over 700% year-to-date before declining from its October peak. While the company has secured partnerships with Meta, Switch, and Equinix and boasts a 14-gigawatt customer pipeline, it lacks regulatory approval and revenue. With commercial operations potentially two years away and uncertain economics, investors face substantial risk despite the company's innovative business model of deploying small reactors for on-site power generation.

As AI and data centers face energy bottlenecks limiting growth, SpaceX and nuclear energy company Oklo present unique solutions. SpaceX is developing orbital data centers to reduce cooling costs through space deployment, while Oklo uses small modular reactors to provide faster, cheaper nuclear power for data center infrastructure. Both companies are positioned to capitalize on the projected $7 trillion global data center spending by 2030.

The article compares two nuclear energy stocks—NuScale Power and Oklo—both positioned to benefit from AI data center energy demand and government backing for nuclear expansion. While NuScale holds regulatory approval for its small modular reactor design, Oklo is recommended as the better buy due to stronger partnerships with the DOE and Nvidia, operational progress toward criticality, and a larger cash balance of $2 billion.

Oklo stock surged 7.5% after the U.S. Department of Energy selected it and four other nuclear companies to negotiate participation in the Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program. The partnership with European firm newcleo would use surplus plutonium as fuel for advanced reactors, addressing nuclear waste concerns and fuel supply constraints. However, regulatory approval and commercialization could take years.

The global SMR market is entering a 'Golden Age of Nuclear' with 2025-2026 marking a pivotal inflection point. With a market potential of $0.5-1.5 trillion and a 700 GW transformation scenario by 2050, governments and hyperscalers are converging on SMRs as scalable zero-carbon power sources. Recent funding includes UK's £599 million to Rolls-Royce SMR, US DOE's $800 million to TVA/Holtec, and landmark offtake deals from Amazon, Google, and Equinix. Cost targets aim to decline from ~$125/MWh to $40-70/MWh through manufacturing innovation.

NuScale Power's stock has plummeted 79% from summer highs and 30% year-to-date, along with other small modular reactor (SMR) stocks. Despite the sharp decline, the article argues the company's long-term growth potential remains intact, driven by AI data center demand for electricity. The stock collapse reflects the early-stage nature of SMR technology and regulatory challenges rather than company-specific issues, presenting a buying opportunity for long-term investors willing to tolerate volatility.

Oklo is positioned at the intersection of AI power demand, advanced nuclear energy, and clean energy growth. However, the company remains pre-commercial with a valuation that already reflects significant future success, creating a risk-reward scenario where execution will be critical to justify current stock prices.

Large-cap stocks in housing, nuclear energy, crypto mining, and commodities sectors experienced significant declines last week due to earnings volatility, rising Treasury yields, Middle East conflict concerns, and weaker crypto sentiment. Ten major stocks fell between 3.3% and 17.05%, with Oklo, Rocket Companies, and Carvana among the worst performers despite some posting strong quarterly results.