NuScale Power Trades Near $8. Here's What Has to Happen for It to See $20 Again.
2026-10-14 13:15
•Reuben Gregg Brewer •The Motley Fool
•• • Axe Cap view
NuScale’s SMR Stock Faces Long Road to Recovery
NuScale Power’s share price tumbled due to execution risks, with a rebound hinging on landing major contracts.
NuScale Power’s shares have cratered from $53 to under $8, a fall driven by hype fading rather than a direct business failure. The company has regulatory green lights for its small modular nuclear reactors—an exciting tech niche poised to reshape energy—but it still lacks a paying customer. For NuScale to retest much higher levels, it needs solid contracts, probably from US utilities like RoPower or Tennessee Valley Authority. Without this, the stock stays a speculative bet. South African investors should watch this in relation to the USD/ZAR since any strong US appetite for clean energy technology indirectly influences emerging market flows and risk perceptions. Local nuclear ambitions remain far off, leaving no immediate JSE equivalent. Remember, this is a classic startup story where timing and scale of first deals make or break returns. this is just our opinion and not financial advice
Avoid NuScale shares for now as the risk of no deal keeps downside high. Watch the USD/ZAR for risk appetite shifts tied to US energy policy news.
- NuScale Power (SMR)
- USD/ZAR
- Failure to secure first commercial contract
- Delays in US nuclear deployment programmes
6/10
NuScale Power's stock has plummeted 85% from its $53 peak to under $8, driven by investor sentiment swings rather than business fundamentals. The company, which develops small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), has an approved design but hasn't secured its first commercial customer yet. A signed contract with RoPower or participation in major U.S. nuclear deployment programs could be the catalyst to push the stock toward $20, though the company remains a high-risk startup with significant execution risks ahead.
Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.