This Nuclear Stock Could Be a Big Winner as the U.S. Rushes to Secure Its Fuel Supply

Centrus Energy was recently awarded a large government task order to expand its uranium enrichment capabilities.Over the past couple of years, there's been a shift in sentiment toward nuclear energy to meet the huge electricity demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. The Department of Energy has set an aggressive target to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050 and aims to have 10 nuclear reactors under construction by 2030. As part of these efforts, Congress has approved big spending for nuclear innovation and advanced reactor technology. As hyperscalers seek clean-burning energy and the United States seeks to diversify away from Russian sources, Centrus Energy (LEU 11.59%) stands to benefit and could be a big winner in the long term. Here's why. Image source: Getty Images. Centrus Energy's opportunity to be a domestic nuclear fuel producer Centrus Energy provides nuclear fuel components, enrichment services, and technical services. The company primarily generates revenue from its low-enriched uranium (LEU) segment, where it sells LEU, the primary fuel used in most commercial nuclear reactors. The company currently sources uranium and related fuel products from supplies, and its customers are utilities that operate commercial nuclear power plants. The company has two commercial agreements to purchase LEU, one with TENEX, a Russian-based entity. The company has waivers to continue purchasing from Russia, but waivers are set to expire by 2028, as laid out in the "Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act." As a result, there is a pressing need to replace about one-quarter of the enriched uranium the U.S. currently imports from Russia. In the long term, Centrus aims to go from a procurer/reseller of enriched uranium to a producer. The company has a uranium enrichment facility located in Piketon, Ohio, and has a real opportunity to grow as the United States seeks domestic suppliers of nuclear fuel. Centrus is one of two entities (Urenco USA being the other) approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to produce standard commercial LEU. Centrus is also the only company with an NRC-approved facility to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), the nuclear fuel that will power next-generation small modular reactors and microreactors. One of the most important things for Centrus is securing funding. The company got good news in January 2026 when the U.S. Department of Energy awarded it a $900 million task order to expand its Ohio facility. This is part of the Department of Energy's broader $2.7 billion investment plan to strengthen domestic enrichment and jump-start HALEU supply chains. ExpandNYSE: LEUCentrus EnergyToday's Change(-11.59%) $-24.35Current Price$185.81Key Data PointsMarket Cap$3.8BDay's Range$184.00 - $211.0452wk Range$49.40 - $464.25Volume115KAvg Vol1.1MGross Margin25.34% What's next for Centrus Energy Centrus projects that the first new production cascade (a series of centrifuges used to enrich uranium) at Piketon will be operational 42 months (or 3.5 years) after funds and commercial commitments are officially secured and the buildout is fully mobilized. After that, the second cascade will take six months, and each successive cascade will take two-month increments. Securing government funding is a major step forward for Centrus in expanding its Piketon facility. The stock has undergone significant volatility due to its expensive valuation and is down 41% from its 52-week high. While it's vulnerable to significant price swings, Centrus is an appealing stock for investors seeking exposure to the long-term buildout of the U.S. domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.Read NextFeb 12, 2026 •By Neha ChamariaWhy Is Nuclear Energy Stock Centrus Bleeding Red?Feb 11, 2026 •By Scott LevineWhy Centrus Energy Stock Is in Free Fall TodayFeb 6, 2026 •By Neha ChamariaCentrus Energy Stock Surged 264% in 2025. What's Next?Feb 5, 2026 •By Leo SunThe Nuclear Stock Everyone's Talking About -- But Almost No One Is Pricing in Its Income PotentialFeb 3, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy Centrus Energy Stock Popped TodayJan 26, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy Centrus Energy Stock Dropped TodayAbout the AuthorCourtney Carlsen is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering financial, real estate, industrial, and energy stocks.

Before The Motley Fool, Courtney was a lead senior auditor for the State of Florida. He holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Florida.TMFCourtCarlsenStocks MentionedCentrus EnergyNYSE: LEU$185.81 (11.59%) $24.35*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.