Oklo's Nuclear Ambitions Soar Amid AI-Driven Energy Demand and Potential Policy Shifts

What's Going On With Oklo Shares Today? - Oklo (NYSE:OKLO)

Oklo Inc. OKLO shares are trading higher Friday as part of a broad rally in uranium and nuclear-related stocks. What To Know: The move comes after reports indicating President Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. nuclear energy industry. Trump plans to invoke the Defense Production Act to declare a national emergency over the United States' dependence on foreign uranium. The executive actions are expected to direct federal agencies to fast-track nuclear energy projects in a bid to strengthen domestic supply chains and energy security. The renewed focus on nuclear power comes amid growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers, which require substantial and reliable energy sources. Investors are betting that nuclear power will play a bigger role in meeting that demand, driving up both uranium prices and the value of companies involved in nuclear development. Oklo, a developer of advanced fission reactors, was among the biggest gainers alongside peers such as Nano Nuclear Energy, Uranium Energy Corp and Energy Fuels. The entire uranium sector benefited from speculation that increased government support could accelerate deployment and commercialization of next-generation nuclear technologies. The Global X Uranium ETF (URA), which tracks a basket of uranium producers and component manufacturers, also gained significantly, highlighting widespread investor optimism about the sector's outlook under a pro-nuclear policy shift. OKLO Price Action: Oklo shares were up 24.9% at $49.60 at the time of writing, according to Benzinga Pro. Read Next: Trump Tariff Threat Hits Europe: Stocks Sink As 50% Duties Loom Image Via Shutterstock. OKLOOklo Inc$48.6022.4%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum99.22Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Oklo Stock To Go Nuclear? Analyst Calls It A 'Major AI Revolution Player' - Oklo (NYSE:OKLO)

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives highlighted nuclear energy stocks in a note released Friday and pointed to Oklo, Inc. OKLO as the star of the sector. What To Know: President Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders as early as Friday to boost the nuclear energy industry by streamlining approvals for new reactors and strengthening fuel supply chains. Read Next: Uranium Stocks Surge: Trump's Nuclear Push Sparks Double-Digit Gains The anticipated executive orders are expected to direct federal agencies to expedite permitting and siting of new nuclear facilities and instruct the Departments of Energy and Defense to identify federal lands and facilities suitable for nuclear deployment, bypassing some of the current Nuclear Regulatory Commission hurdles. Expert Ideas: Ives pointed to Oklo as a primary beneficiary of Trump's policy changes. It plans to submit a combined license application by the end of 2025 and deploy its first commercial power plant by 2027. Increased federal support and streamlined regulation could accelerate this. Oklo's business model of building, owning and operating its own reactors while selling power directly to customers under long-term contracts positions it well for recurring revenues and addresses common pain points in nuclear projects, Ives said. He sees Oklo as "set to be a major player" in the "AI Revolution datacenter buildout." Wedbush maintained an Outperform rating on Oklo stock and raised its price target from $45 to $55. Other Nuclear Stocks: The Wedbush senior analyst also highlighted other companies likely to benefit from the executive orders including nuclear energy stocks such as NuScale Power Corp. SMR, Lightbridge Corp. LTBR and Centrus Energy Corp. LEU, as well as uranium suppliers like Energy Fuels Inc. UUUU, Cameco Corp. CCJ, Uranium Energy Corp. UEC and Nexgen Energy Ltd. NXE. Read Next: Solar Energy Stocks Drop As House Approves Major Rollback Of Climate Incentives Image: Shutterstock OKLOOklo Inc$49.7425.2%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum99.22Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewCCJCameco Corp$57.248.39%LEUCentrus Energy Corp$110.7118.8%LTBRLightbridge Corp$15.6346.6%NXENexGen Energy Ltd$6.0911.9%SMRNuScale Power Corp$28.3211.8%UECUranium Energy Corp$6.3022.2%UUUUEnergy Fuels Inc$5.2216.1%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Wedbush lifts Oklo stock target to $55 on competitive edge By Investing.com

On Friday, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives updated the firm's outlook on Oklo (NYSE: OKLO), increasing the price target to $55 from the previous $45, while sustaining an Outperform rating on the shares. Currently trading at $39.72 with a market capitalization of $5.5 billion, Oklo has demonstrated remarkable momentum with a 423% return over the past year. The updated valuation reflects a positive view on Oklo's strategic positioning in the nuclear energy sector. Ives highlighted Oklo's unique business model, which involves selling power directly to customers under long-term contracts. This approach, according to Ives, places Oklo in a strong position to generate sustained recurring revenue and mitigate common challenges in nuclear project development. InvestingPro data shows the company maintains strong liquidity with a current ratio of 36.23 and holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet. The company's operational strategy is further strengthened by the backing of Sam Altman, a notable figure in the technology industry. The analyst also underscored the potential growth opportunity for Oklo within the small modular reactor (SMR) space, particularly in serving the data center market. As the demand for energy to support data creation, storage, and processing skyrockets, Oklo's Aurora Powerhouse, capable of holding up to 75 megawatts, is well-suited to meet the needs of large-scale data operators without the necessity for design alterations. The recent decision by Sam Altman to step down as Chairman of the Board was noted as a positive development that could pave the way for partnerships with entities such as OpenAI and other major players in the tech industry. Ives also mentioned that other companies in the nuclear energy sector, including NuScale Power (SMR), Lightbridge (LTBR), Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU), as well as uranium firms like Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR) (UUUU), Cameco (NYSE:CCJ), Uranium Energy (NYSE:UEC), and NXE, could benefit from the executive order that has been put in place. The price target adjustment to $55 reflects growing confidence in the role of nuclear energy in powering the data centers that are fundamental to the burgeoning AI Revolution and the 4th Industrial Revolution. Oklo is anticipated to become a significant contributor to this emerging energy landscape. According to InvestingPro, analyst targets for the stock range from $30 to $58, with the current consensus suggesting potential upside. Discover more insights and 12 additional ProTips about Oklo through InvestingPro's comprehensive research platform. In other recent news, Oklo Inc. reported its first-quarter 2025 earnings, slightly surpassing expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.07 compared to a forecast of -$0.08. Despite an operating loss of $17.9 million, the company continues to advance its Aurora Powerhouse project at the Idaho National Laboratory, aiming for commercial deployment between late 2027 and early 2028. Oklo recently completed borehole drilling for site characterization, a step forward in their licensing process with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The company plans to submit its combined license application later this year, potentially benefiting from the ADVANCE Act, which could reduce licensing costs by 55%. Analyst firms such as Webush and Citi have weighed in on Oklo's progress, with Webush maintaining an Outperform rating and a $45 price target, while Citi holds a Neutral rating with a $30 price target. Both firms noted Oklo's strategic positioning within the nuclear energy sector. Additionally, Oklo is expanding its Atomic Alchemy division, expecting to generate revenue from this venture by early to mid-2026. The company is also exploring opportunities with data centers and government sites, reflecting its growing customer pipeline exceeding 14 gigawatts.