Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE: LEU) stock is back in the spotlight on December 15, 2025, after a sharp pullback pushed technical indicators into “oversold” territory—while fundamental headlines on U.S. nuclear fuel supply chains keep piling up.
In Monday trading, LEU shares fell as low as about $230.66, and Nasdaq-listed technical commentary flagged an RSI (Relative Strength Index) reading near 29, a level that many traders interpret as “oversold.” [1] On the same day, Investing.com’s technical dashboard also showed RSI(14) around 29.6 and a “Strong Sell” summary across multiple indicators and moving averages. [2]
That tension—strong long-term narrative, ugly short-term tape—is essentially the Centrus story right now. Here’s what’s driving Centrus Energy stock today, what the latest forecasts say, and what investors are watching next.
What Centrus Energy does—and why LEU stock matters to nuclear markets
Centrus is a U.S.-based supplier in the nuclear fuel ecosystem, with activities spanning low-enriched uranium (LEU) and services/technical solutions for the nuclear industry. Its strategic importance has grown as the U.S. government and nuclear developers focus on rebuilding domestic capacity for uranium enrichment and next-generation fuels.
The key buzzword is HALEU—high-assay low-enriched uranium—fuel expected to be used by many advanced reactor designs. Centrus has positioned its Piketon, Ohio site (the American Centrifuge Plant) as a potential hub for expanded enrichment capacity, but the pace and scale of that buildout remain tightly linked to federal decisions and contracting. [3]
Today’s Centrus Energy headlines: the news shaping LEU stock on Dec. 15, 2025
1) DOE announces $11 million for HALEU transportation packages—Centrus subsidiary selected
One of the most concrete recent catalysts is a U.S. Department of Energy announcement: $11 million in awards to five U.S. companies to develop and license transportation packages for HALEU. The DOE list of selected companies includes American Centrifuge Operating, a Centrus subsidiary. [4]
Why this matters: HALEU isn’t just a production problem—it’s a logistics and licensing problem. The DOE explicitly tied the awards to designing/modifying packages that can be licensed through the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), aiming to establish more economical, long-term HALEU transport capability. [5]
World Nuclear News adds context on why transport is non-trivial: HALEU can contain up to 20% uranium-235, higher than typical commercial reactor fuel, which raises additional transport challenges and regulatory complexity. [6]
2) Centrus advances Ohio expansion plan with a new training/operations facility
Centrus also recently announced it has begun design work on a 150,000-square-foot Training, Operations & Maintenance Facility at Piketon, Ohio—described as key site infrastructure for its broader enrichment expansion ambitions. The company said the project involves renovating an existing building and could eventually support up to 200 new employees, with construction expected to begin early next year. [7]
Centrus framed this facility as a step toward scaling domestic enrichment, while also emphasizing a key caveat: the size and scope of the broader expansion depend on DOE funding decisions, and a large buildout could become a multi‑billion‑dollar public/private investment. [8]
3) “Nuclear stocks to watch” lists keep surfacing—Centrus included
On Dec. 15, MarketBeat published a “nuclear stocks worth watching” screen that included Centrus (LEU) alongside other high-attention nuclear names, citing elevated trading activity and the sector’s policy sensitivity and volatility. [9]
This isn’t a fundamental catalyst by itself, but it reflects a real dynamic: Centrus trades partly as a policy-and-sentiment proxy for the broader “nuclear revival” theme.
4) The NYSE uplisting is now in effect
Earlier this month, Centrus announced it was approved to uplist from NYSE American to the New York Stock Exchange, with trading on NYSE beginning December 4, 2025, while keeping the ticker LEU. Centrus cited improved liquidity and increased visibility. [10]
Why Centrus Energy stock is dropping: oversold conditions after a volatile run
The most immediate explanation for LEU stock’s rough tone is simply volatility and positioning. On Dec. 15, the stock’s pullback was large enough to trip common oversold thresholds.
- Nasdaq’s technical note reported RSI ~29 and described the day’s selling pressure as heavy, with the stock down around 5%+ at the time of publication. [11]
- Investing.com’s daily technical snapshot similarly showed an RSI(14) near 29.6, with multiple oscillators and moving averages signaling “Sell/Strong Sell.” [12]
- Investing.com historical pricing data for Dec. 15 shows the session reaching roughly $230 on the low end, underscoring how quickly the move intensified. [13]
Zooming out, the drawdown also follows a steep decline late last week: MarketBeat reported LEU dropped nearly 10% in one day (Dec. 12) in heavy trading. [14]
The deeper “why”: capital strategy + pricing cycles + federal timing risk
Beneath the price action, the market is balancing three structural issues:
1) Capital-raising overhang
In November, Reuters coverage noted Centrus shares slid after the company announced a $1 billion at-the-market (ATM) equity sales program, a structure that can create dilution concerns even if shares are sold gradually. [15]
2) SWU pricing dynamics (a real-world lag problem)
Centrus sells enrichment value partly through SWU (separative work units)—and SWU pricing is cyclical. UBS flagged that year-over-year declines in SWU prices suggest some volumes were contracted near trough pricing, potentially pressuring near-term results, even if long-term SWU pricing improves. [16]
3) The DOE timing question
Centrus’ expansion narrative depends heavily on federal contracting and appropriations. UBS explicitly pointed to potential upcoming DOE task orders as a key factor, while other analysts have cited uncertainty around DOE timing. [17]
Centrus Energy (LEU) forecast: what analysts and price targets say right now
Analyst outlook on LEU stock remains directionally constructive but widely dispersed, which is typical for companies tied to government procurement, commodity-linked pricing, and major capex pathways.
A snapshot of current LEU stock price targets
- MarketBeat: Average 12‑month target $239.36, with targets ranging from $104 to $357 (14 analysts). MarketBeat also shows only modest upside versus the price it references. [18]
- TipRanks: Average target $275.67 (12 analysts), with a “Moderate Buy” consensus (mix of buys and holds) and a wide range up to $390 on the high end. [19]
- Needham initiation (via Fintel/Nasdaq): Reported as a Buy initiation; Fintel summary cited an average one-year target around $276.39 (as of mid‑November) and a broad forecast range. [20]
- Reuters/LSEG snapshot (Nov. 6): Reuters noted 10 of 15 analysts rated LEU “buy/strong buy,” with a median price target around $270.68 (per LSEG) at the time. [21]
These numbers don’t line up perfectly because they’re compiled from different analyst sets and time windows. The important takeaway is the same: Wall Street is not debating whether Centrus is strategically relevant—it’s debating the timing, pricing, and funding path.
Recent analyst commentary highlights
Investing.com’s UBS write-up (Nov. 25) captures the push-and-pull:
- UBS raised its price target to $245 (from $215) while maintaining Neutral, and argued Centrus could benefit longer term as contracted prices reset upward—because customer pricing can lag market pricing by years. [22]
- UBS also cited valuation richness (e.g., elevated multiples) and noted Centrus’ balance-sheet posture, including that it holds more cash than debt and has a strong current ratio (per InvestingPro metrics cited in the piece). [23]
- The same UBS summary referenced Centrus’ Q3 2025 EPS beat (EPS $0.19 vs $0.08 forecast) alongside a revenue miss (revenue $74.9 million), and it noted Evercore ISI reduced its target while keeping an Outperform rating, partly tied to DOE timing uncertainty. [24]
Technical analysis for LEU stock on Dec. 15, 2025: “Oversold” isn’t the same as “Reversal”
Technical signals are screaming “oversold,” but that’s not a magic spell—it’s a condition, not a conclusion.
- Nasdaq’s note put LEU’s RSI around 29, below the common 30 threshold used by many traders to define oversold territory. [25]
- Investing.com’s technical dashboard showed RSI(14) ~29.6 and labeled the overall daily technical posture “Strong Sell,” with many moving averages also flashing sell signals. [26]
In plain English: the stock has fallen fast enough that a bounce is plausible, but the prevailing trend indicators still point downward. For news-driven equities like Centrus, technicals often follow headlines—especially around federal awards, enrichment policy, and capital-market announcements.
The fundamental bull case for Centrus Energy stock (and the risks that keep it controversial)
Why investors stay interested
- Strategic positioning in domestic enrichment and advanced reactor fuel
The DOE’s HALEU transport awards and the broader government push to rebuild nuclear fuel-cycle capability reinforce the strategic importance of companies in this niche. [27] - Expansion steps are becoming more tangible
Centrus’ Ohio facility plans add operational “proof points”—real buildings, real hiring capacity—rather than purely conceptual expansion talk. [28] - A deepening analyst coverage universe
Initiations and active target revisions signal that LEU is no longer a sleepy corner of the market; it’s now a closely watched nuclear supply-chain name. [29]
What can go wrong (and why the market demands a risk premium)
- Funding and procurement dependency
Centrus itself highlights that expansion scale depends on DOE funding decisions. [30] - Dilution and financing optics
ATM programs can be strategically smart, but markets often treat them as an overhang—especially after a big run-up. [31] - Pricing and contract lag risk
If SWU pricing is improving “in the real world” but contract pricing lags, reported performance can look muted in the near term—one reason analysts differ on targets and timing. [32]
What to watch next for Centrus Energy (LEU) stock
If you’re tracking LEU stock into late 2025 and early 2026, these are the practical signposts:
- DOE and NRC-linked progress on HALEU transportation: The DOE awards are aimed at transport packages that can be licensed—watch milestones and follow-on awards. [33]
- DOE task order timing and enrichment contracting: Multiple analyst notes explicitly frame DOE ordering cadence as a swing factor. [34]
- Piketon execution milestones: Design work is underway for the new facility; construction is expected to begin early next year, and hiring capacity is a measurable indicator of momentum. [35]
- Capital-market actions: Any updates on the ATM program usage or additional funding structures can move the stock quickly. [36]
- Volatility signals: After an RSI-driven oversold event, traders often watch whether the stock stabilizes around support levels or continues trending lower. [37]
Bottom line on Centrus Energy stock today
On December 15, 2025, Centrus Energy stock is being pulled in two directions:
- The macro and policy narrative (HALEU logistics funding, domestic enrichment urgency, expansion groundwork in Ohio) remains supportive. [38]
- The market narrative (profit-taking, dilution fears, near-term SWU pricing lag, DOE timing uncertainty) is pressuring the share price—and has pushed technical indicators into oversold territory. [39]
References
1. www.nasdaq.com, 2. www.investing.com, 3. www.centrusenergy.com, 4. www.energy.gov, 5. www.energy.gov, 6. world-nuclear-news.org, 7. www.centrusenergy.com, 8. www.centrusenergy.com, 9. www.marketbeat.com, 10. www.centrusenergy.com, 11. www.nasdaq.com, 12. www.investing.com, 13. www.investing.com, 14. www.marketbeat.com, 15. www.tradingview.com, 16. www.investing.com, 17. www.investing.com, 18. www.marketbeat.com, 19. www.tipranks.com, 20. www.nasdaq.com, 21. www.tradingview.com, 22. www.investing.com, 23. www.investing.com, 24. www.investing.com, 25. www.nasdaq.com, 26. www.investing.com, 27. www.energy.gov, 28. www.centrusenergy.com, 29. www.nasdaq.com, 30. www.centrusenergy.com, 31. www.tradingview.com, 32. www.investing.com, 33. www.energy.gov, 34. www.investing.com, 35. www.centrusenergy.com, 36. www.tradingview.com, 37. www.nasdaq.com, 38. www.energy.gov, 39. www.nasdaq.com
