New York, Jan 9, 2026, 19:58 (ET) — After-hours
NuScale Power Corp shares climbed late Friday following a Bank of America upgrade. The small modular reactor developer—known for its factory-built nuclear units—was raised to neutral with a $28 price target, MarketBeat said. The stock was last up 4.3% at $20.51, after reaching $22.49 earlier in the day, per market data.
Timing is key. Wall Street has been factoring in a sharp rise in U.S. power demand driven by AI and data centers, bringing nuclear energy back into focus. On Friday, Meta Platforms inked 20-year deals to purchase power from three Vistra nuclear plants and to support SMR projects with Oklo and TerraPower. Meta says these agreements could total up to 6.6 gigawatts by 2035.
Meta’s action drove increased interest in the nuclear sector. Vistra and Oklo shares jumped almost 14% Friday. NuScale and other nuclear-related stocks like Constellation Energy and Nano Nuclear Energy also saw gains, according to Investopedia.
BofA’s change follows a sharp drop in NuScale’s valuation. Dimple Gosai at the bank upgraded NuScale to neutral from underperform but lowered the price target to $28 from $34, according to Investing.com. The note highlighted a funding and timing mismatch tied to NuScale’s ENTRA1 partnership milestones, higher near-term cash demands, and the potential for further dilution before equipment revenue kicks in, the report said.
Traders ramped up bullish bets in derivatives as the stock swung. On Friday, about 146,774 call options changed hands — contracts that let holders buy shares at a fixed price — marking roughly 31% above the average daily call volume, according to MarketBeat. The stock is still trading below its 50-day moving average near $21.24 and remains well under its 200-day average around $33.52, levels some traders watch as key support and resistance.
But the downside is clear. The U.S. nuclear comeback still faces familiar hurdles — high costs, complex licensing, and schedule risks — while small modular reactors haven’t yet shown a reliable commercial track record, the Financial Times reported this week. In that environment, sentiment could turn quickly if financing dries up or project delays pile up.
Next week could shake up high-volatility stocks with key macro data on deck. The U.S. consumer price index for December drops Tuesday, followed by the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting set for Jan. 27-28.
NuScale’s next major event is earnings, scheduled for around March 2 after the market closes, according to MarketBeat’s calendar and past reporting trends. Investors will focus on updates about funding requirements, how partners are performing, and the momentum in customer interest for SMR deployments.
Related articles: NASDAQ:META
