NEW YORK, Jan 17, 2026, 08:24 (EST) — Market closed.
- Centrus Energy jumped in the final U.S. trading session, riding a wave of gains across nuclear-related stocks.
- Focus remained on government-backed reactor and fuel supply plans after a new U.S.-Slovakia nuclear agreement was announced.
- U.S. markets reopen Tuesday, with investors focused on follow-through and the upcoming earnings season.
Centrus Energy Corp (LEU) shares climbed 8.2% on Friday, closing at $331.03. Trading volume hit roughly 1.6 million shares, with prices swinging between $298.10 and $333.30 during the session.
The bounce is significant since Centrus operates in a crucial segment of the nuclear supply chain: uranium enrichment. This process raises the uranium concentration for reactor fuel—a bottleneck investors are keenly watching.
Friday brought a flurry of nuclear news. The U.S. inked a civil nuclear power deal with Slovakia, aiming to cut ties to Russian-designed reactors. The agreement centers on a 1,200-megawatt unit designed in the U.S., developed by Westinghouse, which is owned by Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management. “Today’s civil nuclear agreement reflects our shared commitment to strengthening European energy security and sovereignty for decades to come,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Reuters
Shares in other nuclear-related companies moved higher alongside it. Cameco rose 3.2% on Friday, BWX Technologies was up 2.2%, and NuScale Power jumped 7.0%.
Centrus has grabbed significant attention after the U.S. Department of Energy picked it earlier this month for a $900 million task order to boost enrichment capacity at its Piketon, Ohio, facility. The move aligns with Washington’s push to reduce dependence on Russian sources. This award is part of a larger $2.7 billion package targeting enrichment projects, aiming to ramp up production of High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU)—a fuel type used in some advanced reactors—while also expanding output of the low-enriched uranium (LEU) that powers current reactors. “This award will catalyze additional private investment,” CEO Amir Vexler said. Centrus also highlighted $2.3 billion in LEU purchase commitments, with the first new capacity slated to come online in 2029. Reuters
The key now is whether Friday’s jump was just a one-off squeeze or the beginning of a sustained rally. Traders are eyeing new details on how fast fresh enrichment capacity can be funded and constructed, and who will lock in long-term supply contracts.
The downside scenario is straightforward. Enrichment projects take years, face strict regulation, and depend heavily on federal contracts and political winds. Any delays, changes in priorities, or weaker demand for advanced-reactor fuel could quickly sour sentiment.
U.S. markets were closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, putting the spotlight on Tuesday, Jan. 20, when trading restarts. Traders caution that volatility often rises after January’s monthly options expiration. Reuters
Investors are also watching upcoming earnings reports. Centrus hasn’t set an official date yet, but Zacks Investment Research points to Feb. 5 as the likely earnings release. Still, the market might get an early sense of Friday’s momentum well before that. zacks.com
