NEW YORK, Jan 17, 2026, 05:38 (ET) — Market closed.
- GE Vernova jumped 6.1% on Friday following calls from U.S. officials to speed up the rollout of new power capacity for data centers
- Traders will keep an eye on PJM’s next moves and any formal regulatory filings expected next week
- GE Vernova will release its quarterly results on Jan. 28
GE Vernova shares climbed 6.1% on Friday, closing at $681.55, fueled by investor interest in a Washington-supported effort to speed up power supply expansion for data centers. The stock fluctuated between $651.00 and $692.49, with roughly 5.0 million shares traded.
The policy noise hits a sensitive spot for U.S. power markets: AI-driven data center demand is surging, but new generation and grid upgrades lag by years. For GE Vernova, which supplies turbines and other power gear, any push to speed up plant construction could mean a boost in orders—down the line.
U.S. markets remain closed for the weekend and won’t reopen until Tuesday, following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday on Monday, Jan. 19.
On Friday, the White House called on PJM Interconnection — the biggest grid operator in the U.S., covering 67 million customers across 13 states plus D.C. — to hold an “emergency” auction aimed at preventing rolling blackouts. This move comes as demand from data centers is outstripping new plant construction. The plan also targets limiting what current plants can charge in PJM’s capacity market, which pays generators years in advance to be ready. The call follows a recent auction that saw prices spike over 800% compared to last year. Reuters
PJM announced it will require new large power users to either provide their own generation or face the risk of early curtailment — meaning their electricity use would be the first to be cut during tight supply. “This is not a yes/no to data centers,” PJM CEO David Mills said as the grid operator unveiled its plan. Reuters
Wall Street swiftly picked its winners and losers. Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith labeled GE Vernova the “clearest winner,” but flagged “net risk” for incumbent power producers, given the plan’s lean toward increased market intervention and possibly more new supply. TipRanks
Friday’s trading reflected part of that split. Constellation Energy slid 9.8%, while Vistra dipped 7.5%, as investors digested the impact of price caps and the drive for new builds on companies that already generate and sell power in the region.
PJM’s board paper highlights near-term targets traders will watch closely. It outlines a “bring your own new generation” strategy alongside a “connect and manage” plan for large new loads. The Members Committee is scheduled to discuss this on Jan. 22, with written stakeholder feedback due by Jan. 30.
But the trade comes with a major caveat. The White House’s push isn’t a finalized procurement contract, and PJM still needs to turn these principles into formal filings and market rules—processes that could face legal hurdles, political resistance, and setbacks at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Should data-center expansions slow or permitting and supply-chain issues stall new plants, the upbeat mood from Friday might quickly dissipate.
GE Vernova investors have earnings next on their radar. The company plans to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results Wednesday, Jan. 28, ahead of the open. CEO Scott Strazik and CFO Ken Parks will break down the numbers during a 7:30 a.m. ET webcast.
