NEW YORK, January 4, 2026, 06:46 ET — Market closed
- NuScale Power shares closed up 15.1% on Friday, outpacing a steadier broader market start to 2026.
- Commentary around the move pointed to sector sentiment rather than a fresh company announcement.
- Traders now shift focus to a heavy U.S. data week, including the January 9 jobs report, for clues on rates and risk appetite.
NuScale Power Corporation shares jumped 15.1% in the last regular session, closing at $16.31 on Friday with about 30.5 million shares traded, according to Stock Analysis data.
The move put the small-cap nuclear developer among the sharper gainers as investors began 2026 rotating back into higher-volatility corners of the market after a late-December slump.
For NuScale, market chatter centered on sentiment rather than a new company catalyst. Nasdaq.com said the stock rose “apparently on no good news at all,” pointing instead to headlines around a temporary shutdown at Finland’s Olkiluoto nuclear plant. Nasdaq
The Nasdaq.com report cited a technical fault tied to a software update that took one Olkiluoto unit offline, while noting the incident did not compromise safety and other units continued operating.
NuScale develops small modular reactors, or SMRs—smaller nuclear units intended to be built with repeatable, factory-style components rather than custom-built entirely on site.
In essential background, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale’s upgraded 77-megawatt SMR design in 2025, a milestone the company has said is key to marketing its technology, even as it still seeks firm customer commitments.
The broader nuclear theme has also been tied to rising electricity demand from data centers and a policy push to accelerate reactor approvals, Reuters has reported.
Investors tracking the group have also been watching other nuclear-linked names across the value chain, including SMR developer Oklo and fuel supplier Centrus Energy, among others.
Technically, NuScale is still well below its longer-term moving averages, with MarketBeat listing a 50-day moving average of $23.44 and a 200-day moving average of $34.24—levels some traders treat as overhead resistance after sharp rebounds.
Joe Mazzola, head of trading & derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, described the broader tape on Friday as a “buy the dip, sell the rip” mentality, while warning investors were becoming more conscious about what they pay for higher-multiple themes. Reuters
With U.S. markets reopening Monday, investors will take their cues from a packed calendar that includes ISM manufacturing on January 5 and a cluster of labor-market indicators midweek.
The main macro test is Friday’s U.S. employment report for December, due January 9, which often resets expectations for Federal Reserve policy and can swing high-beta stocks.
