New York, Jan 11, 2026, 13:40 (EST) — Market closed.
- Utilities outpaced the market on Friday, buoyed by gains in nuclear-related stocks following Meta’s long-term power agreements
- Investors are shifting focus to U.S. inflation figures, which could jolt Treasury yields and shake up rate-sensitive utilities
- Traders are eyeing whether AI-fueled power demand will spark more big-ticket deals or push costs higher
U.S. utilities stocks kicked off Monday under a new spotlight after Meta Platforms secured 20-year nuclear power deals with Vistra and partnered with two small-reactor developers. These agreements highlight utilities as Big Tech increasingly seeks reliable power for AI-driven data centers. (Reuters)
This matters because utilities frequently trade as “bond proxies” — dividend-paying stocks that track Treasury yields when investors adjust their interest rate forecasts. Economists at S&P Global Market Intelligence noted that markets are closely watching upcoming inflation data, with the Federal Reserve divided on how quickly to ease policy. A rate cut isn’t widely anticipated until June. (S&P Global)
Another key data point is right around the corner. The U.S. consumer price index for December 2025 will be released Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the Labor Department’s statistics agency. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
On Friday, the S&P 500 utilities sector climbed 1.24%, beating the overall market as Wall Street wrapped up at new record highs. (Reuters)
Vistra announced its deal with Meta will take the form of power purchase agreements—long-term contracts to buy electricity—covering over 2,600 megawatts of “zero-carbon” output from three nuclear plants, along with planned “uprates,” or upgrades that boost generation capacity. CEO Jim Burke said Meta’s commitment gives Vistra the confidence to invest. Meta’s Urvi Parekh added the company is backing nuclear because it delivers “clean, reliable power” essential for its AI initiatives. (Vistra Corp. Investor Relations)
Stocks linked to the theme surged sharply late Friday. Vistra climbed roughly 10.5%, and Constellation Energy added around 6.1%. Entergy rose about 2.5%, with NiSource up 1.2%. Oklo, a reactor developer mentioned by Meta, jumped nearly 7.9%. Meanwhile, major regulated utilities showed mixed results — NextEra Energy inched higher, while Duke Energy and Southern Co slipped.
Rates remained in focus. Following Friday’s jobs data, two-year Treasury yields climbed 5 basis points to 3.538%, while 10-year yields slipped to 4.171%, Reuters reported—a combination that can weigh on utilities valuations. The report also noted payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, with unemployment falling to 4.4%. (Reuters)
There’s a catch to the optimistic scenario. AP reported Meta’s acquisitions are meant to feed a 1-gigawatt “Prometheus” data center under construction in Ohio. But without adding new power sources, this huge demand could strain the wider grid. “Bringing Prometheus online without a new power source for it will only increase electricity rates across the mid-Atlantic grid,” warned Jesse Jenkins, a Princeton engineering professor specializing in energy systems. (AP News)
Utilities investors have a simple checklist heading into Monday: keep an eye on Treasury yields first thing, track nuclear-related stocks for momentum, and see if merger chatter spreads beyond just a few top players.
Tuesday’s U.S. CPI report (Jan. 13, 8:30 a.m. ET) stands as the next key catalyst, with the potential to shift rate expectations and influence demand for utilities.
