My December 2025 Watchlist: 3 Nuclear Plays I Can't Ignore

For years, the "Nuclear Renaissance" felt like a PowerPoint presentation... lots of nice graphics, very little concrete. But looking at the sector in December 2025, the vibe has shifted. The Department of Energy just announced an $800M lifeline for SMR deployment via the TVA.

This isn't theoretical money anymore. It's a purchase order.

When the government effectively backstops the technology risk, the conversation changes. We aren't speculating on physics anymore; we are betting on execution. The AI hyperscalers know this, which is why they are scrambling for baseload power. I realized I needed to stop looking at the hype trains and start looking for the companies with actual contracts.

I went looking for the outliers... the companies that win regardless of the noise.

If you're new to my analysis process, I use a specific framework to filter noise so I don't get caught up in the headlines. You can check out my 10x Stock Checklist: My Exact 47-Point Analysis Framework to see how I break these down.

Here is what made the cut this month.

Uranium Energy Corp (UEC) - The Unhedged Bet

Most uranium miners are terrified of volatility. They sign long-term contracts at fixed prices to sleep better at night. UEC does the opposite. They are the "King of American Uranium" because they keep their inventory unhedged.

This means they have full exposure to spot prices. If the supply squeeze hits in early 2026—which seems likely given the Russian ban enforcement—every dollar increase in uranium price flows directly to their bottom line. They have the largest resource base in the U.S. and fully permitted projects ready to turn on.

The financials looked good, but I had to be sure. So I ran it through my 10x Stock Checklist: My Exact 47-Point Analysis Framework... and it passed the "Management Integrity" check with flying colors.

• Price: ~$12.95
• Market Cap: ~$6.3B
• Cash Runway: Strong ($300M+ Liquidity)
• Moat: Unhedged US Uranium Assets

NuScale Power (SMR) - The Government Favorite**

This is the risky one. NuScale is the first mover in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). For a long time, the market treated this stock like a science project.

But the December 2nd announcement changed the math. The DOE funding effectively de-risks their deployment pipeline with the TVA. They are the only design with NRC certification. If they can get shovels in the ground, the upside is massive.

This one is volatile. Before I even think about buying, I go to TradingView. I set my indicators to the Weekly view to see the bigger picture. Specifically, I look at the RSI... if it's below 30, I'm interested.

I don't trust the numbers blindly. I pull up the chart on TradingView to check the Volume Profile. If you aren't using their advanced charts yet, you should... it saves me hours of headaches. I use the Pro Screener to filter for "Market Cap < 2B" and "Rel Vol > 2". It's the easiest way to spot momentum before the news does.

• Price: ~$23.27
• Market Cap: ~$5.7B
• Revenue Growth: +710% (Q2 '25)
• Cash: ~$490M (approx 24 months runway)

Centrus Energy (LEU) - The Monopoly

While everyone argues about which reactor design is best, Centrus sells the fuel they all need. Reactors are useless without High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU).

Right now, Centrus is the only U.S. company licensed to produce it. They don't have to guess which SMR company wins; they just sell the gas. It's a classic "pick and shovel" play. They are sitting on a mountain of cash relative to their size, which gives them a floor that the other speculative plays don't have.

• Price: ~$285.00
• Market Cap: ~$4.9B
• Cash Runway: Massive (~$1.6B Cash)
• Moat: Only licensed HALEU producer in the US

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The Reality Check (Risks)

I want to be clear... I could be wrong.

The bear case for UEC is that the uranium spot price crashes, leaving them with inventory they can't sell profitably. For NuScale, the risk is simple: delays. If the TVA project gets bogged down in red tape, that cash pile will burn fast. And Centrus relies on government contracts that can be lumpy; one bad quarter of timing could tank the stock temporarily.

My Plan

I am looking to open a position in Centrus (LEU) first. The cash position makes it the safest entry point for my risk tolerance. I'm watching for a dip below $280 to enter.

Investing in small caps is a minefield. If you want to see exactly how I vet these companies to avoid zeroes, grab my 10x Stock Checklist: My Exact 47-Point Analysis Framework. It helps me stay objective when the hype gets loud.

Conclusion

The nuclear sector has graduated from "promising" to "funded." The DOE just fired the starting gun. I'm placing my bets on the infrastructure and the fuel, with a smaller allocation to the tech disruptors.

Before you open a position, make sure it passes your own sniff test. Download my 10x Stock Checklist to run the full audit.