Reactor meltdowns in the past convinced many that nuclear energy was an unsafe, environmentally damaging fuel. These days, however, a different reputation has been emerging.
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Not all uranium and nuclear energy stocks are the same. Some of the factors you’ll want to look at when picking the right one for you include their:
- Capacity to meet anticipated demands in the industry
- Investor interest
- Potential for future gains
Best Uranium/Nuclear Energy Stocks in 2025
Here’s a summary of basic statistics about notable uranium/nuclear energy stocks for 2025:
| Stock | Price | Market Capitalization | YTD Return | One-Year Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameco (CCJ) | $41.18 | $17.926 billion | -19.77% | -14.77% |
| Energy Fuels (UUUU) | $4.95 | $1.041 billion | -3.13% | -14.06% |
| Uranium Energy (UEC) | $5.05 | $2.165 billion | -24.15% | -26.60% |
| Ur-Energy (URG) | $0.7123 | $260.56 million | -36.96% | -57.85% |
| Denison Mines (DNN) | $1.38 | $1.237 billion | -25.00% | -31.68% |
| Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU) | $67.26 | $1.128 billion | +0.98% | +65.30% |
1. Cameco Corp. (CCJ)
Cameco Corp. is a Canadian company that has by far the largest market cap of any uranium company. The company can produce more than 30 million pounds of uranium concentrates annually, and it, along with its predecessor companies, has been mining uranium for more than 60 years.
According to the World Nuclear Association, Cameco provides 12% of the world’s uranium products. It’s a great investment option because it has long-term contracts, which help protect the company from fluctuations in pricing.
Analysts are bullish on Cameco, giving it a consensus “buy” rating. The average price target is $58.48, implying a potential 12-month upside of 42%.
2. Energy Fuels Inc. (UUUU)
Energy Fuels has produced two-thirds of all uranium in the U.S. since 2017. It has the only conventional uranium mill in the U.S. and holds more operational and licensed uranium capacity than any other miner in America.
In anticipation of future demand, the company is preparing two additional mines in Wyoming and Colorado, expected to be fully operational in 2025. This would bring the company’s total potential production to over two million pounds of uranium annually.
The average price target analysts assign to UUUU is $8.44, suggesting a potential one-year return of over 70%.
3. Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC)
Uranium Energy Corp. is America’s fastest-growing uranium mining corporation. According to the company, it’s one of the largest resource and land holders in Canada’s fruitful Athabasca Basin, and it’s got the most substantial S-K 1300 compliant ISR resource base in all of the United States.
The company plans on growing its low-cost uranium pipeline projects in North America and is currently restarting production at its Wyoming and Texas Hub and Spoke In-Situ Recovery Programs.
The company’s market cap is about $2.165 billion, making it a mid-cap stock and the sixth-largest uranium producer by market capitalization. The seven analysts following the company have a consensus “buy” rating, with a 12-month price target 100% above current levels.
4. Ur-Energy Inc. (URG)
Ur-Energy is one of the more speculative offerings in the uranium space, with a tiny market cap. The company operates the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming, and it has produced about 2.7 million pounds of uranium from Lost Creek since 2013, when operations commenced.
Ur-Energy is a penny stock, meaning it carries a lot of risk and doesn’t have a lot of support in the investment community. However, the six analysts following it have a consensus “buy” rating on the company, with a 12-month price target of $2.21, about 210% above current levels.
5. Denison Mines (DNN)
Denison Mines is another aggressive penny stock in the uranium industry, with a share price of just $1.38. But the analysts following the company think that’s a good entry point, with a 12-month price target of $4.30 and a consensus “buy” rating.
Denison Mines is a uranium exploration and development company with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
6. Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU)
Centrus Energy could benefit from the recent U.S. legislation restricting Russian uranium, as it is focused on domestic production for national security interests, such as supplying fuel for the U.S. Navy. Obviously, if those restrictions are lifted, the company could likewise suffer. The company has designed, manufactured and successfully operated the American Centrifuge, which is the world’s most advanced gas centrifuge enrichment technology.
Analysts see a 12-month price of $141.71 for Centrus Energy, about 111% above current levels, with a consensus “buy” rating.
Why Invest in Uranium/Nuclear Energy Stocks?
In the wake of the visible and substantial environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels, nuclear energy has a new reputation as a much cleaner fuel alternative. Even better, uranium, the fuel source behind nuclear power, is both abundant and energy-dense. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, one single pellet of uranium produces the same amount of electricity as:
- One ton of coal
- 149 gallons of oil
- 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas
For this reason, analysts suggest that uranium stocks may have a long runway ahead of them.
On the Congressional front, uranium stocks got a bit of a tailwind on Apr. 30, 2024, as legislation in the U.S. Congress laid out a path where America’s uranium producers might be seeing green for the foreseeable future.
H.R. 1042, the “Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act,” banned unirradiated low-enriched uranium (i.e., uranium that has not been in a reactor) that is produced in Russia or by a Russian entity from being imported into the United States. This emphasis on domestic uranium production can only be good news for U.S. producers, and indeed for other uranium producers that are not based in or deriving stock from Russia.
However, there’s uncertainty in the air with the Trump Administration in office, and this adds an additional layer of risk to uranium/nuclear investments. While the White House is a strong supporter of domestic energy production, it has also signaled its intent to work more closely with Russia, meaning restrictions on the importation of Russian uranium may potentially be lifted at some time. While this is not a certainty, it has kept a cloud of uncertainty over many uranium stocks.
Uranium/Nuclear Energy Stocks vs. Other Investment Options
In addition to buying individual stocks, you can invest in uranium by picking some energy ETFs. This way you can gain exposure to a number of different industry stocks with a single purchase, reducing the risk that any one investment goes bad and tanks your portfolio. Currently, the marketplace for uranium-specific ETFs is quite small. Here are the two largest and most liquid options:
- Global X Uranium ETF (URA)
- Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM)
If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio away from the relatively limited universe of uranium stocks — and its inherent risk — you can buy stocks, mutual funds or ETFs from other, non-correlated assets. This actually isn’t hard to do, as even the S&P 500 index isn’t highly correlated with the price movements of uranium stocks. Blending these types of non-correlated assets can dampen a portfolio’s volatility while maintaining its overall return potential.
Risks of Investing in Uranium/Nuclear Energy Stocks
An investment in a uranium/nuclear energy stock carries more risk than buying the average blue-chip stock. Here are some to be on the lookout for:
- Industry-specific risks: Uranium mining is a political hot button. While some politicians feel that nuclear energy is clean and efficient, others feel it is dangerous and potentially damaging for the environment. This tug-of-war means that legislation either for or against uranium mining could come out at any time, either of which would dramatically affect share prices.
- Company-specific issues: Many uranium/nuclear energy companies are penny stocks, making them speculative investments. Quite a few have low market capitalizations, making them potentially volatile. Even the more-established companies in the industry could suffer at any time from bad management, poor earnings, a difficult legislative landscape, lawsuits and other issues that could hold back their share prices.
- General market risks: Uranium companies are subject to the same economic pressures as other businesses, such as high inflation or interest rates, recessionary slowdowns, or poor market sentiment.
Trends Shaping the Uranium/Nuclear Energy Industry in 2025
Here’s what experts say influences uranium stock prices:
- Uranium and fossil fuel prices
- Clean energy initiatives in the U.S. and abroad
- Broader trends among commodity stocks
- Supply and demand
- Production costs
- Alternative energy development
- Regulations and restrictions
- Changes in production due to pandemic-related shutdowns
- Geopolitical events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
This means that even more than with other types of stocks, if you’re planning to invest in uranium stocks, you’ll have to keep a close eye on legislative and geopolitical developments.
How To Buy Uranium/Nuclear Energy Stocks
To buy energy stocks, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Choose a brokerage platform: It’s easy to find a zero-commission broker these days, and you can buy most uranium/nuclear energy stocks on their platforms. But not all brokers offer trading of penny stocks, or stocks that trade for below $5. As some uranium companies fall into this category, make sure your brokerage offers trading in the stocks you want to buy before you open an account.
- Look up the company’s ticker: When you enter your trade, you’ll need to use the stock’s ticker symbol, not its name.
- Pick the right investment: All uranium stocks are not equal. Do your homework to find the one that has the potential for future growth and meets your investment objectives and risk tolerance.
- Determine how much you want to invest: Most advisors will recommend that you diversify your portfolio rather than own a single stock. But that’s become easier than ever thanks to the availability of fractional shares. If you only have $100 to invest, for example, you might not even be able to afford a whole share of stock. But if you find a broker than offers fractional shares, you could theoretically spread that $100 out across 10 different stocks, or even more.
- Submit your trade: Once you’ve picked your investment(s), you can enter your trade on your broker’s online platform.
Daria Uhlig and Katy Hebebrand contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information was gathered on Apr. 17, 2025 and sourced from Yahoo Finance. Data is subject to change.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.