A record $566 billion rally in nuclear energy equities has ignited investor confidence, driven by expanding clean power demand and strategic upgrades at major U.S. reactor facilities. Key utilities including Constellation Energy, Duke Energy, and NextEra Energy are central to the surge, signaling growing market conviction in nuclear as a cornerstone of the energy transition.
- Nuclear energy stocks have gained $566 billion in market value since early 2024
- Constellation Energy’s Clinton plant in Illinois is a key asset driving investor attention
- CEG, DUK, and NEE have outperformed market benchmarks with gains of 75%, 28%, and 32% respectively in 2025
- Federal policy and grid reliability concerns are accelerating capital allocation to nuclear
- XLE ETF rose 26% in 2025, reflecting broad sector strength
- Nuclear is increasingly seen as essential for reliable, carbon-free baseload power
Nuclear energy stocks have surged by $566 billion over the past 18 months, marking one of the most significant rallies in the power sector in over a decade. This momentum is anchored in major infrastructure developments, including the ongoing modernization of Constellation Energy’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, which houses a single operational reactor with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts. The project’s expansion plans, coupled with federal incentives for clean baseload generation, have drawn substantial institutional interest. The rally is not limited to Constellation Energy (CEG), which has seen its market cap increase by over 75% since early 2024. Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE), both active in nuclear asset maintenance and new build initiatives, have also posted strong gains, with NEE’s utility segment rising 32% and DUK’s stock up 28% year-to-date. These gains are supported by rising electricity demand, grid reliability concerns, and policy shifts favoring low-carbon baseload power. The broader energy sector has responded, with the XLE energy ETF posting a 26% increase in 2025, outperforming both the S&P 500 and broader clean tech indices. Analysts note that nuclear’s ability to deliver consistent, carbon-free power—unlike variable renewables—positions it as a critical complement to solar and wind in national decarbonization strategies. The rally underscores a structural shift in energy investment toward resilient, high-capacity infrastructure.