Trump's Nuclear Push Fuels ETF Surge: 44% Rally Amid AI-Driven Energy Boom

President Trump's executive order aims to quadruple domestic nuclear power production in 25 years, accelerating project timelines across the industry. The VanEck Uranium ETF has surged 44% YTD, raising $1 billion in assets, with top holdings including NuScale Power Corp, PG&E Corp, and Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. Major tech companies like Microsoft, Alphabet, and NVIDIA have invested in nuclear fusion startups, supporting long-term nuclear demand fundamentals.

President Trump's executive order, signed in 2025, aims to quadruple domestic nuclear power production over the next 25 years, marking a significant shift in the energy sector. This initiative, which has garnered bipartisan support, has accelerated project timelines across the industry [1].

The VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) has seen substantial growth, surging 44% year-to-date (YTD) and raising $1 billion in assets [1]. The fund, which has been in operation for 18 years, benefits from a diversified portfolio that includes utilities, miners, and emerging small modular reactor companies. Top holdings such as NuScale Power Corp., PG&E Corp., and Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. have contributed to the fund's performance [1].

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has played a key role in the nuclear energy resurgence. The company recently announced that Three Mile Island Unit 1 may restart in 2027, one year ahead of schedule, following a power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy Corp. (CEG) [1]. This move underscores the increasing demand for baseload nuclear power, driven by the growth of AI and cryptocurrency, which are projected to push electricity demand to record levels by 2026 [1].

Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., a leading developer of advanced nuclear microreactors, has secured a $1.3 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for its KRONOS Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) Energy System [2]. The company's reactor products, such as the ZEUS and ODIN reactors, represent cutting-edge developments in clean energy solutions [2].

Major tech companies like Alphabet Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) and NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) have also invested in nuclear fusion startups, further bolstering the long-term demand fundamentals for nuclear energy [1].

References:
[1] https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/09/47464927/trumps-nuclear-drive-fuels-vaneck-uranium-etf-44-rally-as-microsoft-google-nvidia-chase-ai-powered-energy-boom
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/nano-nuclear-energy-wins-1-3-million-air-force-contract-for-kronos-mmr-energy-system-ce7c50d3dc80f42d