The federal government is betting big on American uranium enrichment, and Centrus Energy (LEU) just hit the jackpot. The Department of Energy rolled out $2.7 billion in contracts aimed at revitalizing domestic nuclear fuel production, with Centrus walking away with a cool $900 million to supercharge its operations.
Following the Money Through Nuclear Fuel
Here's what makes this interesting: the DOE didn't just write one big check. The contracts cover the full spectrum of enrichment needs, from the low-enriched uranium that powers today's nuclear reactors to high-assay LEU, better known as HALEU, which is designed for the next wave of advanced reactor technologies.
Three companies landed contracts worth up to $900 million each. Centrus Energy secured its $900 million specifically to expand its current 900 kilogram-per-year HALEU production capacity and push forward on next-generation reactor fuel development. General Matter and Orano Federal Services scored similar-sized deals, while Global Laser Enrichment picked up an additional $28 million to continue developing cutting-edge uranium enrichment technology.
The timing works well for Centrus. The company recently announced it had started producing new centrifuge units for LEU output, so now it's got dual government backing: U.S. federal support for its HALEU operations and Korean government backing for its LEU business. That's not a bad position to be in.
Why Nuclear Fuel Matters Now
The DOE's uranium enrichment blitz isn't happening in a vacuum. The nuclear energy sector is experiencing what you might call a renaissance moment, fueled partly by the Trump administration's vocal support. Energy Secretary Chris Wright made it clear on Monday that these awards demonstrate the administration's commitment to rebuilding a secure domestic nuclear fuel supply chain capable of producing fuel for both existing reactors and whatever comes next in nuclear technology.
The push addresses a real vulnerability. For years, the United States has relied heavily on foreign sources for enriched uranium, which isn't ideal when you're trying to maintain energy independence and national security. These contracts represent a meaningful step toward changing that equation.
For Centrus, the market reaction has been enthusiastic. Despite mixed third-quarter results and a recent equity offering announcement, investor confidence remains strong. The stock has been on a tear, climbing 268.24% over the past year according to market data. On Monday alone, shares jumped 10.24% to close at $300.41.
The momentum metrics tell a similar story. Centrus ranked in the 98th percentile for momentum, with strong price trends across short, medium, and long-term timeframes. When a company lands a $900 million government contract to do exactly what it's already set up to do, that tends to get Wall Street's attention.
The broader question is whether this marks a genuine turning point for domestic nuclear fuel production or just another round of government spending. With nearly $3 billion flowing into the sector and bipartisan interest in energy security, the bet seems to be on the former. For Centrus and its peers, the opportunity is clear: scale up, deliver on the technology, and ride the wave of renewed federal commitment to nuclear energy.