This stock turned $10,000 into $81,000 in a year
When Nuclear Energy Meets Wall Street
The company…
In the past 12 months Nano Nuclear Energy (NNE) stock grew 7x (see figure 1). This is very impressive for a company created in 2022 and that IPO’d on the Nasdaq just a year ago in February 2024. NNE is an early-stage advanced nuclear energy technology company developing clean energy solutions. Its mission is simple yet bold: deliver smaller, cheaper, and safer advanced microreactors to the world. The firm’s vision is anchored in U.S. energy independence, national security priorities, and solving the energy demands of tomorrow from AI datacentres to deep-space missions.
Figure 1. NNE historical stock performance
The business model…
NNE business model revolves around being a vertically integrated micronuclear developer and manufacturer. This involves: 1) developing and manufacturing microreactors – to be leased or sold ; 2) nuclear fuel processing – produce fuel for its reactors; 3) nuclear fuel transportation and 4) providing consulting services on nuclear – regulation development, environmental impact assessment, waste management etc. NNE is developing four proprietary microreactor designs—Zeus, Odin, Kronos mmr, and Loki mmr—each tailored to niche use cases ranging from portable battlefield deployment to stationary industrial use and even extra-terrestrial applications (see figure 2 for use cases). The integration of supply (nuclear fuel production), hardware (reactors), and logistics (transportation) creates a moat and positions NNE as a full-stack nuclear solutions provider.
Figure 2. NNE microreactors end use applications
Source: NNE Investor Presentation, Feb 2025
The management…
Led by CEO James Walker (previously project lead for the construction of Rolls Royce’s Nuclear chemical plant) and an all-star technical team, including nuclear physicists (heads of nuclear departments at the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley) and former national lab executives, NNE has assembled a deep bench of talent. From Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the NRC (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission), the company is plugged into the right networks—scientific, political, and industrial.
The market…
NNE operates at the convergence of multiple macro trends: AI-driven power demand, U.S. energy security, and global decarbonization. Big tech is going nuclear—Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, and Google are all planning or piloting SMRs to power their datacentres. And the regulatory wind is favourable: the U.S. Department of Energy’s $3.4 billion LEU Acquisition Program, the ADVANCE Act, and HALEU incentives are all tailwinds. NNE also has first-mover advantage through its U.S.-origin partnership with LIS Technologies, the only American laser uranium enrichment tech company.
The Financials…
NNE remains pre-revenue, with growing losses (net loss of $3.1M last quarter) and significant share dilution (19.6% share dilution from recent fundraising) to fund operations. The strong cash position ($123m) and low debt ($4.1m) provide a runway for continued development, but the lack of revenue and ongoing cash burn are key risks.
What Charly AI says…
Overall, Charly AI rates NNE a HOLD broken down as follows: Financial statements “HOLD”, Valuation “Overvalued”, Short-term outlook “HOLD”, and Long-term outlook “BUY”.
Figure 3. NNE Charly AI rating
Source: Charly AI, May 2025
My investment thesis…
Overall, NNE is a pre-revenue, high-risk and high reward play in the emerging advanced nuclear energy sector. For long-term investors, NNE’s vertical integration strategy—developing reactors, fuel supply chains, and transportation—could position it well if the nuclear microreactor market gains traction. However, the risks are substantial: delays in approvals, technology setbacks, or failure to attract customers could erase value quickly. Existing investors with high risk tolerance might maintain their position to avoid missing potential upside if milestones are achieved, while new investors should wait for clearer signs of progress, such as regulatory approvals or early revenue from consulting services.