VanEck Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF

NLR

Market cap $3.24B

VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF is surging, driven by AI energy demand and supportive U.S. policies, but valuations are extended. NLR's international exposure and speculative top holdings like OKLO and SMR introduce risks. While a sharp correction is possible, consolidations and dips are viewed as buying opportunities rather than signals of a top for NLR.

The Department of Energy, under President Donald Trump, has moved aggressively to invigorate the domestic nuclear sector.

An exchange-traded fund's ability to add easy, accessible diversification to a portfolio may be its strongest source of appeal to investors, but these products must typically still meet two key requirements in order to achieve significant inflows. First, an ETF must offer compelling performance—typically via strong returns, but occasionally also through dividend payments or other benefits.

Nuclear and uranium stocks have surged as power demand grows, boosted by government policies, global electrification, and AI spending. The IAEA projects global nuclear capacity to grow by more than 160% by 2050 as it becomes indispensable to achieving clean energy ambitions. $3 trillion of investment would be needed to solve global power shortages in the next 25 years, according to Bank of America.

Alternative and renewable energy sources have faced some notable uncertainty this year, it must be said. However, while government policy support has dropped off for areas like wind and solar, not all renewable energy sources face such complicated outlooks.

Multiple trades in nuclear stocks show how swing trading helped us capture gains and avoid big losses.

Nuclear ETFs like NLR, URA and URAN surge in 2025 as Trump's policy push, rising uranium prices and SMR deployment fuel solid gains.

Nuclear power is surging as AI-driven data centers fuel demand, with ETFs riding momentum and SMRs reshaping the sector's future.

It may not be the end of the quarter yet, but we have made it through summer, and that seems like a good checkpoint to evaluate the top ETF investment themes YTD. Let's take a moment to look in this year's thematic ETF rearview mirror.

VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF surged 91% from its low, hitting a 52-week high as AI and clean energy fuel uranium demand.