On Thursday, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities shared insights on Oklo Inc (NYSE:OKLO), a company specializing in small modular reactor (SMR) technology. Oklo's management team, including CEO Jason DeWitte and CFO Craig Bealmear, highlighted their Aurora reactor's potential to lead the market.
Utilizing established sodium-cooled fast reactor technology, the Aurora reactor's smaller size demands less capital and is further along in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing process. Oklo anticipates a faster single NRC license for both design and construction, with even quicker licensing for subsequent designs.
Oklo is projecting capital expenditures of $4,000 per kilowatt for their inaugural reactor, with costs expected to drop to $2,000-3,000 per kilowatt at scale. The company's power purchase agreements (PPAs) are competitive with recent traditional nuclear deals, and they aim to have their first plant operational by year-end 2027. This timeline is slightly ahead of estimates by GEV, Mizuho, and third-party assessments, which predict SMR commercialization between 2030 and 2035. Utilities and independent power producers are likely to await the successful licensing and operation of Oklo's first plant before committing to bulk orders.
Oklo's SMR design is based on the EBR-II reactor, which was operational until 1994 and is the only technology other than light-water reactors to have previously received NRC approval. The company's modular reactors, which are at the smaller end of the spectrum compared to competitors, operate at a lower temperature and require less enriched uranium. Oklo's approach, which also includes a build, own, operate model, aims to significantly shorten the licensing timeframe.
In terms of financials, Oklo ended the third quarter of 2024 with $289 million in cash and a quarterly cash burn rate of approximately $8 million. The company's management expects minimal capital requirements for initial projects and has identified several financing avenues for future needs. Oklo's growing project pipeline has reached 2.1 gigawatts as of November 2024, up from 700 megawatts in July 2023.
Oklo has also expanded into the radioisotope market with the acquisition of Atomic Alchemy for $25 million. This new venture is expected to tap into a total addressable market of $55 billion by 2026, with production potentially co-located with Oklo's fuel recycling technology. The company has yet to commit to an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company for its projects and plans to partner with Siemens (ETR:SIEGn) Energy for steam turbine generators.
In other recent news, NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. has made significant strides in the nuclear technology sector. The company successfully raised approximately $41.4 million in a follow-on public offering, which will be channeled towards innovation and growth. NANO Nuclear also entered into important collaborations, including a partnership with LIS Technologies Inc., with a $2 million investment aimed at advancing laser uranium enrichment technology.
The company has also been proactive in strengthening its leadership team. Darlene T. DeRemer, a finance industry veteran, was appointed as Chairwoman of the Executive Advisory Board for Institutional Finance. Other key appointments include Jiang (Jay) Yu as President and John G. Vonglis, former CFO of the U.S. Department of Energy, as Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board for Strategic Initiatives.
Furthermore, NANO Nuclear has joined a U.S. government-led initiative to promote the deployment of small modular reactors in Southeast Asia. This collaboration is expected to help the company tailor its microreactor technology to meet the specific energy needs of the region.
On the analysis front, H.C. Wainwright initiated coverage on NANO Nuclear with a Buy rating, while a report from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) indicated a positive outlook for the technology and utility sectors associated with low-carbon and nuclear power solutions.
InvestingPro Insights
Oklo Inc's (NYSE:OKLO) ambitious plans in the SMR market are reflected in its recent stock performance and financial metrics. According to InvestingPro data, the company has seen a remarkable 499.61% price total return over the past six months, indicating strong investor confidence in its potential. This aligns with the company's projected timeline for its first operational plant by year-end 2027, which is ahead of industry expectations.
However, it's important to note that Oklo is currently not profitable, with an adjusted operating income of -$8.76 million over the last twelve months. This is consistent with the company's reported quarterly cash burn rate of approximately $8 million. An InvestingPro Tip highlights that Oklo holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which supports management's statement about minimal capital requirements for initial projects.
Another relevant InvestingPro Tip points out that the stock generally trades with high price volatility. This volatility is evident in the contrast between the 106.65% price total return over the last three months and the -15.41% return over the past month. Such fluctuations are not uncommon for companies in the early stages of developing innovative technologies like Oklo's SMRs.
For investors seeking a deeper understanding of Oklo's potential, InvestingPro offers 12 additional tips that could provide valuable insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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