Big Money Sees Opportunity in NuScale: Should Retail Investors Follow Suit?

The Smart Money Move

A recent SEC filing revealed that Virtu Financial has made a significant bet on small modular reactors (SMRs). The investment fund purchased approximately 579,353 shares of NuScale Power, accumulating a $20.86 million position—marking its first entry into this emerging nuclear tech space. With $1.79 billion in total reportable equity assets, this new stake represents 1.16% of their portfolio allocation, suggesting serious conviction about the company’s future.

Why the Timing Matters

NuScale Power shares have been under considerable pressure recently, declining roughly 9% over the past year and falling an additional 30% from their November peak. Yet precisely when most investors are heading for the exits, institutional players like Virtu Financial are quietly accumulating. This contrarian positioning reflects confidence in the underlying fundamentals—specifically, the nuclear energy tailwind created by supportive policy signals from Washington.

The Strategic Context

The nuclear sector experienced significant momentum mid-2025 following executive actions aimed at accelerating SMR deployment. NuScale, which specializes precisely in modular reactor technology, stands to benefit directly from these initiatives. The company isn’t merely speculative; it already has commercial traction through its exclusive partnership with ENTRA1 Energy, which recently secured contracts worth up to six gigawatts of capacity for the Tennessee Valley Authority across seven states.

Understanding the Stock’s Decline

NuScale’s recent price weakness stems partly from profit-taking and partly from Fluor—a major shareholder—reducing its stake to crystallize gains. This selling created a temporary opportunity for sophisticated investors. At market close on November 14, 2025, shares traded at $22.45, valuing the company at approximately $6.69 billion despite trailing twelve-month revenues of $63.90 million and net losses of $379.94 million.

The Modular Reactor Opportunity

NuScale develops scalable, light-water reactor modules branded as VOYGR, with each unit capable of generating 77 megawatts. These can be assembled into larger configurations reaching 924 megawatt capacity. The addressable market spans electricity generation, district heating, and industrial process heat—applications that traditional nuclear plants can’t efficiently serve.

The Investment Question

When seasoned fund managers like Virtu Financial load up on a depressed stock in a politically-favored sector, it raises an important question: are you watching an emerging opportunity, or is there reason for caution? The positioning certainly suggests that despite current headwinds, the long-term thesis around SMR adoption remains intact.

The company’s top-tier holdings include Berkshire Hathaway (12.5% of assets), Amazon (2.4%), and UnitedHealth Group (2.2%)—reflecting Virtu’s preference for quality franchises. Adding NuScale demonstrates a willingness to venture into earlier-stage growth opportunities when risk-reward appears favorable.