Why Major Institutional Players Are Betting on NuScale Power's Nuclear Vision

Strategic Move by Virtu Financial Signals Confidence in SMR Market

According to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing from November 14, 2025, Virtu Financial LLC established its inaugural position in NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR), acquiring 579,353 shares valued at approximately $20.86 million. This marks the fund’s first disclosed investment in the small modular reactor developer, representing a notable portfolio addition during a period of market uncertainty.

Understanding the Investment Size and Portfolio Weight

The NuScale position constitutes 1.16% of Virtu Financial’s $1.79 billion in reportable U.S. equity holdings as of the third quarter ending September 30, 2025. To contextualize this allocation, the fund’s portfolio structure includes dominant positions like Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) at $224 million (12.5% of assets under management), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) at $42.50 million (2.4%), and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) at $38.63 million (2.2%). The SMR investment demonstrates institutional conviction in the nuclear energy sector despite recent headwinds.

Market Context: Timing the Nuclear Opportunity

At the time of the filing on November 14, 2025, NuScale shares traded at $22.45, having declined 9% over the preceding twelve months while underperforming the S&P 500 by 22.6 percentage points. The stock has subsequently experienced further pressure, dropping nearly 30% since that filing date. This dislocation created the opportunity that sophisticated investors like Virtu Financial identified.

NuScale Power Fundamentals:

The Technology: Scalable Nuclear Solutions with Advanced Design

NuScale Power specializes in developing modular, light-water reactor nuclear power plants branded as VOYGR, constructed using standardized NuScale Power Modules. Each module generates 77 megawatts of electrical capacity, with configurations scalable to 924 megawatt electric capacity. This modular approach represents a technological shift from traditional large-scale reactors, offering flexibility for diverse applications including electricity generation, district heating, and process heat applications where a moderator in nuclear reactor technology optimizes thermal efficiency.

The company’s business model centers on designing, developing, and commercializing these scalable reactor solutions for both utility-scale and industrial energy demands.

Commercial Traction Amid Policy Support

The investment thesis strengthened following President Donald Trump’s mid-2025 executive orders targeting aggressive nuclear energy industry expansion, with specific support for small modular reactors—precisely NuScale’s specialization. While NuScale continues module development, the company benefits from an exclusive commercial partnership with ENTRA1 Energy. Recent contract awards to ENTRA1 Energy, including deployment of up to six gigawatts of nuclear capacity for the Tennessee Valley Authority across seven U.S. states, effectively lock in future revenue streams for NuScale.

Pressure Points Explaining the Recent Decline

Despite fundamental tailwinds from policy support and commercial partnerships, NuScale stock has faced selling pressure stemming from profit-taking across the sector and forced selling by major shareholders. Notably, Fluor (NYSE: FLR), a significant NuScale shareholder, has been liquidating its position to realize gains on its investment, contributing downward momentum.

What Institutional Accumulation Suggests

Virtu Financial’s entry during weakness suggests sophisticated capital recognizes the disconnect between NuScale’s strategic positioning within Trump’s nuclear expansion agenda and current market pricing. The timing of this institutional purchase—coinciding with sector volatility and shareholder profit-taking—indicates conviction that the modular reactor opportunity justifies accumulation at depressed levels.

For investors evaluating this space, the combination of government tailwinds, exclusive commercial partnerships, and institutional confidence warrants consideration, though the stock’s recent volatility underscores inherent sector risks.