Though claiming a company could be the next Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) might have become somewhat tired by early 2026, there is a genuine and strong bull case for the nuclear reactor company Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) amidst both the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and the troubles it has brought upon the world.
Specifically, an increasingly important factor in the ongoing drive to accelerate AI capacity has been the ability of the U.S. and other energy grids to power the voracious data centers.
So far, the matter has become both a practical and political issue, as it is as expensive as it is difficult to expand the infrastructure, while communities close to such facilities have been growing increasingly dissatisfied with pollution, noise, water usage, and electrical stability.
While some companies, such as Elon Musk’s xAI, have employed inelegant stopgap measures such as diesel and other generators – allegedly illegally – nuclear power appears like an increasingly popular solution.
Oklo stock 2026 bull case
Among the companies that could provide data center energy solutions, Oklo is especially well-positioned.
Indeed, the company that specializes in smaller, modular reactors has already drawn positive attention from investors due to its being formerly chaired by Sam Altman of OpenAI, arguably the best-known AI company in the world.
The company’s rising popularity is also evident in the stock market as OKLO shares recorded an impressive 203% rise in the last 12 months to its press time price of $94.95. Furthermore, the company is enjoying a strong start to 2026, having risen 22% since New Year’s Day.
Will Oklo supplant Nvidia as AI’s proverbial ‘shovel-seller’?
Although such a rally could give investors cause for concern, it is worth pointing out that Nvidia – the previous proverbial ‘shovel-seller’ of the AI gold rush – is up 1,044% since the 2022 public release of ChatGPT and is widely expected to rise further in 2026.
Should Oklo truly secure its position as a major energy provider for data centers, the potential for business-side growth and the company’s prominence in the minds of investors could lead to an ever greater rally.
Lastly, Wall Street is certainly bullish about the nuclear reactor stock’s prospects in the coming 12 months. Oklo shares are, on average, expected to rise 31.76% and reach $125 by late 2026 or early 2027, according to the latest data Finbold retrieved from the stock analysis platform TipRanks.
Featured image via Shutterstock
