The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates for the first time in more than three years, putting borrowing costs back in focus for UK households and businesses. Higher rates can make dependable power infrastructure more attractive for long term capital. That is where UK nuclear energy stocks come in. This article breaks down three stocks from our screener that sit at the heart of this theme.
The three stocks highlighted here offer a compelling starting point if you want exposure to uranium producers, fuel enrichment businesses and reactor operators providing reliable and sustainable power. However, if you want the absolute best, these 16 nuclear renaissance stocks are the cream of the crop.
Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE:RR.)
Rolls-Royce Holdings is a £104.1b aerospace and power group that earns most of its revenue from Civil Aerospace at £11.8b, alongside sizeable Power Systems at £5.5b and Defence at £5.0b, where its submarine nuclear propulsion work directly ties into the nuclear energy theme.
For nuclear focused investors, Rolls-Royce Holdings brings something different to this list, combining a long history in propulsion with a growing push into modular reactor technology that could reshape how reliable baseload power is delivered.
"Rolls-Royce SMR has secured multi-country selections and is already in execution for units in the UK, Sweden and the Czech Republic while aiming to commission up to 2 small modular reactors per year in the mid 2030s and up to 8 per year at maturity, creating a potential new source of high margin revenue and profit growth."
What really matters next is how one less visible constraint influences the pace at which those ambitions feed through to cash and returns.
That bottleneck is exactly what the full narrative for Rolls-Royce Holdings unpacks. It shows how Rolls-Royce Holdings could accelerate or stall as SMR deployment, funding and regulation all intersect.
National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC (LSE:KAP)
National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC is a global uranium specialist, with its Uranium division generating about KZT 1,697b of KZT 1,989b segment revenue, alongside smaller Ulba metallurgical and other activities, and a market value of about US$16.2b.
Kazatomprom sits closer to the fuel side of the nuclear theme, supplying uranium and related services to reactor operators worldwide, so the bigger story here is what its role in that supply chain could mean for pricing power and long term earnings.
"Global structural undersupply of uranium driven by increasing nuclear build-outs, plant lifespan extensions, and a lag in bringing new projects online is supporting a multi-year demand upcycle, positioning Kazatomprom for sustained pricing power and higher sales volumes, which is positive for revenue and margin growth."
The real swing factor now is how a single cost pressure interacts with that tight market to shape future margins and cash generation.
That margin question is exactly where the full narrative for National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC steps in, spelling out how Kazakhstan costs, contracts and capital decisions could accelerate Kazatomprom's earnings power.
Centrica (LSE:CNA)
Centrica is an integrated energy group that supplies power and services to homes and businesses, while also generating electricity from nuclear assets. Most of its £19.5b business revenue comes from Retail at £16.3b, with Optimisation at £6.0b and Infrastructure at £1.6b. The group is valued at about £6.9b.
Centrica brings a different angle to this nuclear-focused screen by blending everyday energy supply with exposure to existing nuclear generation and future projects that could extend the life of low carbon power in the UK.
"Expanding investment in regulated and contracted infrastructure such as Sizewell C, Grain LNG and the Meter Asset Provider, which together contributed about £80m of EBITDA in H1 2026 and are expected to reach roughly £175m in 2026, points to a growing base of long-duration earnings that can raise the share of predictable EBITDA and support more stable net margins."
The real test is how pressure on cash and balance sheet strength shapes the pace at which those steadier margins emerge.
To see how that pressure could either slow or accelerate Centrica's next phase, read the full narrative for Centrica to see what the market might be missing.
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This article is general in nature and was produced with the assistance of AI automation, based on data and analysis from Simply Wall St. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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