Key Points

• Nano Nuclear Energy reported a third-quarter 2025 business update last week.

• A Ladenburg analyst chose to downwardly revise his price target by 75%.

• Investors should take analysts' price targets with a grain of salt.

• 10 stocks we like better than Nano Nuclear Energy ›

Markets aren't moving much to start the trading week, but there's no confusion about which direction shares of Nano Nuclear Energy (NASDAQ: NNE) are moving in. With an analyst providing a starkly bearish take on the nuclear energy stock, investors are choosing to click the sell button today.

As of 10:24 a.m. ET, shares of Nano Nuclear Energy are down 7.7%, paring back an earlier loss of 12.1%.

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This analyst sees steep downside to today's price

Downgrading Nano Nuclear Energy stock to a sell from a buy, Ladenburg analyst Michael Legg foresees shares sliding considerably. Legg also downwardly revised his price target on Nano Nuclear Energy stock to $9 from $51. Based on the stock's closing price of $35.89, Legg's new price target implies downside of 74.9% -- that's a lot of downside.

According to The Fly, Legg predicated the new take on Nano Nuclear Energy stock after the company's recent third-quarter 2025 financial results and on the belief that management "promoting a broad, diversified model" will be less fruitful than if the company emphasized "core initiatives, particularly the Kronos reactor.

In Q3 2025, for example, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with UrAmerica to help shore up various resources and develop its vertically integrated capabilities.

Is Nano Nuclear Energy stock now a sell?

While the negative commentary from Ladenburg is surely disheartening for Nano Nuclear Energy investors, this is merely one analyst's opinion. A tide of similar bearish commentary hasn't surfaced among analysts, so the perception that Nano Nuclear Energy is moving in a less-productive direction should be taken with a grain of salt. Similarly, other analysts haven't echoed the drastic price target revision -- let alone the fact that analysts' price targets are often limited to a shorter investing horizon than the long-term holding periods The Motley Fool favors.

For current shareholders, Ladenburg's perspective is worth acknowledging, but today's commentary should hardly signal that now's the time to jump ship. Of course, if investors are truly spooked, there are plenty of other upstart nuclear energy stocks to consider.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nano Nuclear Energy right now?

Before you buy stock in Nano Nuclear Energy, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nano Nuclear Energy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $668,155!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,106,071!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,070% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Arista Networks is a leading network platform provider.

• Several Wall Street analysts hiked their price targets on Arista Networks stock in July.

• Those on Main Street should investigate the company for themselves to see if it aligns with their investing goals.

• 10 stocks we like better than Arista Networks ›

We all have preferences. From our favorite movies to favorite places to eat to favorite places to visit, people love what they love. Wall Street is no different. Currently, analysts can't get enough of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks.

But of all the AI stocks on the Street's radar, Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET) is one AI name that analysts absolutely love. Let's take a look at the basis for this affection for one of the leading network platform providers.

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Enthusiasm for Arista Networks has heated up in July

While Arista Networks' stock received some upgrades in June, it's during July that Wall Street's enthusiasm has been clearly seen. Here are some of the analysts' more recent actions.

• JPMorgan boosted its price target to $130 from $117 on July 17.
• Citigroup hiked its price target to $123 from $112 on July 11.
• Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Arista Networks and assigned an outperform rating on July 7.

According to Thefly.com, JPMorgan predicated its new price target on the expectation that cloud spending will be strong in the second half of 2025, while Citigroup based its new price target on a growing Ethernet switching market.

Besides Wall Street, Arista Networks is growing increasingly popular with customers. The company's industry-leading switches are in high demand as data centers look to shore up their computing infrastructure to support AI computing. And demand for the company's networking solutions seems unlikely to taper off anytime soon.

During its first-quarter 2025 financial report, Arista Networks projected its total addressable market will rise from $41 billion in 2024 to $70 billion in 2028.

Is now a good time for Main Street investors to listen to Wall Street?

The enthusiasm that Wall Street has for Arista Networks is well warranted, but does that mean investors should rush to buy shares? The answer is a resounding No. Investors must -- as always -- do their own due diligence to see if Arista Networks is right for them, but for AI exposure, it certainly demands consideration.

Should you invest $1,000 in Arista Networks right now?

Before you buy stock in Arista Networks, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Arista Networks wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,063,471!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,041% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 183% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Arista Networks and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Rocket Lab is a leading launch services provider.

• Bank of America has upwardly revised its price target due, in part, to the potential of the company's Neutron rocket.

• Because it's an unprofitable company, investors should only consider Rocket Lab if they're comfortable with a higher-risk investment.

• 10 stocks we like better than Rocket Lab ›

Each day this week, shares of Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) have closed higher than where they ended the previous day's trading session. The trend doesn't show signs of stopping today. With an analyst's positive outlook for Rocket Lab stock, investors are continuing to click the buy button on the launch services provider.

As of 2:06 p.m. ET, shares of Rocket Lab are up 10.6%.

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Development of a new rocket has this analyst optimistic

Maintaining its buy rating, Bank of America hiked its price target on Rocket Lab stock to $50 from $30. According to The Fly, the more auspicious view of the space stock is predicated on the favorable outlook for the Neutron rocket as well as the company's strength in satellite development position will provide more diverse offerings to customers.

Unlike its current rocket, Electron, the Neutron rocket is capable of larger payloads, and management is looking to its development as a major engine of growth for the company.

In March, Rocket Lab announced that the United States Space Force has chosen the Neutron rocket to compete for contracts from the National Security Space Launch program, which has a five-year ordering period that extends through June 2029 and has a maximum value of $5.6 billion.

Rocket Lab expects the first launch of Neutron to occur in the second half of 2025.

What's a potential Rocket Lab investor to do now?

It's important for those weighing an investment in Rocket Lab to remember that analysts often have shorter investing horizons than the long-term holding periods many investors favor. News of the higher price target, therefore, should be of little consequence. Instead, the company's robust backlog and progress with the Neutron program provide more concrete factors that can support an investment.

Of course, since the company is still unprofitable, only investors comfortable with a more speculative investment will want to consider Rocket Lab at this point. Fortunately, there are other space stocks to consider if Rocket Lab is deemed too speculative.

Should you invest $1,000 in Rocket Lab right now?

Before you buy stock in Rocket Lab, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Rocket Lab wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $674,281!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,050,415!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,058% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025

Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• The European Commission plans on boosting spending for its Connected Europe Facility program.

• A project in Germany is one example of Plug Power's presence in Europe.

• Prospective investors would be better advised to wait for the company's upcoming financial report for better insight into the company.

• 10 stocks we like better than Plug Power ›

Since their closing at $1.78 on July 9, shares of Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) had closed lower on each subsequent trading day, as of the end of yesterday's session. Today, however, they're poised to reverse that streak. Shares of the hydrogen and fuel cell specialist are moving higher today, thanks to some encouraging news for the hydrogen industry coming out of Europe.

As of 12:27 p.m. ET, shares of Plug Power are up 5.6%, retreating from an earlier climb of 9.2%.

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Plug bulls see opportunity on the other side of the pond

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (E.U.), revealed its proposed financial framework for 2028 to 2034, and it includes a substantial increase in funding for the Connecting Europe Facility for energy to 29.9 billion euros from the current amount of 5.84 billion euros. In support of sustainable energy infrastructure projects, the Connecting Europe Facility for energy program recognizes hydrogen infrastructure as a potential part of the process to "further develop and interconnect energy networks in Europe [that] will make a key contribution to the energy transition."

Plug Power has a growing presence in Europe. In May, the company announced that it had delivered hydrogen from its Werlte facility located in Germany to the H2CAST Etzel project, a pilot project for large-scale underground hydrogen storage also located in Germany.

In 2022, Lhyfe, a European leader in hydrogen production, placed an order with Plug Power for 10 of its 5-megawatt electrolyzer systems. At the time, it represented the largest electrolyzer order placed by a French company.

Will the EU's announcement move the needle for Plug?

Plug investors often jump at any news hinting at the growth of the hydrogen industry, and they're likely speculating Plug stands to benefit from the European Commission's planned increase in funding. While the new budget allocation is a positive sign, it's hardly enough to justify buying Plug stock right now. Better yet, potential investors should tune in for Plug Power's reporting of its second-quarter 2025 financial results for greater insights into the business.

Should you invest $1,000 in Plug Power right now?

Before you buy stock in Plug Power, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Plug Power wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $674,281!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,050,415!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,058% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Luxury EV maker Lucid is helping Uber to build a robotaxi fleet.

• The launch of the robotaxi service is expected in 2026.

• Uber plans on developing a fleet of 20,000 Lucid robotaxis or more.

• 10 stocks we like better than Lucid Group ›

There hasn't been a lot to power either the bulls or the bears over the past few days with respect to Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID). Shares of the luxury electric car (EV) manufacturer have mostly idled this week. After the stock closed at $2.29 last Friday, it closed at $2.29 again yesterday. Lucid announced a new partnership with Uber today, however, and it has the bulls' hearts racing.

As of 10 a.m. ET, shares of Lucid are up 30.1%.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Lucid is helping to build a robotaxi fleet

Over the next six years, Uber plans on developing a fleet of 20,000 (or more) Lucid vehicles that will operate as robotaxis, which Uber will own and operate or its third-party fleet partners. Riders will have exclusive access to the robotaxi service through the Uber platform.

Waxing optimistic about the company's potential, Marc Winterhoff, Lucid's interim CEO, stated, "This is the start of our path to extend our innovation and technology leadership into this multitrillion-dollar market."

The robotaxi fleet will feature Lucid Gravity EVs that incorporate autonomous driving software from Nuro, a leader in self-driving car technology. The robotaxis will operate at Level 4 autonomy.

To help support the development of the robotaxi fleet, Uber will make multimillion-dollar investments in Lucid, as well as Nuro. The companies expect the robotaxi service to launch in 2026 in a major U.S. city.

Is it too late to go for a ride with Lucid stock?

With Tesla so often receiving the lion's share of attention with robotaxi service, it's no wonder that Lucid investors are racing to pick up shares on news of the partnership with Uber. For prospective investors considering a position in Lucid, there's no rush to pile into the stock right now, but this is certainly an encouraging development for the company and may portend similar deals in the future for robotaxi service.

Should you invest $1,000 in Lucid Group right now?

Before you buy stock in Lucid Group, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Lucid Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $674,281!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,050,415!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,059% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Shares of rare-earth stock USA Rare Earth are climbing today despite the absence of news from the company.

• A newly announced partnership between MP Materials and Apple is likely partly responsible for the rise in USA Rare Earth stock today.

• USA Rare Earth is developing a rare-earth magnet production facility in Oklahoma.

• 10 stocks we like better than Usa Rare Earth ›

Extending their rise from Monday, shares of rare-earth stock USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) are rising higher today. Like yesterday, the company hasn't announced any news today that would drive investors to bid the stock higher. But, also like yesterday's climb, it's probable that shares of USA Rare Earth are climbing in sympathy with the rise in shares of rare-earths peer MP Materials.

As of 11:13 a.m. ET, shares of USA Rare Earth are up 25.4%.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Investors are speculating good news is on the horizon

While USA Rare Earth didn't have anything to report today, one of its leading peers did. MP Materials announced a $500 million partnership with Apple that will see the companies collaborate on the production of recycled rare-earth magnets.

The reasons why investors are pouring into USA Rare Earth stock today upon news of the collaboration between MP Materials and Apple are probably two-fold. For one, investors who have had MP Materials on their radars but who haven't purchased its stock are likely feeling that they've missed the boat considering shares of MP Materials have soared since the start of 2025, so they're scratching their itch for rare-earth stock exposure with USA Rare Earth.

Second, investors are likely speculating that a similar sort of partnership to the one MP Materials and Apple just announced is on the horizon for USA Rare Earth, which itself is developing a rare-earth magnet production facility in Oklahoma.

Is investing in USA Rare Earth a smart move?

Although MP Materials has inked some notable agreements with the Department of Defense and Apple over the past week, USA Rare Earth hasn't had much to report. Until the company announces something material to the growth of its business, only investors with substantial tolerance for risk should consider positions at this point.

Should you invest $1,000 in Usa Rare Earth right now?

Before you buy stock in Usa Rare Earth, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Usa Rare Earth wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $680,559!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,005,670!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,053% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool recommends MP Materials. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• A rare-earths producer, MP Materials is developing a rare-earth magnet production facility in Texas.

• MP Materials and Apple are partnering to produce rare-earth magnets.

• Rare-earth magnet production at the Texas facility is expected to start in 2027.

• 10 stocks we like better than MP Materials ›

The market opened mixed today with the S&P 500 inching higher and the Dow Jones Industrial Average nudging lower. One thing that seems a lot less mixed, however, is the market's enthusiasm for rare-earths producer MP Materials (NYSE: MP) stock. The company announced a partnership with Apple with respect to rare-earth magnets, driving the bulls to load up on shares.

As of 10:13 a.m. ET, shares of MP Materials are up 20.1%.

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Image source: Getty Images.

The attraction these companies have for each other is even stronger due to a rare-earth magnet deal

Expanding a relationship that has lasted for nearly five years, MP Materials announced that it signed a long-term commitment with Apple -- a $500 million partnership -- to supply the tech company with magnets produced at a rare-earth magnet production facility that it's developing in Texas. MP Materials will source the magnets with recycled rare-earth feedstock from its production facility in California. The feedstock will be sourced from post-industrial and end-of-life magnets, marking a major milestone in both companies' long-standing efforts to create sustainable, domestic supply chains.

In addition, the two companies will partner to expedite innovation in technologies related to both magnet production and end-of-life recovery.

MP Materials expects shipments of rare-earth magnets to start in 2027.

Over the past five years, the two companies have explored advanced recycling technology of rare-earth magnets that Apple could use in its products.

Rare-earth magnets are critical materials used in components that are found in various products that Apple produces like smartphones, computers, wearables, and other electronics.

Should investors be drawn closer to MP Materials stock after this magnet deal?

The market's appetite for MP Materials was strong in the first half of 2025, and it remains strong into the second half of the year. With the support of the Department of Defense and now Apple, a lot of risk has been removed with MP Materials stock, but investors should continue to dig deeper into the company to see if an investment is right for them.

Should you invest $1,000 in MP Materials right now?

Before you buy stock in MP Materials, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and MP Materials wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $680,559!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,005,670!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,053% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool recommends MP Materials. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Apple stock provided steady growth from 1985 through 2005.

• Over the past two decades, shares of Apple have performed exceedingly well as the company produced several tech innovations.

• Those looking for tech exposure would be well advised to consider picking up shares of Apple.

• 10 stocks we like better than Apple ›

Twenty years ago, life looked a little different. While cellphones were fairly common sights, it was nothing compared to what would happen in 2007 when Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) introduced the first iPhone. With the numerous iterations of the iPhone that followed, as well as other innovations including the iPad and AirPods, Apple grew to become the first company with a $1 trillion market cap.

Those who had the wherewithal to scoop up Apple stock a couple of years before the iPhone's debut -- and who have held their positions -- have similarly seen their investments flourish.

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Image source: Getty Images.

What a difference an iPhone could make

Those who were cautious about investing in initial public offerings (IPOs), but who were also attracted to Apple stock, likely took their time after the company appeared on public markets in 1980. If they had bought $10,000 in Apple stock in July 1985 and kept their position for the next 20 years, they'd have recognized an impressive 304% gain that resulted in a position worth about $40,000.

On the other hand, investors who first bought Apple stock in July 2005 and have not trimmed their positions have recognized extraordinarily impressive growth. An initial investment of $10,000 20 years ago would now be worth about $1.546 million.

Will the next two decades provide the same growth?

Implementing a walled-garden approach, Apple has developed an ecosystem that contributes to its formidable competitive advantage among tech stocks. This, along with its fierce customer loyalty, has resulted in Apple evolving into an industry stalwart over the past 20 years.

Whether the company has any transformative tech innovation waiting in the wings remains to be seen. Similarly, it will take another 20 years before we can look back and see if Apple stock was able to replicate the performance it provided from 2005 through 2025. What is certain, however, is that Apple stock remains a worthy consideration for any investor seeking tech exposure.

Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?

Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $694,758!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $998,376!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,058% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Oklo, a developer of small modular nuclear reactors, has seen its stock soar over the past year.

• Political support for the nuclear energy industry can benefit the company in the future.

• The growth of data centers and radioisotopic production are two trends that can contribute to Oklo's growth.

Amid the current renaissance in the nuclear energy industry, several stocks with exposure to this niche of the energy industry have logged considerable gains recently. Oklo (NYSE: OKLO), for example, has been on an absolute tear, soaring 559.6% as of this writing.

And there's plenty of reasons to believe that the stock can continue to rocket even higher as enthusiasm for nuclear energy increases.

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Image source: Getty Images.

What fueled Oklo's rapid rise over the past year

While some growth stocks may log multibagger returns in a single year thanks to merely one catalyst, Oklo's gains stem from several factors. Investors bid the stock higher in late 2024 when the company announced that it had received letters of intent from two data center customers for the deployment of its Aurora powerhouse small modular reactors. In total, the potential deals can provide up to 750 megawatts in capacity across the United States.

The company also announced a nonbinding agreement with Switch -- a company that provides artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and enterprise data centers -- to deploy 12 gigawatts in Aurora powerhouse projects through 2044.

The start of 2025 also proved to be fruitful for the stock. With Sam Altman's OpenAI announcing the Stargate Project in January, investors raced to purchase Oklo, recognizing that the OpenAI plan to develop data center infrastructure could be a potential boon for the company.

More recently, the executive orders that President Donald Trump signed in May aimed at reinvigorating the nation's nuclear energy industry represented another catalyst for the stock. After decades of Washington's disinterest in development of the nuclear industry, the Trump administration is clearly enthusiastic about its potential.

This nuclear energy stock can be a powerhouse over the long term

For prospective investors or current shareholders, it's reasonable to question whether the stock can continue its meteoric rise. Simply put, the answer is a resounding yes.

With the extraordinary computing demands that generative AI is placing on data centers, AI companies are investing heavily in data center infrastructure. Research from Dell'Oro Group estimates that global spending is expected to soar from $430 billion on data centers in 2024 to $1.1 trillion by 2029. The interest that Oklo received last year from these developers will very likely extend through 2025 and beyond, helping to push the stock higher.

The political goodwill toward the nuclear industry will also benefit the stock. In early June, for example, Oklo notched another victory when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission agreed to review a report from the company, which could receive regulatory approval for licensing operators for the company's Aurora powerhouse.

Oklo's progress with its subsidiary Atomic Alchemy represents another factor that can lift the stock. In June, work began at a planned radioisotopic production facility in Idaho -- just one of what management expects will be numerous projects that will expand its capabilities in commercial radioisotope production.

While not as widely discussed as data centers and AI, the market for radioisotopic production is expected to experience notable growth in the coming years. According to Credence Research, the market is projected to soar at an 89.7% compound annual growth rate from about $5.68 billion in 2024 to $953 billion in 2032.

Is Oklo the right stock to charge up your portfolio?

Before clicking the buy button on the stock, it's imperative for potential investors to recognize that there are bound to be bumps in the road. Disrupting an industry doesn't come without some volatility, and there's certainly no guarantee that Oklo will prosper as management imagines it will.

So, only investors comfortable with the inherent risks should consider a position. Those who have the resolve to stick with Oklo through the ups and downs may find themselves looking at a stock that provides a considerable return.

Should you invest $1,000 in Oklo right now?

Before you buy stock in Oklo, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Oklo wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $976,677!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,060% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Points

• Nano Nuclear is developing advanced micro-small modular reactors.

• President Trump's executive orders in May was one factor motivating investors to buy Nano Nuclear stock in June.

• The company isn't likely to generate revenue anytime soon, so conservative investors may be more comfortable with a nuclear energy ETF.

While not the same as the 32.4% gain it logged in May, the rise in Nano Nuclear Energy (NASDAQ: NNE) stock last month was undoubtedly well received among investors. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Nano Nuclear Energy stock shot 14.5% higher in June.

President Trump's clear support for the nuclear energy industry helped earlier in the month to buoy the company that's developing micro-small modular reactors (SMRs), while momentum toward the passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill provided incentive for investors to click the buy button at the end of June.

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Forget solar and wind: Trump's favorite clean energy is nuclear

Nano Nuclear began June with the wind at its back, thanks to the executive order that Trump signed in late May meant to spur development of the domestic nuclear energy industry. In addition to advancing the development of next-generation nuclear energy assets that can shore up infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence (AI) -- such as data centers -- the executive order seeks to remove a lot of the regulatory hurdles that are challenging SMR companies such as Nano Nuclear.

As June rolled along, it became increasingly clearer that the Democrats would be unable to thwart the passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill -- legislation that was well received by the nuclear energy industry. Upon the Senate's approval of the legislation, in fact, Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, applauded the bill that "allows us to continue down the path to achieve the administration's ambitious goals for deploying new, cutting-edge nuclear technologies that will meet the growing demand for more reliable energy."

Whereas the nuclear power production tax credit was set to expire at the end of 2031, the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill extends the nuclear power production tax credit through 2032. Plus, the bill extends the tax credits for new nuclear generation through 2033.

With all this political goodwill, should investors power their portfolios with Nano Nuclear now?

Although it seems as if the U.S. is one the verge of entering a nuclear energy renaissance, it's important to acknowledge that Nano Nuclear is still far away from bring one of its SMRs to market. Moreover, it's unlikely that the company will start generating revenue anytime in the foreseeable future.

For the time being, nuclear energy-focused investors would be better advised to consider one of the other leading SMR companies. On the other hand, those who are looking to reduce their exposure to risk would likely be more comfortable with a nuclear energy ETF.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nano Nuclear Energy right now?

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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $699,558!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $976,677!*

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Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

It didn't seem that far ago in the past that the idea of artificial intelligence (AI) seemed like the stuff of science fiction. Nowadays, however, it seems that everywhere we look, AI has a presence. From customer service chatbots to self-driving cars, AI in a wide variety of places that transcend the generative AI applications like ChatGPT that people are turning to daily -- and maybe even hourly.

Recognizing how rapidly AI is escalating, growth investors are looking for ways to prosper from the trend. Fortunately for them, they needn't fret about identifying individual AI companies -- the exchange-traded fund Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ: QQQ) provides a convenient one-stop shopping exchange-traded fund opportunity for those looking to invest $1,000 and hold on for the long term.

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Don't let the name fool you -- AI exposure reigns supreme

Although you couldn't tell by the name of the fund, the Invesco QQQ ETF still offers considerable AI exposure, although it's not explicitly stated in the same way as other AI-focused ETFs like the Roundhill Generative AI and Technology ETF or the Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Providing exposure to the market's leading tech stocks, the Invesco QQQ ETF has the stated goal of tracking the Nasdaq-100, an index that tracks the performance of the top 100 nonfinancial stocks listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

In addition to all the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, the 10 largest positions in the Invesco QQQ ETF include semiconductor stalwart Broadcom, streaming leader Netflix, and leading wholesale retailer Costco Wholesale.

Data source: Invesco QQQ ETF Prospectus Data.

Despite the fact that there are 100 stocks held in the Invesco QQQ ETF, it's the top 10 positions that do the heavy lifting, representing 50% of the fund's weighting.

Besides companies providing innovative AI tools like Apple and Microsoft, investors have the opportunity to prosper from AI's use in autonomous vehicles with Tesla, as well as semiconductor stocks Nvidia and Broadcom that provide AI computing capabilities.

A simple way to surf the waves of tech innovation

While the popularity of some technologies -- like 3D printing -- turn out to not provide investors with the lucrative returns that they had seemed to initially offer, the omnipresence of AI in so many facets of society suggest that it's here to stay and become even more deeply embedded in our daily lives in the coming years. While it does, the Invesco QQQ ETF will continue to provide investors with the opportunity to benefit.

Naturally, tech advancements will continue, and the Invesco QQQ ETF will continue to serve as an ideal way for investors to have exposure to the companies at the vanguard of innovation, since the ETF is rebalanced quarterly and reconstituted annually.

Many experts, for example, suspect that quantum computing will be the next tech revolution. If they're correct, companies that are quantum computing industry leaders and are already held in the Invesco QQQ ETF -- like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet -- will provide exposure for investors.

This ETF's success is clear as day

Since its inception in March 1999, the Invesco QQQ ETF delivered a convincingly strong performance, soaring at a clip that exceeds those of both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. From the early days of the internet through the development of the smartphone industry up to the boom in AI stocks, the Invesco QQQ ETF provided investors with a convenient way to prosper from the recent technological achievements.

QQQ data by YCharts.

As it has over the past 25 years, the ETF is bound to experience some bumps in the road, as it's subject to the whims of the market. But for investors who take the long view -- our favorite type of investors -- the volatility the ETF experiences shouldn't impede it from enjoying future success and contributing greatly to growing investors' personal wealth.

As if the allure of the fund isn't bright enough, those who fret that a high-quality ETF such as this comes with exorbitant management costs needn't worry. The Invesco QQQ ETF has a low total expense ratio of 0.2%, or $20 annually for each $10,000 invested.

Should you invest $1,000 in Invesco QQQ Trust right now?

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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $658,297!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $883,386!*

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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

It's been some ride for USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) investors so far this year. From the time it began trading on March 14, when it completed its business merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), through the end of March, the stock had plunged 68%.

But USA Rare Earth stock turned things around in April, and shares skyrocketed 76.9%, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

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Rare earth elements took center stage last month as President Donald Trump signaled that his administration was intent on shoring up the nation's supply of the critical elements. This is a boon for USA Rare Earth, which is developing a rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma.

Image source: Getty Images.

Digging into President Trump's interest in rare earth elements

In mid-April, President Trump signed an executive order that started an investigation into whether the U.S. reliance on imports for rare earth elements and other critical elements could jeopardize the nation's security. Consequently, USA Rare Earth stock jumped to the forefront of investors' radars as the company is committed to producing rare earth elements from its asset in Texas. Furthermore, the company plans on commencing operations at a rare earth magnet manufacturing facility in the first half of 2026.

Rare earth elements emerged as a major point of focus last month as China, striking back against Trump's announced imposition of tariffs, suspended exports of seven rare earth elements.

A scenario where there's a constrained supply of rare earth elements is of great concern to a variety of industries. Made from alloys of rare earth elements, rare earth magnets are an essential component of manufactured products used in defense applications to electric cars to smartphones.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 70% of the rare earth elements that the U.S. imports come from China.

Should investors power their portfolios with USA Rare Elements right now?

It's unsurprising that shares of USA Rare Earth jumped as much as they did last month, considering how rare earth elements emerged as a striking point of contention between the United States and China. If you're considering picking up shares, however, you should temper your expectations because it's not clear that the company will immediately benefit from recent developments.

Even though the stock has fallen about 15% since the start of May, as of this writing, investors should remain circumspect. The company is still in the pre-revenue phase of its development, so there's a fair degree of risk associated with an investment. As such, only those with a high tolerance for risk should consider initiating a position at this point.

Should you invest $1,000 in Usa Rare Earth right now?

Before you buy stock in Usa Rare Earth, consider this:

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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $623,685!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $701,781!*

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Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

April showers may have generally doused the spirits of investors, as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC)
nudged about 0.7% lower last month, but not all stocks suffered. Launch services provider Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB), for example, blasted 21.9% higher, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Besides both the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force selecting Rocket Lab for participation in two noteworthy programs, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense awarded Rocket Lab a contract that motivated investors to bid Rocket Lab stock higher.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Catalysts fueling Rocket Lab stock's rise

Investors received a double dip of positive news in mid-April, when Rocket Lab announced that both the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Ministry of Defense had selected the company as a contender for contracts in multibillion-dollar programs.

Rocket Lab may bid on contracts available through the U.S. Air Force's Enterprise-Wide Agile Acquisition Contract, a $46 billion program that has several goals, including the rapid development of innovative technologies. Similarly, through its Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework, the U.K. Ministry of Defense may award Rocket Lab contracts to develop hypersonic capabilities.

Of interest for both programs is Rocket Lab's Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) launch vehicle, a variation of the small orbital rocket Electron.

Addressing the HASTE vehicle, Rocket Lab's CEO Peter Beck said:

The ability to contribute toward the collective security of the United States and the United Kingdom across both of these important programs is a proud moment for the HASTE team, and a demonstration of Rocket Lab's commitment to lead from the front when it comes to innovative and unique solutions for hypersonic technology development.

Later in the month, investors learned that defense contractor Kratos had chosen Rocket Lab to provide its HASTE launch vehicle for a test flight in support of the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program, a five-year, $1.45 billion contract to develop hypersonic technologies.

Rocket Lab stock closed nearly 8% higher the day after the company reported the partnership with Kratos.

Is now the time to hitch a ride with Rocket Lab?

While the selections Rocket Lab received regarding its HASTE vehicle may not immediately translate to growth on its income statement, they certainly have the potential to do so in the future. The development of hypersonic capabilities is a top concern for governments looking to retain military advantages over adversaries.

Rocket Lab has distinguished itself as a leader in launch services, as its Electron rocket is the second-most frequently launched vehicle annually, and it'd be unsurprising if it further asserts its prowess as a leader in the hypersonic capabilities that the U.S. and U.K. governments are exploring in the aforementioned programs.

With shares of Rocket Lab down about 10% year to date as of this writing, growth investors looking for space stock exposure would be smart to take a closer look at Rocket Lab stock.

Should you invest $1,000 in Rocket Lab USA right now?

Before you buy stock in Rocket Lab USA, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Rocket Lab USA wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $623,685!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $701,781!*

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Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Rocket Lab USA. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Extending the 5.6% decline that it suffered in March, the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) inched almost 0.7% lower in April. Of course, there were stocks that bucked the trend and managed to gain altitude last month. Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR), for example, ascended 17.2% higher, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

In addition to the company announcing advancements in its goal to bring air taxi service via its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to customers, investors loaded up on shares of Archer after learning of an analyst's auspicious outlook for its stock.

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Image source: Getty Images.

More than one factor lifted shares higher

On April 17, investors gained more insight into Archer's plan for air taxi service in and around New York City. In collaboration with United Airlines, Archer aspires to offer customers the ability to travel from Manhattan to airports located on Long Island, northern New Jersey, and Westchester County on flights that last under 20 minutes -- a considerable time-saver over trips by car that can take as much as several hours, depending on traffic.

Addressing Archer's vision for reimagining travel around the New York metropolitan area, Adam Goldstein, Archer's founder and CEO, said:

The New York region is home to three of the world's preeminent airports, serving upwards of 150 million passengers annually. But the drive from Manhattan to any of these airports can be painful, taking one, sometimes two hours. We want to change that by giving residents and visitors the option to complete trips in mere minutes.

With respect to the company's business in the Middle East, Archer announced that officials in the United Arab Emirates had approved the transformation of a helipad at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal into a hybrid heliport where both helicopters and eVTOL aircraft can operate.

The progress toward developing infrastructure for Archer's eVTOL aircraft is something that investors are watching closely, as the company has suggested that it may begin commercial operations in the UAE as early as the fourth quarter of 2025.

Providing the bulls with more reason to click the buy button, Needham analyst Chris Pierce reiterated a buy rating on Archer stock on April 21 and maintained a $13 price target toward the end of the month. At that time, the price target implied upside of about 80% from where the stock had closed the day prior.

Should investors now aim to buy Archer stock?

Achieving further progress in its march toward commencing commercial operations, Archer notched an important success in Abu Dhabi -- something that investors certainly appreciated. Likewise, its intention of providing air taxi service in and around New York City also earned approval from investors.

Despite the stock's climb in April, shares are still down about 5% year to date, as of this writing. Those scanning the skies for an intriguing growth opportunity should certainly take a closer look at Archer stock right now, undeterred by the stock's recent rise.

Should you invest $1,000 in Archer Aviation right now?

Before you buy stock in Archer Aviation, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Archer Aviation wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $623,685!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $701,781!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 906% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 164% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025

Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.