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Centrus Energy Corp (LEU)
NYSE:LEU

Centrus Energy (LEU) AI Stock Analysis

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LEU

Centrus Energy

(NYSE:LEU)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$215.00
▲(6.13% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/12/26
The score is held back primarily by middling financial quality (margin compression, higher leverage, and weak/volatile cash conversion) and an expensive valuation (P/E ~66 with no dividend yield provided). These are partly offset by a strong earnings-call backdrop featuring substantial backlog, significant DOE HALEU funding potential, and strong liquidity, though near-term momentum indicators are mixed-to-soft.
Positive Factors
Backlog & long-term demand
A $3.8B backlog stretching to 2040 provides durable revenue visibility and underpins multi-year production planning. Large contracted volumes support capacity investments, smoothing revenue volatility and justifying multi‑year capital deployment and staffing needed to scale enrichment operations.
DOE HALEU award & government support
A major DOE award (~$900M, potentially >$1B) materially de‑risks HALEU commercialization and ties Centrus to resilient government demand. This long‑horizon contract supports investment in domestic enrichment capacity and positions the company as a prioritized supplier for national energy/security programs.
Strong liquidity & capital access
About $2.0B cash plus recent capital raises (ATM proceeds and convertible notes) provide a sizable runway to fund Piketon/Oak Ridge buildout and near‑term capex. Strong liquidity reduces short‑term refinancing risk and enables staged project execution and supplier prepayments tied to multi‑year contracts.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage
Debt near $1.21B and leverage (~1.6x equity) constrain financial flexibility as Centrus deploys $350–$500M of capital in 2026. High leverage raises interest and refinancing exposure, making the company more vulnerable to cash‑flow swings or execution delays when funding multi‑year plant buildouts.
Weak cash conversion & volatile FCF
Low OCF conversion (~12% of net income) and volatile free cash flow indicate earnings are not reliably converting to cash. With significant capex planned and uneven working‑capital timing, weak cash conversion raises the probability of external funding needs or strained liquidity during multi‑year project execution.
Execution & supply‑chain risk
Long lead items, supplier readiness and a 2029 target for first commercial cascades create persistent execution risk. Prior shipment delays already compressed margins, and multi‑year supplier/timing risks could delay revenue recognition, inflate costs, and compress margins across the buildout horizon.

Centrus Energy (LEU) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Centrus Energy Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCentrus Energy Corp. supplies nuclear fuel and services for the nuclear power industry in the United States, Japan, Belgium, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Technical Solutions. The LEU segment sells separative work units (SWU) component of LEU; SWU and natural uranium components of LEU; and natural uranium for utilities that operate nuclear power plants. The Technical Solutions segment offers technical, manufacturing, engineering, procurement, construction, and operations services to public and private sector customers, including the American Centrifuge engineering and testing activities. The company was formerly known as USEC Inc. and changed its name to Centrus Energy Corp. in September 2014. Centrus Energy Corp. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.
How the Company Makes MoneyCentrus Energy generates revenue primarily through the sale of low-enriched uranium and related services to utilities and other customers in the nuclear power sector. The company has a long-term contract-based revenue model, which includes fixed-price contracts for the delivery of uranium and enrichment services. In addition, Centrus benefits from partnerships with government entities and other organizations to provide specialized enrichment technology and services. The company also explores opportunities in advanced nuclear technologies, which could contribute to future revenue streams, particularly as global energy demands evolve towards cleaner sources.

Centrus Energy Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted meaningful progress: a major DOE HALEU award (potentially >$1B), sizeable backlog ($3.8B), strong liquidity (~$2B cash), SWU revenue and volume growth, clear 2026 guidance, and operational partnerships (Fluor, NYSE uplist, FDI MOUs). Offsetting challenges include a large drop in uranium revenue, a 66% collapse in technical solutions gross profit, a delayed Russian shipment that compressed margins, contingent portions of the LEU backlog, and ongoing execution and supplier timing risks. On balance, the positive strategic milestones, funding position, backlog, and SWU momentum materially outweigh the identifiable near-term operational and contractual challenges, but execution risk remains important to monitor.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Full-Year Financial Results
Revenue of $448.7 million for FY2025, up $6.7 million or 1.5% year-over-year; gross profit of $117.5 million, up roughly 5%; net income of $77.8 million.
SWU Performance
SWU revenue increased 21% year-over-year (an increase of $51.9 million), driven by a 23% increase in SWU volume sold, improving LEU segment margins.
Backlog and Long-Term Demand
Total company backlog of $3.8 billion (extends to 2040); LEU backlog ~ $2.9 billion (includes $2.3 billion in contingent LEU sale contracts, $2.1 billion under definitive agreements).
DOE HALEU Award and HALEU Strategy
Selected by DOE for a $900 million HALEU enrichment award that could exceed $1 billion with options; base case build-out targets 12 metric tons of HALEU capacity (intend to produce 12 MT/year) and support first cascade online by 2029.
Strong Liquidity and Capital Raises
Ended FY2025 with approximately $2.0 billion unrestricted cash; raised gross proceeds of $533.6 million via ATM programs (including $390.4 million at an average $269.21/share) and an oversubscribed August convertible senior note issuance.
Commercial and Operational Progress
Launched commercial centrifuge manufacturing; received DOE waivers to continue importing LEU for committed 2026–2027 deliveries; entered EPC agreement with Fluor for Piketon; uplisted to NYSE; signed MOUs to validate foreign direct investment (KHMP and POSCO International).
Technical Solutions Revenue Growth and HALEU Operational Achievements
Technical solutions revenue of $102.5 million in 2025, up $10.4 million or 11% year-over-year; completed phase two HALEU operations contract milestones (delivered 900 kg HALEU UF6 and produced over one metric ton for DOE as of 2025).
2026 Guidance and Execution Milestones
Provided FY2026 guidance: revenue $425–$475 million (midpoint $450 million, flat y/y) and total capital deployment $350–$500 million; operational guidance includes at least 150 net new employees and first certified-for-construction work package in Piketon with majority of Ohio construction partners mobilized by year-end.
Negative Updates
Uranium Revenue Decline
Uranium revenue decreased 54% year-over-year to $55.6 million, attributed partly to a large one-time uranium sale in 2024.
Technical Solutions Gross Profit Compression
Technical solutions segment gross profit declined 66% to $6.0 million due to a $22.8 million increase in costs under the HALEU operations contract and phase-two costs that remain undefinitized and not yet fee-bearing.
Shipment Delay Impacting Margins
A scheduled, permitted Q4 shipment from Russia did not ship as expected and was pushed into 2026; the delay negatively impacted average cost per SWU, gross margin, and net income for 2025.
Contingent Backlog and Contract Uncertainty
Approximately $2.3 billion of LEU backlog is contingent; while $2.1 billion is under definitive agreements, $200 million remains subject to final agreements, leaving some revenue visibility conditional on contract finalization and removal of contingencies.
Nonrecurring and Transition Costs
Experienced nonrecurring G&A of $3.6 million and $1.1 million related to voluntary tax withholdings and CFO transition costs, respectively, which weighed on 2025 net results.
Execution and Timing Risks
Significant execution risk remains around long lead procurements, supplier lead times, supply-chain readiness for national security requirements, and the multi-year timeline to bring first commercial centrifuge cascades online (first cascade anticipated in 2029).
Company Guidance
Centrus’ 2026 guidance calls for total company revenue of $425–$475 million (midpoint $450M, roughly flat y/y) and total capital deployment of $350–$500 million (includes prepayments that affect free cash flow); operational targets include at least 150 net new hires (≥100 in Oak Ridge — ~25% of the announced 400 — and ≥50 in Piketon), issuance of the first certified‑for‑construction work package in Piketon, and majority mobilization of Ohio construction partners by year‑end. The company continues to target a base‑case 12 metric tons/year of HALEU capacity (first new centrifuge cascade expected online in 2029) and enters 2026 with roughly $2.0 billion cash, a $3.8 billion backlog (LEU ≈ $2.9B including ~$2.3B contingent LEU), and a DOE HALEU award of $900M (potential to exceed $1B with ~$170M of options).

Centrus Energy Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability remains solid (FY2025 net margin ~17%), but the latest period shows weakening growth and margin compression versus prior years. Balance sheet capitalization improved (now positive equity), yet leverage remains elevated with debt rising to ~${1.21}B in 2025. Cash flow quality is the biggest drag: operating cash flow conversion is low (~12% of net income in 2025) and free cash flow is volatile with sharply negative FCF growth in 2025.
Income Statement
62
Positive
Revenue expanded strongly from 2020 to 2024 (about $247M to $442M), but growth turned sharply negative in 2025 (annual revenue down materially to ~$449M with a reported negative growth rate). Profitability remains solid in 2025 with a gross margin around 26% and a net margin around 17%, though both are well below the stronger 2021–2023 levels and EBITDA margin also stepped down versus 2024. Overall, the income profile is profitable but shows meaningful margin compression and a weakening growth trajectory in the most recent period.
Balance Sheet
54
Neutral
The balance sheet improved structurally over time, moving from negative equity in 2020–2022 to positive equity by 2023–2025, which is a clear credit-positive shift. However, leverage is still a key risk: total debt rose substantially in 2025 (to ~${1.21}B) and debt remains high relative to equity (about 1.6x in 2025, though better than 2023–2024 levels that were much higher). Asset base increased significantly in 2025, and return on equity normalized to ~10% in 2025 after unusually elevated/volatile levels in prior years. Net: improving capitalization trend, but elevated debt load keeps the score mid-range.
Cash Flow
41
Neutral
Cash generation is positive but inconsistent. Operating cash flow in 2025 (~$51M) improved from 2024, yet free cash flow fell slightly versus 2024 and the reported free cash flow growth rate in 2025 is sharply negative, signaling a major step-down versus the prior year’s baseline. Cash conversion is mixed: free cash flow is a moderate share of net income in 2025 (roughly 61%), and operating cash flow remains a low share of net income across years (about 12% in 2025 and low-to-mid teens in 2024), suggesting earnings quality and working-capital timing are ongoing watch items.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue448.70M442.00M320.20M293.80M298.30M
Gross Profit117.50M111.50M112.10M117.90M114.50M
EBITDA109.80M86.50M92.90M77.90M144.60M
Net Income77.80M73.20M84.40M52.20M175.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.45B1.10B796.20M705.50M572.40M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.96B701.40M201.20M179.90M193.80M
Total Debt1.21B547.20M177.10M169.80M134.20M
Total Liabilities1.68B937.60M763.90M779.60M714.30M
Stockholders Equity765.10M161.40M32.30M-74.10M-141.90M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow31.30M32.90M7.50M19.90M48.80M
Operating Cash Flow51.00M37.00M9.10M20.60M50.00M
Investing Cash Flow-19.70M-4.10M-1.60M-700.00K-1.20M
Financing Cash Flow1.22B437.10M13.90M-4.30M-9.90M

Centrus Energy Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price202.59
Price Trends
50DMA
261.84
Negative
100DMA
286.73
Negative
200DMA
242.42
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-20.33
Positive
RSI
38.88
Neutral
STOCH
73.84
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LEU, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 202.59 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 228.48, below the 50-day MA of 261.84, and below the 200-day MA of 242.42, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -20.33 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 38.88 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 73.84 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LEU.

Centrus Energy Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Neutral
$8.13B37.319.32%4.32%-13.41%-60.18%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
62
Neutral
$7.44B53.352.29%3.24%-1.43%-63.13%
61
Neutral
$7.82B-87.91-7.29%189.19%-38.15%
54
Neutral
$4.07B50.5216.79%15.25%37.48%
54
Neutral
$5.40B-46.61-18.17%103.69%-126.48%
51
Neutral
$643.33M-7.87-65.17%138.94%-62.94%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LEU
Centrus Energy
202.59
111.86
123.29%
FRO
Frontline
37.95
22.64
147.84%
NOV
NOV
20.26
5.91
41.18%
URG
UR-Energy
1.67
0.71
74.32%
UEC
Uranium Energy
15.33
9.73
173.75%
UUUU
Energy Fuels
21.32
17.20
417.48%

Centrus Energy Corporate Events

Business Operations and Strategy
Centrus Partners With Fluor to Expand Uranium Enrichment
Positive
Feb 11, 2026

On February 9, 2026, Centrus subsidiary American Centrifuge Operating entered an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Fluor Federal Services to design, build and commission a commercial uranium enrichment facility expansion in Piketon, Ohio. The time-and-materials contract, which includes standard project protections such as warranties, indemnities, liability limits and staged funding with defined termination fees in the first year, forms a central element of Centrus’ previously announced multi‑billion‑dollar investment to scale its enrichment operations.

Announced publicly on February 11, 2026, the Fluor partnership marks a major step as Centrus moves from pilot operations to large‑scale deployment, with Fluor overseeing multi‑year engineering, supply chain management, construction and commissioning of new capacity at Piketon. The project is intended to support large‑scale low‑enriched uranium output to serve a $2.3 billion commercial backlog and growing reactor demand, complement planned 12‑metric‑ton HALEU capacity and a recently awarded $900 million U.S. Department of Energy task order, and strengthen Centrus’ role as the only production‑ready option for certain national security enrichment missions while bringing investment and jobs to Ohio and Tennessee.

The most recent analyst rating on (LEU) stock is a Hold with a $245.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Centrus Energy stock, see the LEU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Centrus Energy Expands Tennessee Facility for Advanced Enrichment
Positive
Jan 23, 2026

On January 23, 2026, Centrus Energy announced a major expansion of its Technology & Manufacturing Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, converting it into a high-rate manufacturing plant for advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges. The company plans to invest more than $560 million and create nearly 430 new jobs in Anderson County over the next several years, with the first new centrifuges from Tennessee expected to begin operating at Centrus’s expanding Ohio enrichment plant in 2029. State officials highlighted the project as reinforcing Tennessee’s growing role as a hub for nuclear innovation and clean energy, while Centrus and local leaders framed the move as a significant step in rebuilding U.S. uranium enrichment capacity, strengthening energy security and delivering long-term economic benefits to the Oak Ridge region.

The most recent analyst rating on (LEU) stock is a Hold with a $344.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Centrus Energy stock, see the LEU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
Centrus Energy Launches U.S. Centrifuge Manufacturing for Enrichment
Positive
Dec 19, 2025

On December 19, 2025, Centrus Energy announced it had begun domestic centrifuge manufacturing to support commercial low-enriched uranium enrichment at its Piketon, Ohio facility, marking a major step in rebuilding U.S.-owned uranium enrichment capacity amid an expected ban on Russian enriched uranium imports from 2028 and growing global nuclear power demand. Backed by a multi-billion-dollar expansion plan, $2.3 billion in contingent LEU sales contracts, significant recent capital-raising, and prospective Department of Energy task orders, the project is expected to bring the first new production capacity online in 2029 and support thousands of jobs across Ohio, Tennessee, and a nationwide supply chain, reinforcing Centrus’s role in U.S. energy and national security as it targets future commercial-scale HALEU production and positions itself as a first mover in domestic enrichment technology.

The most recent analyst rating on (LEU) stock is a Buy with a $299.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Centrus Energy stock, see the LEU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing Changes
Centrus Energy Uplists to New York Stock Exchange
Positive
Dec 1, 2025

On December 1, 2025, Centrus Energy Corp. announced its approval for uplisting from the NYSE American to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with trading set to commence on December 4, 2025, under the symbol ‘LEU’. This strategic move is expected to enhance liquidity and visibility for Centrus, supporting its mission to re-establish large-scale U.S.-owned uranium enrichment capacity, which is crucial for both commercial and national security purposes.

The most recent analyst rating on (LEU) stock is a Hold with a $245.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Centrus Energy stock, see the LEU Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 12, 2026