How AI and Nuclear Power Are Reshaping the Best Uranium ETF Opportunities

The artificial intelligence boom has quietly sparked a nuclear energy renaissance. Unlike previous energy cycles driven by commodity speculation, today’s nuclear resurgence is powered by concrete infrastructure needs: data centers consuming massive amounts of electricity to train and operate large-scale AI models. This fundamental shift is creating compelling opportunities for investors looking at the best uranium ETF options available.

The Policy Tailwind: Why Uranium Is Back in Play

Recent U.S. political developments have dramatically shifted uranium’s investment thesis. President Trump’s administration has signaled strong support for nuclear energy expansion, with Chris Wright confirmed as energy secretary. Wright explicitly tied nuclear power to America’s competitive advantage in AI, emphasizing that winning the global AI race requires reliable, affordable electricity infrastructure.

The administration is expected to implement policies positioning uranium as a critical mineral, potentially including federal subsidies for mining projects. This is particularly significant given U.S. dependence on Russia and China for uranium supplies. As geopolitical tensions persist and trade disputes loom, reducing reliance on foreign uranium sources aligns with broader strategic interests.

The Demand Explosion: Trillions in Infrastructure Investment

The numbers reveal the scale of this shift. President Trump announced “Stargate,” a $500 billion private-sector AI infrastructure initiative, beginning with $100 billion in initial Texas-based data center investments. Meanwhile, tech giants have committed over $1 trillion to U.S. investments, with Apple pledging $500 billion over four years focused on AI server production and creating 20,000 U.S. jobs.

Meta allocated $65 billion for 2025 AI projects including new data centers, while Microsoft committed over $40 billion to U.S. data center expansion. These investments underscore a critical reality: AI infrastructure is energy-intensive, and most tech giants are increasingly turning to nuclear power to meet their sustainable energy needs.

The World Nuclear Association projects reactor demand rising 28% by 2030 and nearly doubling by 2040. This isn’t speculative—it’s driven by concrete infrastructure projects already breaking ground.

Price Trajectory: The Case for Upside

Financial institutions are bullish. Bank of America forecasts uranium prices surging over 50% to $120 per pound in 2025, with further increases to $135 in 2026 and $140 in 2027. Morgan Stanley echoes this bullish view, particularly for 2025.

Current prices remain well below last year’s $100+ peaks, presenting a classic buy-the-dip scenario. A key structural advantage: uranium prices have minimal impact on nuclear power generation costs, meaning demand remains inelastic even at higher price points. Supply constraints combined with surging demand create a favorable price backdrop.

Canadian tariffs introduced by the Trump administration add another tailwind. Cameco’s CFO noted tariffs could push uranium prices up 10%, with broader market effects as non-tariff suppliers adjust rates upward.

Selecting the Best Uranium ETF: A Comparison

With uranium demand accelerating, investors need efficient portfolio vehicles. Here’s what the best uranium ETF options offer:

Global X Uranium ETF (URA) leads in liquidity with 2.88 million shares average monthly trading volume and the largest asset base at $3.31 billion. These characteristics make URA ideal for active traders seeking easy entry and exit points while minimizing slippage.

Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ) showed the strongest recent performance, gaining 16.37% over the past month, demonstrating how nuclear-focused vehicles are capturing investor enthusiasm for the sector’s growth narrative.

VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR) followed closely, delivering 9.94% gains over the past month, offering diversification across uranium and broader nuclear infrastructure.

Themes Uranium & Nuclear ETF (URAN) features the lowest annual fee at 0.35%, making it the best uranium ETF choice for long-term buy-and-hold investors seeking cost efficiency over the years.

Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ) provides exposure to smaller mining companies with higher growth potential for investors comfortable with volatility.

The Strategic Opportunity

The convergence of AI infrastructure buildout, policy support, supply constraints, and price momentum creates a distinctive moment for uranium investors. Whether seeking performance through NUKZ, liquidity through URA, or cost efficiency through URAN, uranium ETFs offer multiple ways to participate in nuclear energy’s transition from niche to essential infrastructure.

The best uranium ETF choice depends on individual investment timelines and risk tolerance, but the underlying thesis—that nuclear energy will power the next decade’s computing revolution—appears increasingly concrete.