NuScale Power's stock surged 5.04% during the trading day, significantly outperforming the broader market. The sharp rise came as part of a broader uptick in the nuclear energy sector, with the company leading gains among its peers.

The rally was primarily driven by a landmark regulatory development. The U.S. nuclear regulatory authority approved a non-light-water reactor for the first time in more than four decades, a milestone widely viewed as a powerful policy signal to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy. This approval bolstered sentiment across the small modular reactor (SMR) sector, where NuScale is a key player.

Further fueling investor optimism was the announcement of a new U.S. space nuclear power strategy. The National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power (NSTM-3), a joint NASA-Pentagon strategy, aims to develop nuclear power systems for future lunar and interplanetary missions. The initiative outlines plans to deploy a space reactor, with NuScale being highlighted as a potential partner due to its NRC-approved SMR design. Concurrently, robust market interest was underscored by tech giants aggressively betting on SMR technology and a key partnership between Framatome and NuScale that reinforces confidence in the company's commercial fuel prospects.