Obamacare premiums double, adding post Halloween fright for US health insurance shoppers

Obamacare premiums double, adding post Halloween fright for US health insurance shoppers By Amina Niasse, Nathan Layne and Andy SullivanNovember 1, 2025 at 3:04 AM 0 FILE PHOTO: Signs for former Obamacare health insurance plans lay next to a fence in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023.

- - Obamacare premiums double, adding post Halloween fright for US health insurance shoppers

By Amina Niasse, Nathan Layne and Andy SullivanNovember 1, 2025 at 3:04 AM

0

FILE PHOTO: Signs for former Obamacare health insurance plans lay next to a fence in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

By Amina Niasse, Nathan Layne and Andy Sullivan

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Americans shopping for 2026 Obamacare health insurance plans are facing a more than doubling of monthly premiums on average and are likely to postpone signing up in hopes of a last-minute reprieve, or walk away, health experts say.

COVID-19 pandemic-era subsidies, due to expire at year-end, are at the center of the month-long U.S. government shutdown, with the potential to affect election outcomes and increase the rate of U.S. uninsured.

The subsidies helped double Obamacare enrollment to 24 million since they were put in place in 2021.

Enrollment opens on Saturday for the plans created by President Barack Obama's signature 2010 Affordable Care Act. Enrollees on average will see premiums rise about 114%, with the impact varying among the 22 million people who receive subsidies, according to research firm KFF.

Austin Jeha, a 24-year-old medical billing professional from San Ramon, California, relies on insurance to help pay for specialty care for his ulcerative colitis. Jeha's new monthly premium is set to rise to $436 from $215.

Jeha regularly receives treatment from a specialist, handing over an $85 co-pay. "You're at a higher risk of colon cancer," he said, so doctors "want to check in to see if you're in remission or not."

Jeha has reached out to his representative in the U.S. Congress, Democrat Mark DeSaulnier, and is waiting to see if an agreement in Washington would cut his costs.

Large swaths of the U.S. government have been shut since October 1, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay and disrupting a wide range of services, from financial oversight to medical research.

Democrats say any package that would reopen the government must also extend ACA subsidies. Republicans say they are open to addressing that issue, but insist Congress must first vote to restore government funding.

Residents in Florida, Texas and Georgia are among those who will be most affected. In these and seven other Republican-led states, Medicaid is limited to the poorest residents, leaving many low-income families to seek out ACA plans because of the subsidies.

Scott Darius, executive director of nonprofit Florida Voices for Health, said working-class residents and small business owners have come to rely on these plans at a time of persistent inflation.

"That's who will suffer with the expiration of these tax credits. It's people who are working really hard, sometimes working multiple jobs, just jobs that don't provide health coverage," Darius said in an interview.

When the subsidies sunset, those with incomes over 400% of the federal poverty level will no longer be eligible.

In every congressional district across Florida, enrollees over age 60 with incomes just above 400% of the federal poverty level — roughly $84,600 for a couple — will see 2026 average premiums at least four times more expensive, according to a KFF analysis of government data.

The Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment, pointing to a fact sheet that said enrollees this year will have access to, on average, plans with lower premiums after tax credits and more plan choices overall.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who oversees the program, recently said the premium for the average person enrolled would rise about $13 to $50 monthly.

The likelihood that enrollment will be unaffected by the fight over subsidies - whether they are extended or not - is slim. Subsidized enrollees are expected to see an average premium increase to $1,904 a year from $888 in 2025, KFF said.

"Consumers are going to consume differently because of the various price points that they're being told," said Shawn Martin, CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Four insurance industry experts told Reuters enrollment will fall even if there is an extension of the subsidies after enrollment begins.

"If somebody logs in during open enrollment and sees their premium payment doubling and then walks away and decides not to purchase their plan anymore, that damage has already been done," said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at KFF.

According to a Congressional Budget Office estimate, over 4 million Americans would become uninsured if Congress does not extend these credits.

Even before calculating subsidies, health insurance prices have risen, as insurers like CVS Health's Aetna have exited the ACA market. Departures and higher healthcare costs have contributed to price increases on average of 26%, KFF said.

Timothy McCann, a 42-year-old financial professional based in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, expects his monthly insurance premium to increase to $1,851 from $1,517, according to the Healthcare.gov website. McCann purchased the insurance to cover treatments for him and his wife, who both have autoimmune diseases, and kidney surgery for his three-year-old son.

"We need constant visits, so it's probably a net gain at the end of the day. But it's still a crazy amount of money to spend," said McCann, whose total out-of-pocket medical expenses reached $33,000 this year.

(Reporting by Amina Niasse and Nathan Layne in New York City and Andy Sullivan in Washington; Additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)

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McDonald's is about to fold up its Monopoly game. Here's when it ends.

McDonald's is about to fold up its Monopoly game. Here's when it ends. Mike Snider, USA TODAYNovember 1, 2025 at 3:03 AM 0 The Monopoly game is about over at McDonald's. The fastfood giant brought back the Monopoly game on Oct. 6 after not offering it for a decade.

- - McDonald's is about to fold up its Monopoly game. Here's when it ends.

Mike Snider, USA TODAYNovember 1, 2025 at 3:03 AM

0

The Monopoly game is about over at McDonald's.

The fast-food giant brought back the Monopoly game on Oct. 6 after not offering it for a decade. McDonald's also made the McDonald's app an integral part of the game and added "digital game pieces" in addition to the classic game pieces provided in restaurants.

But the limited-time promotion is about to come to an end on Sunday, Nov. 2 (while game pieces last). There's still time to play by getting physical game pieces when you order specific food items or getting digital game pieces in the McDonald's app.

Here's what you to participate in McDonald's Monopoly game before it ends.

Mr. Pibb is back: Coca-Cola rebrands soda 24 years after it was discontinued.

How to play McDonald's Monopoly game

To play McDonald's Monopoly game, you need to download the McDonald's app and register. Prizes include free food, one million American Airlines AAdvantage Miles, a trip for four to the Universal Orlando Resort, a New 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a $1 million cash prize. Here's how to play:

Place an order. Once you are registered, when you order select menu items you will get a physical or digital "game piece." (To play McDonald's Monopoly without making a purchase, visit amoe.playatmcd.com to request a game piece.)

"Peel" your game piece to see if you're a winner. Peel a physical game piece off the packaging of french fries, for example, and then scan the QR code with the McDonald's app. If you get a digital game piece in the McDonald's app, you "peel" it directly in the app.

Get Monopoly pieces by ordering select products at McDonald's. After you peel the piece from the packaging, scan in the app to see what digital property piece or prize you got.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected]

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McDonald's Monopoly game ends Nov. 2. How you can still play.

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&34;The next thing I know — smelling salts. And I'm waking up.&34; Kevin Nealon fainted while preparing to play Jay Leno on SNL: 'I started to get panicky'

"The next thing I know — smelling salts. And I'm waking up."

Kevin Nealon fainted while preparing to play Jay Leno on SNL: 'I started to get panicky'

"The next thing I know — smelling salts. And I'm waking up."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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October 30, 2025 10:33 a.m. ET

Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in 1994; Kevin Nealon on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1993. Credit:

Wendy Perl/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Al Levine/NBCUniversal via Getty

Kevin Nealon walked away from *Saturday Night Live* with an Emmy nomination, a record as the longest-tenured cast member, and a serious case of claustrophobia.

Nealon, whose nine-year record on the show has since been surpassed, claims his fear of enclosed spaces dates back to an *SNL *sketch that saw him impersonate late-night host Jay Leno. He detailed the incident to Ted Danson on the latest episode of his *Where Everybody Knows Your Name* podcast, explaining that it all began in the hair and makeup department.

"They needed to make a prosthetic chin for me," Nealon began, explaining that doing so required a plaster mold of his face. "I'd never had it done before, and they cover you with plastic, so it doesn't drip on you. And they cover up your ears, your mouth is closed, straws in the nose, and they start putting plaster all over you, and it starts to harden."

Nealon said he didn't expect to have a problem with the process — but once the plaster was on, his feelings changed.

"It starts to get warm," he recalled. "It's hardening and you're thinking, 'Oh my god, all that's open is my nostrils! If they close those up, I'll suffocate.' And I started to get panicky."

Kevin Nealon and Jay Leno on 'The Tonight Show' in 2012.

Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty

He continued, "I remember I'm about to pass out and I go, 'Take it off, take it off' and then the next thing I know — smelling salts. And I'm waking up."

Danson, who's been in the comedy business for his fair share of years, noted that he's had his own run-in with the plaster life mask. While his experience wasn't "as intense," he could relate to the sudden fear. "It is very scary," the *Cheers* star agreed. "And you think you can do it and it'll be alright but it's terrifying."

Despite passing out, Nealon said he ended up returning to the hair and makeup chair for round two. After all, he wasn't about to give up a shot to parody Jay Leno: "I wanted to get it done," he said simply. "And I almost passed out again."

Every 'SNL' season 51 host and musical guest: Miles Teller with Brandi Carlile, more

Kevin Nealon reflects on unmade 'Hans and Franz' movie

He eventually made it through the mask process but soon noticed that his relationship to dark, enclosed spaces had changed. Two weeks later, the comedian was in a subway car in New York City when his train halted — and he immediately spiraled.

"I started getting that same feeling again and it snowballed from that," Nealon said. "I started getting it more and more, I became almost agoraphobic. I thought it was over for me."

The actor worried he would be unable to fly out for gigs and even found himself panicking over the thought of being stuck in traffic. But eventually, over the next few years, he worked through the feeling and came out the other side. "It doesn't bother me anymore," he shared.

But just a year after his own plaster pass out, he discovered that actor and two-time *SNL* host Jeff Daniels lived through an even scarier plaster experience.

"Here is the nightmare of all nightmares," Nealon began. "It's a Friday night and the headwriter comes up to me and goes, 'Did you hear what's happening with Jeff Daniels right now? They can't get the plaster mask off his face."

Daniels himself lamented the incident during a 2016 visit to Jimmy Fallon's* Tonight Show*, sharing that what was meant to be a 15-minute process ultimately lasted six hours because someone used the wrong material on his face.

"They used plaster, like you would put — oh, I don't know — on your wall," Daniels joked. The mixture was especially stuck to the hair from his eyebrows, eyelashes and three-day-old stubble, making its removal a long and painful process that involved Lorne Michaels calling in a plastic surgeon pal.

In his own telling of the tale, which he didn't witness firsthand, Nealon pointed out that it was a risky situation: "If [Daniels] panics and throws up, he'll drown, 'cause there's nowhere for it to come out," he said. Luckily, the surgeon was able to come in and slowly remove the plaster — after cutting Daniels's eyebrows, eyelashes, and beard, while administering novocaine to his face.

Nealon said when he ran into "red-faced" Daniels the next day, he pretended that he hadn't already heard the story.

Watch Nealon recount his claustrophobia origin story above.**

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Kevin Nealon fainted while preparing to play Jay Leno on SNL: 'I started to get panicky'

&34;The next thing I know — smelling salts. And I'm waking up.&34; Kevin Nealon fainted while preparing to ...

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The family announced the &34;unexpected passing&34; of the star, who also played Marlon Jackson on &34;The Jacksons: An American Dream.&34; Fresh Prince of BelA

The family announced the "unexpected passing" of the star, who also played Marlon Jackson on "The Jacksons: An American Dream."

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor Floyd Roger Myers Jr. dies at 42

The family announced the "unexpected passing" of the star, who also played Marlon Jackson on "The Jacksons: An American Dream."

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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on October 30, 2025 10:55 a.m. ET

Floyd Roger Myers Jr. as young Will on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'. Credit:

- *Fresh Prince of Bel-Air *child actor Floyd Roger Myers Jr. has died at 42.

- The actor's family wrote that it was an "unexpected passing" in a GoFundMe page.

- Myers also played Marlon Jackson in *The Jacksons: An American Dream*.

Floyd Roger Myers Jr., who starred as a younger version of Will Smith's character on *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, has died at age 42, his family said.

The actor's mother, Renee Trice, told TMZ that her son died early Wednesday following a heart attack at his home in Maryland. She said that her son had three prior heart attacks.**** Tyree Trice, Myers' sister, wrote on a GoFundMe page for the family that her brother's death was an "unexpected passing."

'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' cast. Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

"He was a devoted father, loving brother, and friend whose kindness, laughter, and warmth touched everyone he met," Tyree wrote of the actor, whom she said left behind four children, named Taelyn, Kinsley, Tyler, and Knox.

"All funds raised will go toward funeral expenses, supporting his children, and helping us navigate this difficult time as we grieve and adjust," Tyree wrote on the page.

The actor made his acting debut on television on *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, playing Smith's central character as a child in the second episode of season 3, titled "Will Gets Committed."**

Celebrity deaths 2025: Remembering the stars who've died this year

Cause of death confirmed for '9-1-1: Nashville' actress Isabelle Tate

Myers later played Marlon Jackson as a child on the ABC miniseries *The Jacksons: An American Dream*, which aired across two nights in November 1992 and also starred Angela Bassett, Vanessa Williams, Holly Robinson Peete, and Billy Dee Williams.

His only other acting credit, according to IMDb, was a guest spot on the short-lived WB series* Young Americans* in 2000, on which he appeared in the drama's third episode, titled "Kiss and Tell."**** Myers later co-founded the Fellaship Mens Group, a nonprofit focused on men's mental health. The organization paid tribute to Myers on Instagram on Wednesday.**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.******* "RIP to our good brother @rocwonder one of our co founders," read the caption. "Gone but never will be forgotten. The mission will continue in your honor. Next mens meeting will be one for the books like we talked about! Love you bro, rest easy, big bro will take it from here."

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Stranger Things theatrical release has been in the works since February: 'Everyone had to play su...

The Duffer Brothers set the record straight on the theater rollout for the series finale. Stranger Things theatrical release has been in the works since Februar

The Duffer Brothers set the record straight on the theater rollout for the series finale.

Stranger Things theatrical release has been in the works since February: 'Everyone had to play super coy'

The Duffer Brothers set the record straight on the theater rollout for the series finale.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) holds court on 'Stranger Things 5'. Credit:

The Duffer Brothers set the record straight on the *Stranger Things* theatrical release.

Netflix announced last week that the two-hour series finale will screen in movie theaters alongside a streaming premiere on New Year's Eve. However, Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief creative officer, made comments to *Variety* in a story published days earlier that shot down the possibility of such a thing coming together.

So did all this come through in a matter of days, like some fans believe? No. Matt and Ross Duffer, the series creators, confirm to ** that plans have secretly been in the works for months.

"The way you know we're telling the truth here, by the way, is no way within the timeframe of that *Variety* article could we have then organized a theatrical release," Matt remarks.

Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson on 'Stranger Things 5'.

Courtesy of Netflix

'Stranger Things 5' first look at Vecna 'rebuilt' and more Duffer secrets from trailer (exclusive)

Joseph Quinn's Eddie Munson won't return in 'Stranger Things' season 5: 'RIP'

Netflix will release the eight-episode *Stranger Things* final season in three parts. The first four, collected as Volume 1, will premiere on Netflix this Nov. 26. Volume 2, consisting of the next three episodes, will arrive on the streaming platform Christmas Day. Then the series finale will drop by itself on Netflix New Year's Eve, as well as in more than 350 theater locations across the U.S. and Canada, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

"I know we've talked about the theatrical experience, but Ross and I never asked Netflix to do it because it just never really made sense to me. It only is cool if everyone's experiencing it for the first time together," Matt says. "So when Netflix came to us with the idea of having the finale premiere on its own, then that was when we suggested the idea of doing it theatrically because it would really function like a movie."

Ross notes, "This was all the way back in February. So it's been in the works for a while."

Matt adds, "It was frustrating because everyone had to play super coy for a long time because they were still ironing out all the details with the theaters. So eventually, I was like, 'Can we please just announce this so I can stop dodging this question?'"

Noah Schnapp's Will comes face to face with Jamie Campbell Bower's Vecna on 'Stranger Things 5'.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*Stranger Things* season 5 will pick up the story in the fall of 1987 at a time when the military has placed the entire town of Hawkins under military quarantine over the rifts that emerged. Led by Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton), they're also hunting to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), seeing her as a weapon to be acquired.

Meanwhile, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has since vanished, and the gang is doing everything they can to track down his location.

The Duffers are admittedly pumped about the theatrical release for the series finale, something they've been wanting for quite some time.

"We've had other finale episodes screen theatrically in a few theaters, but it's not as fun because everyone's already seen the episode," Matt says. "So this is something I'm really excited for."

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Clean Energy's Rally Is Outpacing AI's in 2025. Here Are 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

Clean Energy's Rally Is Outpacing AI's in 2025. Here Are 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now. William Dahl, The Motley FoolNovember 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM 0 Key Points Renewable energy is rallying in 2025 at a rate eclipsing the pace of many AI companies.

- - Clean Energy's Rally Is Outpacing AI's in 2025. Here Are 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

William Dahl, The Motley FoolNovember 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM

0

Key Points -

Renewable energy is rallying in 2025 at a rate eclipsing the pace of many AI companies.

Despite the federal government's antipathy to the sector, clean energy is poised to see massive growth in America and globally in the years ahead.

Three investments stand out for their potential to deliver outsized returns to investors as the $110 trillion energy transition unfolds.

10 stocks we like better than iShares Trust - iShares Global Clean Energy ETF ›

It's no secret that the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) has led the major indices in recent years, as artificial intelligence (AI) stocks power markets higher. But so far in 2025, clean energy stocks have left the Nasdaq in the dust, with the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ: ICLN) returning 46% year to date, compared to the Nasdaq's 20% rise.

The clean energy ETF is even handily outperforming Nvidia, as the poster child of the AI revolution is up 38% year to date. The rally is unfolding as electricity generation from renewable energy overtakes that of coal for the first time, according to the think tank Ember, while California, the world's fifth-largest economy, is now getting 66% of its energy from clean power, up from 41% in 2015.

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With a rally this pronounced, why is no one talking about a clean energy boom in the stock market? Part of the reason may be the Trump administration's well-known antipathy toward renewables, as many investors wait for the next shoe to drop on the sector after his Big, Beautiful Bill, passed in July, stripped it of valuable tax credits.

But President Donald Trump's megabill may have one unintended consequence: By forcing companies to begin clean energy projects by July 2026 or lose valuable tax credits, a national race is now ensuing to build solar farms, wind turbines, and batteries. This is why Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF), an analyst group, just ramped up its forecast for how much power generation these projects will generate by 10%.

This short-term manufacturing race has helped fuel clean energy's rally, and three stocks in particular are positioned for upside as the global $110 trillion energy transition unfolds.

Wind turbines spin over a roof covered in solar panels, with piles of coins in front.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. NextEra Energy

According to the Energy Information Administration, renewable energy and batteries will make up 93% of the capacity added to America's power grid, and it's a big world out there. In July, solar became the European Union's single biggest source of power, while in the first half of 2025, China installed more solar capacity than the rest of the world combined.

The clean energy transition is well underway, and markets are reflecting this reality. And that's great news for NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE), a world leader in wind, solar, and battery storage.

The company is the biggest supplier of energy infrastructure in the United States, and its subsidiary, Florida Power & Light, plans to add 8 gigawatts of solar and battery storage by 2029. For context, these clean energy projects would power about 6 million homes.

Last quarter, NextEra grew earnings by a robust 25% year over year, while revenue grew by 10.4%. The company's operating margin of 33.8% is nearly double that of the average utility company.

These superior fundamentals help explain how NextEra has grown adjusted earnings per share (EPS) by 10% a year, on average, over the last decade, compared to the 3% yearly adjusted earnings growth per share its industry peers have achieved.

NextEra has raised its dividend every year since 1994, including an increase of 10% announced last spring. Management is targeting another dividend hike of 10% next year. Considering that the company already pays a dividend of 2.7%, more than double the S&P 500 average, this dividend policy makes NextEra a strong income play as decarbonization efforts play out.

2. First Solar

First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is the largest manufacturer of solar panels in the United States. Its shares are up 38% year to date as it taps into the global solar boom. Last quarter, its earnings per share beat analysts' estimates by 19.55%, while gross margin rose to 46%, up from 41% in Q1. Revenue also climbed by $800 million from Q1.

Despite its rally this year, First Solar is still enticingly valued, with a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 20.6,compared to the S&P 500 average of 30.2. Meanwhile, analysts are forecasting 56.8% growth for the company next quarter -- and these are the same analysts who have lowballed First Solar's sales growth in each of the last four quarters, underestimating the company by as much as 77%.

For investors looking for a renewable energy play that's both a value and growth story, First Solar is a savvy choice.

3. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF

The aforementioned iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ: ICLN) offers investors a catch-all way to play the clean energy trend. The fund, which has $1.7 billion in assets under management, tracks the performance of approximately 100 clean energy securities.

The ETF is well-diversified, with its largest holding, First Solar, accounting for just 9.4% of its total assets. The fund offers exposure to fuel cell companies, wind turbine manufacturers, and utility firms, to name a few sectors, with over 50% of its holdings in utilities. That's a good thing for investors craving income and stability in a sector that can be volatile. (The utilities are sometimes called "widow and orphan stocks" in a reference to their dependability as dividend payers.)

The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has an expense ratio of 0.39%, which is cheap, compared to the average expense ratio of 0.48% to 0.69% for actively managed ETFs. For investors seeking a way to profit from the sector's ascendance without pinning their hopes on any one company, the iShares Clean Energy ETF is an attractive option.

Should you invest $1,000 in iShares Trust - iShares Global Clean Energy ETF right now?

Before you buy stock in iShares Trust - iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, 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 iShares Trust - iShares Global Clean Energy ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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WIlliam Dahl owns shares of NextEra Energy. William Dahl does not own shares of First Solar or the iShares Clean Energy ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends First Solar, NextEra Energy, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Clean Energy's Rally Is Outpacing AI's in 2025. Here Are 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

Clean Energy's Rally Is Outpacing AI's in 2025. Here Are 3 Renewable Energy Stocks to Buy Now. William Dahl, Th...

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Up Over 526% in 2025, Is This Nuclear Stock a Buy?

Up Over 526% in 2025, Is This Nuclear Stock a Buy? Steven Porrello, The Motley FoolNovember 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM 0 Key Points Oklo's fast reactors could deliver carbonfree power to a variety of customers, including AI data centers.

- - Up Over 526% in 2025, Is This Nuclear Stock a Buy?

Steven Porrello, The Motley FoolNovember 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM

0

Key Points -

Oklo's fast reactors could deliver carbon-free power to a variety of customers, including AI data centers.

The company has landed a pilot project with the Department of Energy and a $2 billion partnership with European company newcleo.

Despite the excitement, Oklo is still pre-revenue and valued near $20 billion.

10 stocks we like better than Oklo ›

For investors betting on a future of clean energy, few stocks have burned brighter in 2025 than Oklo (NYSE: OKLO).

As of writing, the advanced nuclear company has soared more than 525% on the year. Much of the rally has been stirred by data center needs and White House policy, which wants to quadruple U.S. nuclear energy capacity by 2050. That puts Oklo, as the purveyor of advanced nuclear technology, in a sweet spot to fuel future energy demands.

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However, this is a pre-revenue company we're talking about. It has a big idea (or, rather, a compacted one -- small nuclear reactors), but no commercial profits to show for it.

Much of its future has been baked into its $20 billion market valuation, which begs the question: Is Oklo still a buy in 2025, or should investors wait for this stock to cool off?

What's working in favor of Oklo

The business case for Oklo is pretty clear. The world needs more power, less carbon, and a faster deployment of clean energy.

All three are an apt description of its Aurora powerhouse, a compact fast reactor that uses liquid sodium as a coolant instead of water. This allows it to operate at higher temperatures without that sprawling cooling tower of a conventional reactor, which, in turn, could make assembly faster. Each unit can hypothetically run for a decade or longer without refueling.

A rendering of Oklo's Aurora powerhouse.

Image source: Oklo.

Oklo also plans on running its reactors with recycled fuel, an approach that could reduce both waste and dependency on uranium enrichment. In theory, that could help improve its operating margin (and energy security) down the road.

Although Oklo has not built an Aurora powerhouse commercially, it's getting close to assembling one. This year alone it was selected for three pilot projects headed by the Department of Energy (DoE). In September, it broke ground on its first powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory. It now expects to turn on its first reactor in mid-2026.

Meanwhile, the company has built up an impressive list of supporters. In addition to the DoE, Oklo has letters of intent to supply power to Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ: FANG) and Equinix (NASDAQ: EQIX). In mid-October, it also signed a $2 billion investment agreement with the European company newcleo.

Why you might want to wait this one out

Oklo has potential, but here's the rub: The company has no revenue and is unprofitable. Its still pre-commercial, and it needs to gain approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to operate reactors on a commercial scale.

What's more, the timeline to profitability is long and uncertain. Commercial operations are targeted for 2027 or later, which means it will burn cash for many years.

OKLO Cash and Short Term Investments (Quarterly) Chart

OKLO Cash and Short-Term Investments (Quarterly) data by YCharts.

Cash burn isn't for a start-up, and as the chart above shows, Oklo has enough cash to keep its plans afloat for the next few years. But what's more concerning is the company's valuation. With a market cap of $20 billion and little to anchor its valuation, the risk of disappointment looms large.

So, buy now or hold off?

With Oklo's current valuation, I lean toward waiting a bit before buying full steam. The stock has taken off this year on speculation and hype, and there appears to be a disconnect between its fundamentals and market valuation.

Even if the future will be dotted with Aurora powerhouses, it's not a future we'll see next year, nor even by the end of this decade. That makes me cautious about buying while so much expectation is already baked in.

That said, the pieces do appear to be coming together for Oklo. As such, opening a small speculative spot for this nuclear stock could see generous returns over a long period, especially if you can stomach the volatility.

Otherwise, the prudent move might be to keep this one on your watchlist and wait for revenue -- or least one reactor -- to go live.

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

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Steven Porrello has positions in Oklo. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Equinix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Original Article on Source

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November 01, 2025

Up Over 526% in 2025, Is This Nuclear Stock a Buy?

Up Over 526% in 2025, Is This Nuclear Stock a Buy? Steven Porrello, The Motley FoolNovember 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM 0 Key P...

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