TLDR
- Oklo stock jumped 4% in premarket trading after its Texas test reactor reached criticality
- Criticality means the reactor achieved a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction
- The reactor was built in less than a year from groundbreaking to initial testing
- The Department of Energy backed the project through a special pilot program
- Oklo reports Q2 earnings on August 7, 2026, before markets open
Oklo stock was up around 2-4% in premarket trading Thursday after the Department of Energy confirmed its Texas test reactor reached criticality. The stock was trading near $43 before the open.
Criticality means the reactor is now producing a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. It is a key technical milestone in the development of any nuclear reactor.
What made this stand out was the speed. Oklo built the Texas test site in less than a year from groundbreaking to this point.
“Reaching criticality in less than a year is an incredible milestone for our team,” said CEO Jacob DeWitte.
The DOE supported the project through a pilot program designed to fast-track new nuclear concepts. The program allows smaller energy companies to build test sites while safety teams review progress in real time.
Oklo plans to use the same operational design from this test reactor for its larger commercial plants.
Government Backing Moves the Project Forward
Federal support played a direct role in getting Oklo to this point. The DOE pilot program gave the company a way to test its small modular reactor design without the usual delays that come with large-scale nuclear permitting.
Small modular reactors are compact units designed to be faster and cheaper to deploy than traditional nuclear plants. Tech companies looking for clean, reliable power for AI data centers have taken notice.
That demand is part of why interest in OKLO stock has been building. Oklo is positioning its commercial plants to serve exactly that market.
Earnings on August 7 Will Be the Next Test
The reactor news is well received, but OKLO faces a more important test on Friday, August 7, when it reports second-quarter financials before the market opens.
Oklo currently has no revenue. Wall Street expects the report to show continued cash losses.
The Texas milestone proves the technology works. But analysts will be watching how fast Oklo is burning through cash and whether it is moving closer to signing commercial customers.
Investors will also be looking at whether project costs are staying on track.
Wall Street currently holds a Moderate Buy consensus on OKLO stock, based on eight Buy ratings and seven Hold ratings over the last three months.
The average 12-month price target is $85.08, which would represent an upside of around 98% from current levels.
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