Texas Capital analyst Nate Pendleton initiated coverage of the company with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $22 price target, implying an upside of more than 40% from its last close.
- Pendleton says X-energy is reducing execution risk while maintaining high-margin cash flows.
- The analyst added that the firm offers investors exposure to a vertically integrated advanced reactor and fuel fabrication platform.
- The coverage comes amid an industry-wide split in the AI development debate, with some leaders arguing for a slowdown in growth amid safety concerns, while others oppose it.
Shares of X-Energy Inc. (XE) are on track to undo last month’s gains, heading for a finish in the red in September. However, a Wall Street analyst thinks the worst may be over for the Maryland-based nuclear fuels manufacturer.
Texas Capital analyst Nate Pendleton initiated coverage of XE stock with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $22 price target, implying upside of more than 40% from its last close.
Target Rationale For XE
According to a summary of the note on The Fly, Pendleton said that by focusing on technology licensing, services, and fuel sales, X-energy is reducing execution risk while maintaining high-margin cash flows.
The analyst also added that the firm sees the stock offering investors exposure to a vertically integrated advanced reactor and fuel fabrication platform with an asset-light business model and recurring revenue.
The coverage comes amid an industry-wide split in the AI development debate, with some leaders arguing for a slowdown in growth amid safety concerns, while others oppose it.
X-Energy is a pre-revenue nuclear energy company targeting a mix of major technology companies, including AI companies, heavy industrial manufacturers, public utilities, and government entities, for its power services.
Top Holders Of XE Stock
In a recent 13F filing, Peter Thiel’s Thiel Macro LLC purchased 200,000 Class A shares of XE worth $3.672 million as of the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management holds shares in the company worth $103 million, representing about 0.77% of its combined portfolio, according to its website.
XE Stock: What Do Retail Traders Think?
On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around XE stock was ‘extremely bullish’ at the time of writing. Message volumes around the ticker climbed 360% over the last 24 hours.
One user said, “$XE back to $18+ eow Very (bullish).”
Another user said, “$XE buying more at those levels….potential and fundamentals very strong!!!”
A third user said, “$XE Mark this post under $15. This stock will be way higher from here soon and nuclear theme will gain traction again. Lot’s of funds loading up on this and Peter Thiel took a stake as well.”
XE stock is down more than 46% in 2026.
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