Key Points

Oklo is innovating nuclear reactors.
It lacks a regulator-approved design at present.
The firm will probably post losses for years ahead.
10 stocks we like better than Oklo

Sam Altman leads OpenAI, the company behind the AI boom. He also backs various technologies, notably nuclear startup Oklo (NYSE: OKLO). Shares surged last year amid excitement over AI data center power needs, reaching a roughly 25 billion dollar market cap in 2025.

Shares have since dropped 75 percent in under a year. Does this create a chance to follow Altman, whose stake totals hundreds of millions, and purchase Oklo shares at lower prices?

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Nuclear energy innovation

Nuclear power offers a route to supply electricity for AI data centers without increasing household bills.

Oklo develops small modular reactors to feed data centers directly, bypassing the grid. The company plans to construct and run its own nuclear sites for clients including Meta Platforms, which has a major pact with Oklo.

These deals could deliver steady billions in annual revenue from AI facilities. Oklo collaborates with the Department of Energy on an Idaho pilot reactor to enable future expansion. Yet its design remains unapproved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Image source: Getty Images.

The truth about Oklo stock

Without an operating reactor design, Oklo may need many years, possibly a decade, before delivering power to clients like Meta Platforms. Revenue stands at zero today and will stay minimal from its isotope work for some time.

Free cash flow over the past 12 months reached negative 154 million dollars. Losses will widen during manufacturing scale-up. Even after the drop, Oklo holds a 7.6 billion dollar market cap with no revenue. This mix signals high investor risk. A 75 percent decline does not prevent another 75 percent fall. Skip the dip on Oklo shares now.

Should you buy stock in Oklo right now?

Before purchasing Oklo shares, review this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor team named the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now, and Oklo did not make the list. The selected 10 stocks may deliver strong gains ahead.

Netflix joined the list on December 17, 2004. A 1,000 dollar investment then would now equal 371,519 dollars. Nvidia appeared on April 15, 2005. The same 1,000 dollar stake would now total 1,281,302 dollars.

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Brett Schafer holds no positions in mentioned stocks. The Motley Fool owns shares in and recommends Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool maintains a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.