Oklo Inc. shares fell 5.7% to $73.63 after the advanced nuclear startup reported a sharply wider first-quarter loss, even as it secured a crucial regulatory milestone. The company posted a net loss of $33.1 million, or $0.19 per share, compared with a $9.8 million loss a year earlier. No revenue was recorded during the period, as the firm remains in the development stage.
Research and development expenses surged to $27.0 million from $7.8 million, while general and administrative costs rose to $24.2 million. Despite the widening deficit, Oklo maintains a robust cash position of $1.59 billion and $614.5 million in marketable debt securities, together representing roughly 82% of total assets.
In a significant regulatory advancement, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the Principal Design Criteria for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory. This approval establishes the foundational safety and performance framework for the plant. CEO Jacob DeWitte reiterated that commercial operations are targeted to begin by 2028.
The news helped lift the stock 0.6% in pre-market trading the following day. H.C. Wainwright maintained a Buy rating with a $90 price target. Oklo’s high-profile partnerships also continue to build credibility: earlier it leveraged Nvidia’s AI infrastructure for fuel modeling with Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Meta Platforms is an existing customer. The company currently carries a market capitalization of $12.81 billion despite generating no revenue, reflecting the market’s long-term bet on AI-driven energy demand.
