Why More Investors Are Using Family Trusts to Protect Their Wealth

For many investors, a family trust may be a key part of a smart estate and financial plan, especially for preserving and passing on wealth.

A family trust is a specific type of trust you could use to help ensure your loved ones receive your wealth, and potentially avoid public disclosure of trust assets.

Wondering if a family trust is right for your assets? Speaking with a financial advisor could be a good first step to answering that question and potentially setting one up.

Benefits of a family trust:

  • Avoid probate: Helps keep matters private and potentially saves your heirs time and legal fees.
  • Shield assets: Potentially protect assets from creditors, lawsuits, and even divorce.
  • Legacy planning: Define how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance
  • Tax strategy: With estate tax thresholds set to decrease in 2026, trusts can potentially be used proactively to minimize exposure and lock in current exemptions while they last.

If you’re thinking about creating or updating a trust, now may be the right time to speak with a fiduciary financial advisor.

That’s why we created a free tool to help match you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest.

It’s never too late to plan to work toward a comfortable retirement. Get your financial advisor matches today. 

Try SmartAsset’s Financial Advisor Matching Tool

Hire a pro. Find and compare vetted financial advisors serving your area, each legally bound to work in your best interest.

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This is not an offer to buy or sell any security or interest. All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Working with an adviser may come with potential downsides such as payment of fees (which will reduce returns). Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There are no guarantees that working with an adviser will yield positive returns. The existence of a fiduciary duty does not prevent the rise of potential conflicts of interest.


SmartAsset.com is not intended to provide legal advice, tax advice, accounting advice or financial advice (Other than referring users to third party advisers registered or chartered as fiduciaries (“Adviser(s)”) with a regulatory body in the United States). The article and opinions in this publication are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. We suggest that you consult your accountant, tax, or legal advisor with regard to your individual situation. 

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Just For You

Nuclear Energy Earnings: Which Names Won and Lost in Q3

Written by Leo Miller. Published 11/18/2025. 

Nuclear power plant against blue sky.

Key Points

  • Nuclear energy stocks have seen broad-based strength in 2025, but have recently taken big blows. 
  • NuScale Power, Constellation Energy, and Oklo, three of the most discussed stocks in this space, recently reported earnings.
  • See how each fared in Q3, based on the market’s reaction and analysts’ assessments.

2025 has been characterized by several key investment themes, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and memory chip stocks. Not least among these is the market’s attraction to nuclear energy stocks. As of the Nov. 17 close, the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NYSEARCA: NLR) has delivered a total return of 55%.

Many high-profile nuclear stocks recently reported Q3 earnings. Below, we dive into the results and detail which firms impressed investors and which disappointed.

Markets Punish NuScale After Huge Q3 Loss

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As with many small, pre-revenue nuclear companies, 2025 has been a roller coaster for NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR). Through mid-October, shares were up nearly 200%; since then the stock has collapsed, down about 61% from its peak.

Much of the decline followed the firm’s disappointing Q3 earnings report.

The company generated less revenue than expected and posted a large loss of $1.85 per share, versus analysts’ forecast of an 11-cent loss.

The miss was mainly due to NuScale’s $128.5 million payment to ENTRA1 Energy, intended to fast-track a major deployment of six gigawatts of nuclear energy in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority. 

While the payment is meant to accelerate project timelines, it created a substantial near-term financial hit, and the market reacted negatively.

Shares fell 14% on Nov. 6 and have traded lower since. Since the report, NuScale is down about 45%, with Royal Bank of Canada lowering its price target from $35 to $32. 

Constellation Misses, but Calpine Deal Leaves Investors Sanguine

Next up is Constellation Energy (NASDAQ: CEG), the United States’ largest operator of nuclear facilities. Shares of CEG are down around 16%since their mid-October highs, but have still delivered a total return of 52% year-to-date.

Constellation reported Q3 earnings before the market opened on Nov. 7. Despite missing on both sales and adjusted earnings per share (EPS), the stock gained about 2% that day.

That modest rally likely reflected Constellation holding the midpoint of its full-year adjusted EPS guidance and positive news on its acquisition of Calpine, which it expects to close by year-end.

The deal would make Constellation the nation’s largest clean-energy provider, giving the firm coast-to-coast scale. Constellation expects the acquisition to boost adjusted EPS by more than 20% in 2026 and to add at least $2 per share to EPS for multiple years thereafter. That is notable given it expects adjusted EPS of $9.05 to $9.45 in 2025. Analysts at Citigroup raised their price target from $337 to $368, signaling longer-term confidence despite the near-term weakness. 

Oklo Receives Multiple Positive Price Targets After Regulatory Success

Oklo (NYSE: OKLO) reported a wider-than-expected loss per share of 20 cents versus an expected 13-cent loss. Like NuScale, the company is pre-revenue. Despite the EPS miss, shares rose nearly 7% the day after the earnings release.

The rally was driven by an important regulatory milestone: the U.S. Department of Energy approved Oklo’s Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for its Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility, where the company plans to recycle used nuclear fuel for next-generation reactors.

Analysts responded with several strong price targets. B. Riley more than doubled its target from $58 to $129. Wedbush and Cantor Fitzgerald issued $150 and $122 targets, respectively. Even Bank of America’s trimmed forecast—from $117 to $111—was relatively measured, leaving the overall analyst reaction broadly positive.

Despite the enthusiasm, shares remain down around 45% since their mid-October high, reflecting the broader pullback in many high-flying and speculative nuclear names. Still, Oklo shares are up nearly 350% year-to-date, underscoring continued speculative interest. 

Nuclear Stocks Continue to Get Beaten Down

Lately, nuclear stocks have struggled as a group. Since Oct. 15, the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) is down by about 23%.

Among the three names above, Oklo’s Q3 resultsappear to have been the most well-received. Still, the stock market is trimming many of 2025’s high-flying nuclear stories back to earth.

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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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