Shares of Oklo Inc (NYSE:OKLO) tanked in early trading on Monday, after rising in the previous session following its second-quarter results.
Although Oklo’s operating expenses climbed in the second quarter and management raised their full-year capital expenditure guidance, a key takeaway from the release was that the company’s Groves test reactor achieved criticality, according to HC Wainwright.
The Oklo Analyst: Analyst Sameer Joshi reiterated a Buy rating and price target of $90.
The Oklo Thesis: The company’s operating expenses grew 44% sequentially to $73.7 million in the second quarter, Joshi said in the note.
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Net loss attributable to common shareholders came in at $48.5 million, or 28 cents per share, compared to a loss of $24.7 million, or 18 cents per share in the second quarter of 2025, he added.
Management updated its 2026 guidance for cash usage for operational purposes to $120-$150 million, from their prior projection of $80-$100 million, while raising their capital expenditure guidance to $400-$500 million, from $350-$450 million previously, the analyst stated.
Joshi highlighted that the Groves isotope reactor reached first criticality on Aug. 5, 2026. Although this was delayed by a month, the analyst said it marks “a meaningful achievement” since:
- It was accomplished on a company-owned, non-government facility
- Construction of this facility started only 11 months back
- It validates Oklo’s technology
- It also demonstrates the company’s engineering capabilities
While this does not hasten the timeline of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) approval process, the data generated and experience garnered during project execution “should help in derisking Oklo’s commercial licensing and approval process,” he further wrote.
Joshi also noted that Oklo signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Centrus Energy Corp (NYSE:LEU) to supply fuel for as many as five Aurora powerhouses.
OKLO Stock Price Activity: Oklo shares were down 8.19% at $44.45 on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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