Latest news with #MemorandumofAgreement
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklo vs. NuScale: Which Nuclear Startup Stock is the Better Player Now?
As the global clean energy sector continues to evolve, nuclear energy stocks like Oklo Inc. OKLO and NuScale Power Corporation SMR have started gaining attention. With rising government support and increased investment in small modular and advanced nuclear technologies, both companies are well-positioned to contribute to the future energy Oklo is focused on developing next-generation fission powerhouses and compact fast reactors that can recycle used nuclear fuel, NuScale is working on small modular reactors that use light water nuclear reactor technology to deliver carbon-free power. With industries across the board shifting toward clean and reliable energy and the U.S. nuclear capacity boasting the potential to triple by 2050, both OKLO and SMR have strong potential for long-term leads to a key question for investors: which of these two stocks to buy right now? Let's take a closer look. Recent Achievements: Oklo recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power ('KHNP'), which should support the development and global deployment of its Aurora powerhouse by advancing design verification, manufacturing and supply-chain planning. In addition, the company successfully completed borehole drilling at the onset of May 2025 for site characterization at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), marking another key milestone in the development of its first Aurora in March, the company signed an Interface Agreement with INL, to ensure its strict adherence to environmental regulations throughout the site investigation process, and also finalized a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, as part of its progress toward deploying its first commercial powerhouse in in February, Oklo acquired Atomic Alchemy to combine its reactor and fuel recycling expertise with Atomic Alchemy's radioisotope production. The merger aims to meet the growing demand for radioisotopes across multiple industries and thereby enhance the company's market Stability: The company ended first-quarter 2025 with cash and cash equivalents (including marketable debt securities) worth $201 million, lower than its 2024-end figure of $228 million. However, as of March 2025, it did not report any notable debt. So, its financial stability seems to be solid at the moment, which, in turn, should enable Oklo to reliably fund its Aurora powerhouses, operations and growth plans in the coming to Note: One key concern for investors is that Oklo has not yet started generating revenues, as its first Aurora powerhouse is expected to go live in 2027. This means limited income in the near future. At the same time, the company continues to face high operating costs as it works to develop its reactors, which might put pressure on its bottom-line performance in the near term. Recent Achievements: NuScale Power ended the first quarter of 2025 on a solid note, with its loss per share being narrower than the prior-year quarter by 10 cents. The company also reported massive year-over-year revenue growth of 857.1%. Moreover, currently SMR is the only small modular reactor company with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) design approval and is on track to receive final clearance by July 2025 to upgrade its module output from 50 MW to 77 with NuScale in advanced discussions with around 10 potential customers, along with multiple customer site visits for its manufacturing facilities, its future revenue generation prospect remains Stability: The company ended first-quarter 2025 with cash and cash equivalents (including short-term investment) worth $527 million, higher than its 2024-end figure of $447 million. However, as of March 2025, the company did not report any notable debt. So, its financial stability seems to be solid at the moment, which, in turn, should enable SMR to reliably fund its operations and growth plans in the coming to Note: While NuScale's technology is advanced and customers are showing interest, it is yet to secure a firm commercial order (with its expectation of the first firm order this year) . NuScale continues to incur operating losses as it invests in supply-chain development and long-lead components that may hurt its bottom-line. Like others in the nuclear space, it also faces industry-wide challenges such as tight supply chains and complex project coordination, which an investor should consider before investing in SMR. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Oklo's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at a loss of 42 cents, which implies an improvement from the year-ago reported loss of 74 cents per share. The company's EPS estimates have also been trending upward over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SMR's 2025 EPS is pegged at a loss of 41 cents, which implies a deterioration from the year-ago reported earnings of 42 cents per share. The company's EPS estimates have been constant over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research SMR (up 128.9%) has outperformed OKLO (up 88%) over the past three months. Yet, in the past year, OKLO rallied 437.4% compared with SMR's 306.1% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research OKLO shares are expensive on a relative basis, with its trailing 12-month Price/Book (P/B TTM) being 28.55X compared with SMR's P/B TTM of 18.97X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research While both companies operate in promising corners of the nuclear energy space, NuScale currently appears to be the more attractive investment Oklo, which is still in the pre-revenue stage, NuScale has already started generating revenues through its RoPower project in Romania. The company also has a much stronger cash position, giving it more financial flexibility to manage operations and support future growth. Additionally, NuScale's valuation is more favorable, suggesting the stock may be more reasonably has shown notable development, but the lack of revenues and continued operating losses might encourage investors to keep a cautious stance on this stock for the time being. For investors looking for a nuclear stock with solid liquidity and near-term growth potential, NuScale stands out as the better choice for Oklo and NuScale Power carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Oklo Inc. (OKLO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
UF campus police's role in purging our international community sends a perverse message
ICE and UF The Officers and Board of Directors of the Retired Faculty of the University of Florida (RFUF) are distressed and disgusted regarding state, local and UF's collusion with the outrageous if not unconstitutional visa revocations of international students, faculty and staff at universities across the country, the Florida State University System and the University of Florida specifically. Particularly distressing is the covert and startling way this action has occurred. UF police have essentially been deputized under the federal ICE 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as 'force multipliers' to detain individuals without warrants solely on suspicion of immigration violations. Affected students, faculty and staff have reportedly received little to no formal notice, rationale, or recourse, leaving them confused and in abject terror and uncertainty about their academic futures, legal status and personal well-being. Allowing the ICE 287(g) MOA to go forward sends an unconscionably perverse message to the university community. Perhaps it may irreversibly erode the trust expected of the UF Police Department while unnecessarily diverting officers from their primary mission: campus safety. Even U.S. citizens run the risk of detention if campus police, using cultural profiling as instructed by ICE, take action. Fear of detention could easily prevent a student from seeking medical attention, mental health treatment, or even educational support services. Most disturbing is ICE's authority to access international student data in search of even the smallest infraction to be loosely interpreted as criminal for shameless justification of deportation. We ask UF Interim President Kent Fuchs to devote the substantial time remaining in his tenure to combat the metastatic symptoms of authoritarian intrusion into the university's internal operations. He must immediately condemn and withdraw from the ICE 287(g) Program. The UF Police Department's published guiding principles are completely inconsistent with and anathema to any activity under an ICE 287(g) MOA. States such as Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Mexico have no such MOAs. Furthermore, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and California have enacted legislation prohibiting such MOAs with ICE. Fuchs must make public the scope and consequences of UF's visa crisis, including the number of affected students, faculty and staff and the rationales provided for visa revocation. He also must contact all those who have already suffered or are at risk of visa revocation to make certain they clearly understand due process protections and are provided legal or administrative counsel, if necessary. For those who have been compelled to leave the United States, make certain that UF continues to support remote participation in their education or professional role, assuming they joined UF with a valid visa. Surely, ICE and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have sufficient authority and bandwidth to operate independently without conscripting campus police officers. That a UF agency has been authorized to comply in ICE's misguided and indiscriminate attempt to purge our international community is reprehensible. We greatly respect and appreciate UF's leadership in achieving national preeminence in education, research and public service, which is precisely why we are appealing to Fuchs to maintain the highest ethical standards and independence and why we stand ready to assist him in this urgently needed action. Our international community of students, faculty and staff deserve nothing less. Richard D'Alli (Medicine), immediate past president 2024-2025, Steve Lodle (Communications), chair, RFUF Communications Committee, Gainesville FWC unqualified Re: the May 22 story, 'Two more FWC officers' body cam footage from Pino boat crash deleted, agency says.' Now it's four deleted videos. How unprofessional and unbelievable. Until the investigation is completed, it's still a death investigation. Any professional death investigator knows that nothing is deleted until the state attorney and the medical examiner reach their conclusions. Even then, it should be kept until all civil avenues have been settled. This is pure evidence that FWC has no reason to investigate these matters. As soon as a death occurs, it should be turned over to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's office, which has exceptionally trained investigators with a wealth of experience. Let FWC enforce boating violations, not death investigations. Robert Lynch, Fort Lauderdale Who is a martyr? Re: Mary Anna Mancuso's May 23 op-ed, 'J6 rioter Ashli Babbitt isn't a martyr.' Make no mistake, Babbitt was murdered. She was unarmed and helpless at the time she was shot. The op-ed struck me as quite hypocritical, as I saw no such article in this newspaper proclaiming George Floyd wasn't a martyr and his family, who got much more than Babbitt's family, shouldn't have received compensation. I'm not trying to condone the actions of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who was convicted of killing Floyd, but Floyd was treated as a martyr; there even are statues of him in Minneapolis. Dave Schaublin, Key Largo Spot-on op-ed Thank you, thank you, thank you! Cannot heap enough praise on the integrity of Mary Anna Mancuso's May 23 op-ed, 'J6 rioter Ashli Babbitt isn't a martyr,' while recognizing the courage it takes for a news editor to do the right thing and say it as it is. Society simply cannot continue to accept the glorification of crime. Mancuso has single-handedly helped elevate the faith of many who look to intrepid journalists for transparency and truth. Phillip M. Church, South Miami Campus protests The attack on Harvard University and foreign students in the name of fighting antisemitism is ludicrous. Are we to believe that the many students protesting under the banner 'Not in My Name' and the very president of Harvard are antisemitic? When did anti-war and antisemitic become synonyms? Sonja I. Pantry, Miramar Disaster ahead We are in the middle of a climate change policy revision nightmare. Funding has been cut to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Meanwhile, Congress is considering startling reversals of regulations and tax credits designed to reduce the impact of fossil fuels on our environment. As if this were not enough, there are efforts to weaken the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which aids communities when disasters hit. We are weakening the nation's forecasting and assistance capabilities, as we also weaken the regulations which fight climate change. This is no time to be silent. Contact Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody. Call your congressman or woman. Get involved in climate organizations, such as Citizens Climate Lobby. Our lives may depend upon it. Kathryn Carroll, Miami DeSantis knows best? While signing a bill earlier this month that stops local governments from adding fluoride to water, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, 'some of these people, they think that they know better for you than you do for yourself.' How can public heath be solely an individual choice? Isn't the public's health serving the greater good? DeSantis and his cronies in the legislature have been finding ways to tell Floridians what we can and cannot do. Books are banned. Universities are no longer places for open ideas and learning. A woman can no longer make decisions about her own body. We no longer can acknowledge and celebrate our diversity as we please. Many among us live in fear of deportation. Our government is seemingly promoting and imposing its own vision of what it thinks is right for Floridians. We are free only if we toe the line the state has laid. A lot of us think differently. Hopefully, the next elections will show how fed up we are. Marsha Broad, Miami Pushy salesman Why is it that, when I listen to President Donald Trump speak on the economy, it's like he's trying to sell a big, beautiful timeshare to me and the American electorate? Jesus Mendez, Coral Gables
Malaysian Reserve
26-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
ASEAN Power Grid MoA to be signed in October
By FARAH SOLHI THE ASEAN Power Grid (APG) Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) is scheduled to be signed this October, after the successful conclusion on its enhanced MoA's negotiation at the 25th Asean Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting today. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz told reporters that the APG, which would be signed at the 43rd Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), is a strategic initiative in strengthening ASEAN's regional energy security, connectivity, and sustainability. 'In this context, we also welcomed ongoing work towards the establishment of the APG Financing Facility Framework, which will enhance cross-border flows of foreign direct investments (FDIs) and new funding opportunities for regional energy-related projects. 'The AEC Council also expressed full support for the convening of a joint meeting between ASEAN's Energy, Finance, and Economic Ministers in August,' he said. The enhanced APG MoA was among the 11 matters deliberated in the meeting, attended by ASEAN member states and Timor Leste today. Tengku Zafrul further highlighted several other matters raised during the meeting including Malaysia's success in completing two out of 18 Priority Economic Deliverables (PED) this year, which were the full conclusion of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) upgrade. Both upgraded agreements are scheduled to be signed at the sidelines of the upcoming 47th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in October this year, he said. 'We remain confident that these milestones will serve as pivotal enablers for ASEAN's sustained growth and competitiveness. 'The successful conclusion of these negotiations is expected to enhance the region's economic integration and generate significant economic benefits for ASEAN, as we continue to navigate an increasingly volatile global economic landscape. 'In particular, ATIGA — long regarded as the cornerstone of ASEAN's economic integration — will now feature forward-looking and commercially meaningful provisions aimed at further boosting regional trade, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting deeper economic integration within ASEAN,' he said. Tengku Zafrul added that the council also welcomed the full completion of Laos' 2024 PEDs which marked the successful adoption of the Roadmap on Digital Trade Standards as this milestone reflects the continued commitment in advancing the ASEAN's digital economy agenda. He also highlighted the progress of AEC Blueprint 2025 progress, as it is in its final year of completion. 'The overall implementation rate stands at a commendable 97%, comprising 75% completed measures and 22% currently in progress, as of April. The Blueprint has played a pivotal role in shaping ASEAN's economic architecture over the past decade. 'It has served as the strategic roadmap for building a highly integrated and cohesive ASEAN economy, promoting inclusive and innovation-led growth, and deepening regional connectivity and competitiveness,' he said. He added that through the Blueprint, ASEAN has made significant strides in areas such as trade liberalisation, investment facilitation, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development, digital transformation, and sustainable economic initiatives. 'This impressive 97% implementation rate not only demonstrates ASEAN's collective commitment to economic integration but also reinforces the region's ability to respond to global uncertainties in a cool, calm and calculated manner,' he added. The key learnings and progress under the AEC Blueprint 2025, he further said, will serve as a solid foundation for the development of the AEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which will chart the region's next phase of economic growth and transformation. Tengku Zafrul added that the bloc is prepared to launch the successor to the Blueprint, which is the AEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which will be launched as part of the Compendium with the overarching ASEAN Community Vision 2045 at the 46th ASEAN Summit on May 26. 'The AEC Council reaffirmed support and commitment to the effective implementation of the AEC Strategic Plan, which will guide ASEAN's post-2025 economic integration agenda. 'We also look forward to the Regional Socialisation of the AEC Strategic Plan, which will be held on June 12. This session will serve as a key multi-stakeholder platform to socialise and share the economic benefits of the AEC Strategic Plan,' he said.
The South African
19-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
SA Post Office thrown R381 million lifeline
In a move to preserve jobs and restore public confidence, Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has confirmed the implementation of a R381 million financial lifeline for the embattled South African Post Office (SAPO). The funding aims to stabilise the organisation as it continues its business rescue journey. The funding comes through the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS), administered by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed between SAPO and UIF to disburse the funds over six months, offering temporary relief to 6 000 workers while a long-term turnaround strategy is executed. 'This is a bold and necessary step to protect workers and restore confidence in our public institutions,' said Minister Meth. 'TERS is not just a financial mechanism – it is a strategic tool to stabilise employment, support economic recovery, and ensure that no worker is left behind.' The funds will be disbursed in monthly tranches via a dedicated TERS bank account, with strict auditing, governance, and compliance conditions in place. The SA Post Office, founded in 1792, has endured years of financial decline, culminating in a R2.17 billion operating loss in 2024. The company was placed under provisional liquidation in February 2023, but later rescued by court-approved business rescue practitioners (BRPs). Since then, SAPO has implemented aggressive restructuring measures, including: Closure of 366 branches , leaving just over 650 operational , leaving just over 650 operational Retrenchment of more than 4 300 employees in April and May 2024 in April and May 2024 Ongoing efforts to reduce losses and revive profitability by 2028 In addition to the TERS lifeline, the National Treasury granted a R2.4 billion bailout in the 2023/24 financial year to fund retrenchments, creditor settlements, and basic operations. However, the BRPs warned Parliament earlier this year that SAPO still requires an additional R3.8 billion to successfully complete its turnaround and restructuring plan. The TERS funding was approved following a rigorous review by the TERS Single Adjudication Committee, which includes stakeholders from the CCMA, Department of Higher Education, and Department of Small Business Development. SAPO is now required to: Submit regular financial and progress reports Uphold transparency and proper accounting Demonstrate tangible progress on its revitalisation plan Despite its financial woes, SAPO's corporate plan through to 2030 indicates optimism. The organisation projects progressive reductions in losses, aiming to return to profitability by 2028. This latest intervention underscores the government's commitment to job preservation and SOE reform, even as tough fiscal conditions demand accountability and restructuring. When last did you step into a Post Office branch? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mohan Babu University, QS Top 100 Penn State University join hands to launch maiden joint degree program in India
Mohan Babu University (MBU) has joined hands with Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), USA, to launch India's first-ever Joint Degree Program with a QS Top 100 Ranked Global University. The move is aimed at redefining higher education opportunities for Indian students. The Penn State University is ranked 89th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, and touted to be one of the most prestigious public research universities in the world. Through the partnership, students from India will get the global exposure and a top-ranked U.S. degree at nearly half the cost, along with access to world-class academics, research, and career opportunities, a press released informed. Also read: Lovely Professional University suspends MoUs with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, says national security a top priority The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the two institutions was signed at the MBU campus in Tirupati in presence of Dr. M. Mohan Babu, Chancellor, MBU, Vishnu Manchu, Pro-Chancellor, and Vinay Maheshwari, Executive Director. Representing Penn State were its Chancellor Dr. David M. Callejo Pérez, and Dr. Vahid Motevalli, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Also read: Govt approves IIFT's proposal to open first offshore campus in Dubai Also read: After Jamia & JNU, IIT Roorkee cancels MoU with Turkish university, here's what the institute said Vishnu Manchu, Pro-Chancellor of MBU, pointed out that the collaboration empowers students by providing access to exceptional global education at a fraction of the typical cost. 'It brings the best of international academic practices to Tirupati while opening up life-changing career possibilities for Indian students,' he added. Dr. David M. Callejo Pérez, chacellor of Penn State University, expressed delight over the collaboration with MBU, and said that the joint degree is not just a partnership, but a shared mission to prepare globally aware and professionally agile graduates. Vinay Maheshwari, MBU's executive director, highlighted that the partnership with Penn State ensures that the institute's students gain a truly global academic experience, access to cutting-edge research, and an international degree—without the typical financial barriers. 'It's a giant leap toward our vision of redefining education in India,' he said.
