Is Nuclear Energy Making a Comeback?
Aniket Shah, Jefferies’ global head of sustainability and transition strategy, recently discussed the resurgence of nuclear energy in an interview on Yahoo Finance, highlighting its critical role amid the growing demand for clean energy driven by the AI boom. Shah noted that the renewed interest in nuclear energy is not surprising, pointing out that the United States had established significant partnerships to bolster nuclear energy supply long ago, demonstrating that its value has been recognized for years.
Shah emphasized that big tech companies will be pivotal in driving the nuclear energy market. He believes these firms will invest heavily—millions or even billions—in nuclear technologies, particularly in areas like small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion, setting a trend for other companies to follow.
According to Shah, the bipartisan support for nuclear energy in the U.S. has accelerated the passage of regulations and acts that favor the industry’s expansion. Despite these positive developments, Shah expressed concerns about execution. He pointed out that the U.S. currently lacks the skilled labor and resources necessary to fully realize this nuclear boom, suggesting that significant efforts will be required to overcome these challenges.
Nuclear Energy is Poised for Growth Amid AI Boom
Durgesh Chopra, managing director at Evercore ISI, discussed how the surge in AI-driven power demand is set to benefit utility stocks during an interview on Yahoo Finance. According to Chopra, two of the most promising investment themes in 2024 are AI and electrification, both of which require a substantial amount of energy. This rising demand for power is driving interest in utility companies.
Chopra pointed out that the primary catalyst for companies like Vistra and Constellation Energy is the increasing energy needs of data centers, which require a constant 24/7 supply of clean energy. He suggested that nuclear energy providers have a significant opportunity to enter into long-term contracts with these data centers to secure future growth.
He noted that there are several projects in development across the United States that collectively add up to approximately 1.5 gigawatts of energy, positioning nuclear plants as the next major player in the energy sector. However, Chopra also acknowledged the challenge of balancing supply and demand, which will be crucial for these companies to manage effectively.
Despite these challenges, Chopra remains optimistic about the growth potential in the utility sector. He mentioned that utility companies have not experienced notable demand growth in the last decade, but the current market dynamics are finally turning in their favor. With inflation on the decline, he expects the sector to experience positive momentum, and he anticipates that the investments and growth in this area will yield significant results over the next five to seven years.
Our Methodology
To determine the 10 best stocks to buy and hold for the next decade, we analyzed multiple similar rankings and created an initial list of 20 stocks. We then narrowed down the top 10 based on their hedge fund sentiment at the end of Q2 2024. We focus on stocks that hedge funds favor because our research indicates that imitating their top picks can lead to market outperformance. In fact, our quarterly newsletter’s strategy, which selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks each quarter, has returned 275% since May 2014, outperforming its benchmark by 150 percentage points.
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD) Overview
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc., a cybersecurity company, ranks 10th on our list of the best stocks to buy and hold for the next decade. The company provides a wide range of security products, including identity management, threat intelligence, and threat detection. With over 29,000 clients across various sectors like healthcare, retail, technology, and government—including partnerships with major players like Amazon and Google—CrowdStrike holds a strong market position.
The company’s AI-native cybersecurity platform, *Falcon*, is its flagship product, and the cloud security segment generated $515 million in revenue in FQ2 2025, reflecting an impressive 80% year-over-year growth. Despite a security incident in July 2024, CrowdStrike has shown resilience by maintaining transparency and accountability with its customers. Its annual recurring revenue for the second quarter of 2024 was $3.86 billion, up 32% from the previous year. Although the company might face some delays in closing deals in the latter half of 2024, these deals are expected to remain in the pipeline.
In the last 40 days, CrowdStrike has not only closed critical partnerships but also introduced innovations to its Falcon Platform and expanded its CrowdStrike Marketplace to meet the rising demand for cybersecurity solutions. As the world becomes increasingly dependent on software, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions grows, making CrowdStrike a significant player both now and in the future.
Hedge Fund Sentiment and Analyst Outlook
According to data from the Insider Monkey database, CrowdStrike Holdings was held by 69 hedge funds at the end of Q2 2024, with total stakes worth $3.01 billion. Analysts remain bullish on CRWD, with a 12-month median price target of $325, indicating an 11% upside from current levels.
CrowdStrike’s innovative approach, strong market presence, and continued growth in its cloud security segment make it a compelling stock to hold for the long term.
