12 Best HVAC Stocks to Buy Now

9. BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BWXT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54

On January 15, BNP Paribas initiated coverage of BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BWXT) with a Neutral rating and a $215 price target. Analyst Matthew Akers said the company offers a compelling mix of defense exposure and longer-term commercial nuclear optionality, but much of that appeal already appears reflected in the stock. “BWXT has an attractive defense business with commercial nuclear optionality, but this looks priced in with margin upside more of a 2027+ opportunity,” Akers wrote in a research note dated January 14. He added that BNP Paribas sees limited near-term total shareholder return at current valuation levels.

The firm also expects margins in BWXT’s government operations segment to remain under pressure in the near term. Akers pointed out that margins have fallen by roughly 150 basis points since 2021, largely due to inflation working its way through long-term contracts and a higher mix of lower-margin development programs, including microreactors and space nuclear propulsion initiatives.

On January 26, BWXT announced the opening of its Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility in Oak Ridge. The new site represents a significant step in the company’s effort to rebuild a fully domestic uranium enrichment capability aligned with US national security priorities. Last September, the National Nuclear Security Administration awarded BWXT a $1.5 billion contract to support a broad program aimed at securing a reliable supply of enriched uranium for defense-related fuel needs. The CMDF plays a central role in that initiative.

The facility will serve as BWXT’s main center for the design, engineering, fabrication, and testing of advanced gas centrifuge machines. It includes precision manufacturing space, in-house quality and testing capabilities, and specialized infrastructure designed to support future centrifuge production. Management said the CMDF will help move centrifuge technology from development toward production readiness while supporting broader goals tied to energy security, defense preparedness, and advanced manufacturing.

BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:BWXT) operates as a specialty manufacturer of nuclear components, a developer of advanced nuclear technologies, and a provider of related services. The company is also involved in special nuclear materials processing, environmental site restoration, and a range of nuclear-focused products and services.