Best Nuclear Energy ETFs: How to Invest in Nuclear Power
Nuclear energy ETFs provide a way to gain exposure to the full atomic power value chain — from uranium mining companies that extract reactor fuel, to industrials designing next-generation reactors, to utilities that generate and distribute nuclear electricity. The oldest U.S.-listed fund in this space, VanEck’s NLR, launched back in August 2007, while the largest by assets — Global X Uranium ETF (URA) — has been trading since November 2010.
Nuclear power plants use low-enriched uranium fuel to produce electricity through fission, generating no direct carbon emissions during operation. Because nuclear plants run continuously regardless of weather, they provide baseload electricity that complements intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.
The main types of nuclear energy ETFs break down into three categories:
- Uranium miner ETFs: Global X Uranium ETF (URA) tracks the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Index, while Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM) follows the North Shore Global Uranium Mining Index — requiring holdings to devote at least 50% of assets to the uranium mining industry.
- Junior miner ETFs: Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ) targets mid-, small-, and micro-cap companies in early-stage exploration and development.
- Broad nuclear ETFs: VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR) covers the entire value chain — miners, reactor builders, equipment providers, and nuclear utilities — with global holdings. Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ) categorizes firms as pure-play or diversified nuclear companies and can include MLPs. The iShares/MarketVector Nuclear Infrastructure ETF (NUCL), launched in early 2023, tracks the MarketVector Global Uranium and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Index.
NLR stands apart by making annual distributions, which may appeal to those looking for income from their nuclear holdings. URNM positions itself as the only ETF offering pure-play exposure to both uranium miners and physical uranium. Meanwhile, newer entrants like NUCL and Themes Uranium & Nuclear ETF (URAN) continue to expand the menu of available funds.
For a closer look at the companies behind the fuel supply, see our list of SMR nuclear energy companies and uranium-focused ETFs.
Regulated brokerThe table below lists nuclear energy ETFs traded internationally, with live data on performance, holdings composition, and fees.
| Stock | Price | Change % | 52 Week Range |
|---|---|---|---|
 VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF NLR | $126.94 | 1.84% | |
 Global X Uranium ETF URA | $47.78 | 1.44% | |
Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF UTES | $82.21 | 1.69% | |
 Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund XLU | $44.76 | 0.67% | |
 Vanguard Utilities ETF VPU | $193.95 | 0.70% | |
 Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF FUTY | $57.50 | 0.72% | |
 iShares Global Utilities ETF JXI | $83.24 | 0.37% | |
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF URNJ | $26.28 | 0.81% | |
 iShares U.S. Utilities ETF IDU | $112.49 | 0.61% | |
 Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF RSPU | $79.53 | 0.40% | |
Direxion Daily Utilities Bull 3X Shares UTSL | $43.45 | 1.76% | |
 Goldman Sachs ETF Trust Goldman GCLN | $34.10 | 2.20% | |
ProShares Ultra Utilities UPW | $23.07 | 0.66% | |
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU | $48.21 | 0.33% | |
 Invesco Dorsey Wright Utilities Momentum ETF PUI | $46.92 | 1.14% | |
TrueShares Eagle Global Renewable Energy Income ETF RNWZ | $31.00 | 0.05% | |
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF IGF | $66.36 | 0.58% | |
SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF GII | $75.52 | 0.57% | |
 First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF ECLN | $32.31 | 0.64% | |
Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF VCLN | $32.65 | 0.02% | |
First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF FAN | $24.82 | 0.89% | |
 VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF SMOG | $147.80 | 1.84% | |
iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF PICK | $62.91 | 1.83% | |
Neuberger Berman ETF Trust Neub NBCT | $30.66 | 0.14% | |
 BNY Mellon Global Infrastructure Income ETF BKGI | $44.75 | 0.07% | |
iShares MSCI Spain ETF EWP | $59.01 | 0.27% | |
 JPMorgan Climate Change Solutions ETF TEMP | $51.61 | 0.02% | |
Strive Natural Resources and Security ETF FTWO | $44.41 | 0.59% | |
First Trust Alerian US NextGen Infrastructure ETF RBLD | $89.88 | 1.12% | |
iShares Global Industrials ETF EXI | $198.93 | 1.26% | |
 Return Stacked Bonds & Managed CLIA | $18.61 | 0.19% | |
Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF PPA | $175.31 | 1.36% | |
ClearBridge Sustainable Infrastructure ETF INFR | $27.74 | 0.40% | |
First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart GRID Infrastructure Index GRID | $194.68 | 1.90% | |
First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund FJP | $78.76 | 0.34% | |
Vesper U.S. Large Cap Short-Term Reversal Strategy ETF UTRN | $29.22 | 0.05% | |
Sprott Critical Materials ETF SETM | $34.14 | 1.56% | |
iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF EWJV | $45.65 | 0.88% | |
NYLI Cleaner Transport ETF CLNR | $20.33 | 2.62% | |
TCW Core Plus Bond ETF FIXT | $37.65 | 0.13% | |
Invesco S&P International Developed Momentum ETF IDMO | $61.49 | 0.87% | |
FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index Fund NFRA | $64.50 | 0.21% | |
Goldman Sachs Future Planet Equity ETF GSFP | $33.78 | 0.06% | |
iShares MSCI Finland ETF EFNL | $53.69 | 0.75% | |
First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund EMLP | $42.96 | 0.35% | |
iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF IFRA | $61.99 | 0.68% | |
Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund XLI | $180.91 | 0.73% | |
NYLI 500 International ETF IQIN | $32.60 | 0.42% | |
Global X Renewable Energy Producers ETF RNRG | $36.11 | 1.73% | |
John Hancock International High Dividend ETF JHID | $43.19 | 0.01% |