Looking at BWX Technologies‘ (NYSE: BWXT) stock chart is enough to give any investor whiplash. After a meteoric rise from $88 to $132 in just five months last year, the stock has tumbled 21% from its November peak, leaving many shareholders wondering what happened to this nuclear powerhouse.
The bearish case isn’t hard to find. Critics point to recent weakness in the company’s Government Operations segment, where fourth quarter revenue dipped 1% year over year. Some analysts also fret over the stock’s volatility and question whether BWX’s recent acquisition spree – including its acquisition of A.O.T. in January and a pending deal to acquire Kinectrics – might distract management from the company’s core operations.
But are investors missing the forest for the trees?
BWX Technologies occupies a unique position in America’s defense and energy infrastructure. As the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for the U.S. Navy’s submarines and aircraft carriers, the company enjoys what might be the ultimate competitive moat – one backed by national security imperatives and decades of specialized experience that no competitor can easily replicate.
Beyond defense, BWX is rapidly expanding its footprint in commercial nuclear power and medicine. The company recently landed contracts for North America’s first small modular reactor project and secured critical equipment orders to extend the life of the Pickering nuclear plant in Ontario. Its medical radioisotope business is also gaining momentum, with new supply agreements with multiple radiopharmacy networks.
The numbers tell an interesting story too. Full-year revenue jumped 8% to $2.7 billion in 2024, while adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) grew 6% to $499 million. Free cash flow surged 20% to $255 million, giving management plenty of firepower for both strategic acquisitions and shareholder returns.
Looking ahead, the company’s 2025 guidance calls for continued growth, with revenue expected to reach approximately $3 billion and adjusted EBITDA forecast between $550 million and $570 million.
Clearly, there’s a lot to like about BWX… but there are also some reasonable concerns.
What does The Value Meter say about this nuclear specialist?
The company’s enterprise value-to-net asset value (EV/NAV) ratio sits at 11.23, higher than the 7.89 average for companies with positive net assets. However, on the cash flow front, BWX’s free cash flow averaged 5.53% of its net assets over the past four quarters – slightly above the 4.53% average for comparable companies.
When we combine these metrics with BWX’s rock-solid competitive position in naval nuclear propulsion and its growing presence in commercial nuclear and medical markets, the stock looks like a reasonable value proposition despite its recent volatility.
The Value Meter rates this one “Appropriately Valued.”
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