Key Takeaways:
- FRMI fell 11.5% to $6.48 after pricing a $375 million convertible note offering
- The pre-revenue developer reported zero revenue and a $188.7 million Q1 net loss
- Shares are down about 78% from their 52-week high of $36.99
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Fermi America drops 11.5% on $375 million convertible note offering
Fermi America (NASDAQ:FRMI) shares fell 11.5% to $6.48 in Friday afternoon trading after the pre-revenue power developer priced an upsized $375 million offering of 5.00% convertible senior notes due 2031, compounding dilution concerns at a company that has yet to generate revenue.
"The convertible note pricing at a 30% premium to the prior close still triggered significant selling because the market is focused on the cash burn rate and the absence of a binding tenant agreement," said a strategist at a major investment bank who tracks the power-for-AI sector.
The company reported zero revenue and a $188.69 million net loss in Q1 2026, with capital spending directed at Project Matador, its 7,500-acre Carson County, Texas campus targeting up to 17 gigawatts of behind-the-meter power for hyperscalers and AI compute customers. Initial purchasers have an option for an additional $56.25 million of notes, which would bring the total to $431.25 million. Capped call transactions push the effective conversion threshold to $14.64 per share, a 100% premium to the July 9 close of $7.32. The initial conversion price of approximately $9.52 per share represents a 30% premium.
The selloff was company-specific rather than sector-driven. The Nasdaq Composite gained about 1.3%, while the S&P 500 also traded higher. Advanced nuclear developer Oklo (NYSE:OKLO) fell 2.3% to $48.16, and NuScale Power (NYSE:SMR) was flat. Larger cash-generative names held up better: Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) was unchanged near $250.81, and turbine supplier GE Vernova (NYSE:GEV) rose 2.1% to $1,097.81, up 65% year to date. GEV's Q1 orders included $2.4 billion in Electrification equipment tied to data centers, confirming robust demand for power-for-AI infrastructure even as Fermi faces execution risk.
Fermi still has no binding tenant agreement, an active CEO search led by Heidrick & Struggles, and a class-action lawsuit alleging overstated tenant demand. Options positioning reflects the uncertainty: the full-chain put/call ratio stands at 0.18, but the July 24 expiry shows a spike to 2.24. The stock has fallen about 78% from its 52-week high of $36.99 and now trades near $6.48, approaching its 52-week low of $4.47. The next catalyst is Q2 2026 earnings, expected before the open on August 13, when investors will look for progress toward management's guided target of roughly 200 megawatts of initial commercial power delivery and a binding anchor tenant.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
