Talen Energy is exploding higher today, fueled by a combination of company-specific capital allocation news and a broader rally among independent power producers. The stock is building on momentum from an announcement on October 5 regarding a $3 billion share repurchase program, which included an immediate $1.5 billion accelerated buyback. This positive sentiment is being amplified by a sector-wide surge as investors reprice merchant nuclear assets following a major deal between a hyperscaler and Constellation Energy for 890 MW of firm, around-the-clock power. Peer companies like Vistra Corp and Constellation Energy are seeing similar double-digit gains as the market prioritizes firms with the capacity to meet surging AI-driven energy demand.