Quantum Computing Is The Stock Market S Next Big Tech Play And These

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 4:05 AM

quantum computing is the stock market s next big tech play and these

Pure-play quantum computing stocks got Wall Street's attention in 2025 as JPMorgan, Jefferies, Evercore ISI, Cantor Fitzgerald and Mizuho Securities initiated coverage on some companies while Barclays and Bank of America published in-depth reports... Heading into 2026, IonQ (IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) hold the most buy ratings along with the highest price targets on average… 9:00 AM ET The stock market fell to end a solid 2025. Palantir and Nvidia chipmaker Taiwan Semi were in focus. Tesla deliveries... 9:00 AM ET The stock market fell to end a solid 2025.

Palantir... Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! Get market updates, educational videos, webinars, and stock analysis. Quantum computing concept illustration. 2025 has seen quantum technology leap from labs toward commercial viability, fueling a wave of investor interest and stock gains. After the AI frenzy, quantum computing is emerging as the next big tech investment trend Nasdaq.

Quantum computers leverage bizarre physics to solve problems vastly faster than classical machines, promising breakthroughs in drug discovery, finance, AI, logistics, and cybersecurity. In 2025, this once-experimental field is rapidly moving from concept to reality – and Wall Street has taken notice. Many companies agree that around 2030 will be a turning point when quantum systems achieve useful scale Nasdaq. But investors aren’t waiting; quantum stocks have soared in 2025, anticipating the technology’s transformative potential. Several pure-play quantum computing firms that went public via SPAC in recent years have skyrocketed. Over the past six months, shares of IonQ jumped 135%, Rigetti 105%, and D-Wave over 200%, vastly outperforming the S&P 500 Nasdaq.

Much of this surge came in Q3 2025, as a string of technical and commercial milestones signaled that quantum computing is edging closer to practical use. At the same time, tech giants like IBM, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and Intel – which view quantum as strategic to their future – have accelerated their R&D efforts and notched record achievements of their... Major governments worldwide (USA, EU, China, and Japan) are pouring funding into quantum research programs, recognizing it as a critical technology race. This confluence of scientific progress, corporate commitment, and public investment has made quantum computing a compelling – if speculative – area for investors seeking the “next big thing.” However, it’s still early innings. Today’s quantum computers remain in prototype stage, generating minimal revenue, and the path to large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum machines (needed for broad commercial adoption) will likely take the rest of this decade.

Investing in this space requires patience and risk tolerance, as many pure-plays are unprofitable and may never reach mass-market success. That said, the upside could be enormous. McKinsey projects the quantum computing market to grow at ~35% CAGR, potentially reaching tens of billions by 2030 Patentpc Bccresearch. By 2035, quantum tech could drive over $1 trillion in economic value and hundreds of thousands of new jobs Thequantuminsider. In the nearer term, breakthroughs expected by 2025–2027 (such as achieving quantum advantage on useful problems, or demonstrating early error-corrected qubits) could dramatically reprice the leaders in this industry. In this report, we’ll examine the top pure-play quantum computing companies and the leading quantum players within Big Tech, highlight their recent developments (especially in Q3–Q4 2025), and survey expert commentary and analyst outlooks.

We’ll also discuss the broader ecosystem – including companies providing the “picks and shovels” like quantum hardware components and cloud services – that support this quantum boom. To start, the tables below offer a high-level comparison of key quantum computing stocks: Quantum computing is back in focus for 2025. After a volatile start to the year, major players like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Nvidia are pushing forward with hardware, cloud-based integration, and AI-linked breakthroughs. That’s why the top traders are watching this sector again—not chasing hype, but tracking setups tied to real catalysts. Check out my current quantum computing and AI penny stock watchlist here!

This watchlist focuses on publicly traded companies involved in quantum computing, including pure-plays and large-cap tech giants. You’ll see stocks on both the Nasdaq and NYSE, from speculative low-float movers to high-stability names that anchor ETFs and institutional portfolios. I don’t trade names like these unless the setup fits my criteria, but I monitor them every day for potential spikes, sector sympathy, and short squeeze potential. These aren’t picks—they’re potential trades. Watch the news, earnings, and volume. Use the data to build a smarter strategy.

That’s how I teach my students, and that’s how I trade every day. Quantum computing is based on qubits, which can hold multiple values simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to run calculations and simulations that would take classical machines years to solve—if they could solve them at all. They’re not just theoretical anymore. Systems are being tested in cloud environments and used for niche applications like encryption and molecular modeling. Quantum computing’s potential to transform industries like cryptography and drug discovery is driving a projected $850 billion market by 2040, reshaping the technological landscape.

Both nimble startups and well-funded tech giants are competing fiercely, but two companies stand out as the likely leaders in this high-stakes race. Nvidia made early investors rich, but there is a new class of ‘Next Nvidia Stocks’ that could be even better. Click here to learn more. Quantum computing, poised to revolutionize industries from cryptography to drug discovery, leverages quantum mechanics to solve complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. With a projected market size of $850 billion by 2040, its potential to reshape markets is immense. Companies of all sizes are racing to unlock this technology’s power, from nimble startups to tech titans with vast resources.

The competition is fierce, with each player bringing unique strengths to the table. AMZN Quick QuoteAMZN IBM Quick QuoteIBM RGTI Quick QuoteRGTI QBTS Quick QuoteQBTS In the first several months of 2025, pure-play quantum computing stocks such as Rigetti Computing (RGTI Quick QuoteRGTI - Free Report) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS Quick QuoteQBTS - Free Report) delivered spectacular returns as... From January to September, while QBTS stock rallied 157%, RGTI gained 49%. These rallies were driven by rapid valuation expansion, growing venture investment in the sector and positive sentiment around promising revenue streams, despite overall revenues remaining modest. However, the momentum has cooled significantly lately.

Pure-play names have shifted from parabolic gains toward more muted year-to-date performance and heightened volatility amid stretched valuations. From October 2025 to date, shares of QBTS gained just 2.3% while RGTI lost 24.9% during this period. As pure-plays struggled to sustain stock-price momentum, large technology companies such as Amazon (AMZN Quick QuoteAMZN - Free Report) and IBM (IBM Quick QuoteIBM - Free Report) attracted stronger investor sentiment, supported by progress... Who Stands to Benefit More From Quantum Computing in 2026? As 2026 approaches, several Wall Street analysts have flagged the possibility of further downside for pure-play quantum stocks, noting that while engineering milestones and strategic partnerships are meaningful, revenue scale, margin visibility and sustainable... This lack of near-term commercial clarity makes it difficult to confidently project outsized gains in 2026, even as the long-term promise of quantum computing remains intact.

Quantum Computing Is The Stock Market S Next Big Tech Play And These

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