University of Kwazulu-Natal

Quantum Computing Stocks Qbts Ionq Rgti Surge Still A Buy

Bonisiwe Shabane
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quantum computing stocks qbts ionq rgti surge still a buy

Quantum computing has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting new narratives in the market, producing some of the best-performing stocks over the past year. Shares of D-WAVE QUANTUM (QBTS), IonQ (IONQ), and Rigetti Computing (RGTI), three of the industry’s leading names, have surged anywhere from 500% to 1,600% in the last twelve months as investors priced in the... More recently, however, momentum has cooled. Throughout much of 2025, the sector has traded sideways, with QBTS still showing gains while others have flattened or pulled back. The developments in quantum remain thrilling, but these stocks are still highly speculative, and success for investors depends as much on timing and risk management as on the technology itself. In this article, I’ll break down the technical picture for each of these quantum leaders and outline how investors may want to approach trading strategies and risk management in this rapidly evolving sector.

D-Wave Quantum is one of the pioneers of quantum computing, known for its annealing-based quantum systems designed to solve optimization problems. While its approach differs from the gate-based systems pursued by rivals, D-Wave has built a strong base of commercial partnerships and continues to expand its cloud-accessible quantum services. The price action in QBTS stock provides a clear snapshot of what’s happening across the sector and sets the tone for what investors should expect. As promising as the industry appears, the market’s current positioning leaves some ambiguity about where these stocks will head next. Fortunately, by watching the technical picture closely, we can identify some key levels. The quantum computing space has been heating up rapidly, but we’re still in the early stages.

This means IonQ (NYSE:IONQ), Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI), and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) have all been lifted by the rising tide. But if that tide continues rising, or once commercially viable quantum computing (or QC) becomes a reality, not every QC startup has the buoyancy to rise all the way to the top. Almost every quantum computing startup has its own way of trying to make QC commercially viable. There will only be a handful of direct QC winners. And it is debatable whether or not the biggest winner will be from the current batch of QC companies that are publicly tradable. OpenAI was the first AI company to achieve a breakthrough, despite public companies having their own AI teams with deeper pockets.

With that in mind, it requires careful consideration before you pick between the popular quantum computing stocks in the market right now. If you’re in it for the long run, it’s even more important to research them individually and determine which one will ultimately prevail. Let’s take a look. IonQ has historically led the quantum computing startup space, and it does have very impressive tech. It has the lowest error rates in the QC business, with 99.99% fidelity on two-qubit gates. As of today, it has Forte, with 36 physical qubits.

It already has customers. Namely, Airbus (OTCMKTS:EADSY), Hyundai, and the U.S. Air Force. IonQ Tempo has 64 algorithmic qubits. Bitcoin price today: rises to $89k but trapped in narrow range amid ETF outflows Asia stocks rise; Hong Kong, S.Korea lead gains as chipmakers rally

Breaking down Citi’s 2026 outlook for S&P 500 Tesla stock forecast: Baird previews 2026 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 exploded onto the investment scene in late 2024, igniting a frenzy that propelled pure-play stocks to astronomical heights.

Rigetti Computing (RGTI) emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries, with shares rocketing over 800% in a single month amid breakthrough announcements and surging optimism. Over the past three years, RGTI has delivered staggering gains of more than 3,200%, and at its peak, the stock was up over 8,200% from historic lows. Early investors have undeniably struck a rich motherlode, turning modest bets into life-changing wealth. Yet for those new to the quantum sector, the ride has been brutal. On Friday, RGTI tumbled almost 9% to close 61% below its October high of $58, erasing much of the year's explosive gains. This pullback mirrors broader pain across quantum stocks like IonQ (IONQ) and D-Wave (QBTS), which have also plunged sharply after similar booms and busts.

With the entire sector reeling, investors need to ask: Is the hype surrounding quantum computing finally over – and is RGTI still a buy? Quantum computing harnesses principles of quantum mechanics, using qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition) and become entangled. Unlike classical bits limited to 0 or 1, this enables quantum systems to explore vast solutions exponentially faster for certain problems. The potential is transformative: faster drug discovery by simulating molecules, optimized financial models, unbreakable encryption breakthroughs, and efficient logistics routing. Quantum could reshape industries from pharmaceuticals to materials science, unlocking solutions classical computers can't touch in reasonable time.

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