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Quantum Computing Stocks Rise And Fall D Wave Rigetti Ionq Fast

Bonisiwe Shabane
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quantum computing stocks rise and fall d wave rigetti ionq fast

Not long ago, quantum computing felt like science fiction. Today, it’s driving some of the stock market’s most explosive rallies. Over the past year, shares of the leading pure-play quantum computing companies have skyrocketed, far outpacing even other hot tech sectors. D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) surged +2,158%, Rigetti Computing (Nasdaq: RGTI) jumped +2,448%, and IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) climbed +705% in just 12 months [14]. By comparison, even the electric vehicle and AI stock frenzies didn’t produce such across-the-board gains. This “quantum boom” has pushed the trio – sometimes dubbed the “Quantum Four” along with smaller peer QUBT – firmly into the spotlight [15] [16].

Several factors have catalyzed this breakout. Major technological breakthroughs and partnerships suggest quantum computing is moving closer to commercial reality [17]. Government support is expanding, with new U.S. initiatives and funding programs specifically backing quantum tech [18] [19]. And crucially, investor sentiment has shifted – institutional investors are now taking notice, and retail traders have piled in, drawn by the sector’s long-term potential and recent momentum [20] [21]. The result is a flurry of buying that sent quantum stocks parabolic in 2025.

Yet for all the hype, the quantum computing industry remains minuscule relative to other tech industries. The combined market capitalization of all publicly traded quantum computing names is only ~$35–40 billion [22] – a drop in the bucket next to sectors like electric vehicles or cloud computing. (At the height of the EV bubble, a single startup like Rivian briefly sported a $150 billion valuation [23].) This contrast underlines that quantum is still in its infancy, with plenty of room to... The upside could be enormous – but so are the uncertainties. Below, we dive into the key players IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave, their recent performance and developments, expert insights on the sector’s future, comparisons with other tech trends, and the risks and opportunities for investors... Overview: IonQ is often regarded as the front-runner among pure-play quantum computing companies.

Founded in 2015 and based on University of Maryland research, IonQ specializes in trapped-ion quantum computers, a technology known for high qubit fidelity. Instead of using superconducting circuits like some competitors, IonQ traps individual ions (charged atoms) and manipulates them with lasers. This approach has achieved impressive technical benchmarks – IonQ reports 99.9% gate fidelity (accuracy of operations) and an “all-to-all” qubit connectivity that can help reduce errors [25]. IonQ’s systems, such as its latest IonQ Forte (with 35+ “algorithmic qubits”), operate at room temperature and are accessible via cloud platforms including AWS Braket, Microsoft Azure Quantum, and Google Cloud [26]. The company is pursuing not just computing but also quantum networking and sensing technologies, aiming to build a broad quantum portfolio [27]. Recent Stock Performance & Financials: After going public via SPAC in late 2021, IonQ’s stock traded choppily for a while, but 2023–2025 saw a dramatic uptrend.

The share price more than doubled in 2023 and then went into overdrive in mid-2025 – by September 2025 IonQ hit an all-time high around $65.44 per share [28]. Over the past year, IonQ is up roughly 700% [29], reflecting growing optimism about its prospects. In terms of financials, IonQ remains in early-growth mode. Revenue is still modest (the company has typically recorded only a few million dollars per quarter from cloud access and research contracts) and it continues to operate at a net loss. However, IonQ’s revenue has been doubling annually, making it the “sector’s revenue growth leader” according to B. Riley analysts [30].

Quantum computing stocks are wrapping up a big week of double-digit gains. Shares of Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum and Quantum Computing have surged more than 20%. Rigetti and D-Wave Quantum have more than doubled and tripled, respectively, since the start of the year. Arqit Quantum skyrocketed more than 32% this week. The jump in shares followed a wave of positive news in the quantum space. Rigetti said it had purchase orders totaling $5.7 million for two of its 9-qubit Novera quantum computing systems.

The owner of drugmaker Novo Nordisk and the Danish government also invested 300 million euros in a quantum venture fund. In a blog post earlier this week, Nvidia also highlighted accelerated computing, which it argues can make "quantum computing breakthroughs of today and tomorrow possible." NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2025, 12:40 p.m. ET — Market closed (weekend). Quantum computing stocks are ending the week on a cautious note after a sharp Friday pullback, even as the broader U.S.

market remains close to record levels in what’s typically a thinly traded, post-holiday stretch. In the latest regular session (Friday, Dec. 26), several of the most-followed “pure-play” quantum names fell meaningfully, underscoring the sector’s defining trait for investors: extreme sensitivity to sentiment, liquidity, and narrative shifts—especially during year-end trading conditions. As of Friday’s close, IonQ (IONQ) finished around $46.00 (-7.6%), D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) near $25.29 (-8.1%), Rigetti Computing (RGTI) about $22.38 (-8.6%), Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) around $10.66 (-6.5%), while quantum-safe encryption name Arqit (ARQQ) ended near $22.81 (-9.6%). Friday’s tape was quiet at the index level.

Reuters described a “light-volume post-Christmas session” with few catalysts and modest declines across the major benchmarks; trading volume was below recent averages—exactly the kind of environment that can amplify moves in speculative, story-driven stocks. [1] ​Santa keeps delivering for quantum computing investors this year. On Monday, shares of well-known quantum computing firms shot up by double digits, with D-Wave Quantum stock up almost 15% and Quantum Computing Inc. up 11%. Shares of IonQ Inc.

and Rigetti Computing were likewise up roughly 10%. The exact catalyst spurring those increases is unclear. It may have initially been sparked in part by D-Wave’s Monday announcement that it would be attending the CES 2026 trade show next month. The Palo Alto-based company plans to showcase its “award-winning annealing quantum computing technology, hybrid quantum-classical solvers, and real-world customer use cases that are demonstrating measurable performance benefits, often beyond classical computing alone.” Okay, guys, let’s dive into the exciting world of quantum computing and the key players that are making waves (pun intended!). We’re talking about Rigetti , D-Wave , and IonQ , three companies that are not only dabbling in quantum mechanics but are also listed as AI stocks poised to potentially lead the quantum revolution.

So, what’s the deal with these companies, and why should you keep an eye on them? First, let’s break down what quantum computing actually is. Forget everything you know about regular computers that use bits (0s and 1s). Quantum computers use qubits . These qubits can be 0, 1, or both at the same time thanks to a mind-bending concept called superposition. Another key concept is entanglement, where two qubits become linked, and the state of one instantly influences the other, regardless of the distance between them.

This allows quantum computers to perform calculations that are impossible for even the most powerful classical computers. The potential applications are mind-boggling. Think drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, and, of course, artificial intelligence. Quantum computers could accelerate machine learning algorithms, allowing us to train AI models faster and more efficiently, leading to breakthroughs in areas like image recognition, natural language processing, and robotics. Now, where do Rigetti , D-Wave , and IonQ fit into all this? Each company has a unique approach to building and deploying quantum computers, and each is targeting different segments of the market.

Understanding their individual strengths and weaknesses is crucial for anyone interested in investing in the quantum computing space. Rigetti Computing is taking a full-stack approach to quantum computing. What does that mean, exactly? Well, they’re not just building the quantum processors; they’re also developing the software and cloud infrastructure needed to make those processors accessible and usable. This comprehensive strategy gives them greater control over the entire quantum computing ecosystem, potentially leading to better performance and a more seamless user experience. As second-quarter 2025 earnings rolled in, three pure-play quantum computing companies, D-Wave Quantum QBTS, Rigetti Computing RGTI and IonQ IONQ, offered a snapshot of an industry that moves at light speed but still sees...

The trio’s results revealed a common storyline, strong sales, bigger losses and huge cash reserves to fund the next big step in quantum computing. D-Wave Quantum’s second-quarter 2025 revenues rose 42% year over year, driven by Advantage2 quantum processing unit sales, including the system installed at Julich Supercomputing Center earlier this year. The company expanded its customer base with contracts from GE Vernova, Nikon and NTT DOCOMO, and strengthened global ties through partnerships in South Korea. Technological progress included an open-source PyTorch toolkit and quantum-assisted image generation demos. Collaborating with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on advanced cryogenic packaging, D-Wave aims to accelerate its push toward a 100,000-qubit system, reinforcing its leadership in annealing quantum computing while broadening its international footprint. Financially, the company ended the quarter with a record $819.3 million in cash—an over 1,900% year-over-year increase driven by a $400 million at-the-market equity raise, warrant exercises and credit facility proceeds.

Gross profit grew 42%, while adjusted EBITDA loss widened 44% year over year due to higher operating expenses from aggressive R&D and market expansion efforts. With strong liquidity, an expanding enterprise pipeline and parallel development in both annealing and gate-model architectures, D-Wave signaled that it is prepared to invest heavily in scaling technology and pursuing strategic acquisitions, while maintaining... IonQ delivered a standout second-quarter 2025, with revenues coming in 15% above the top end of guidance, reflecting accelerating commercial traction across quantum computing and networking. The company’s momentum was underpinned by high-profile partnerships, including a landmark $22 million deal to build America’s first commercial quantum hub with utility leader EPB, and a 20x performance speed-up in quantum-accelerated drug development... However, the aggressive push into R&D, strategic acquisitions and talent expansion incurred steep costs. IonQ reported a net loss of $177.5 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $36.5 million for the quarter.

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.

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Founded in 2015 and based on University of Maryland research, IonQ specializes in trapped-ion quantum computers, a technology known for high qubit fidelity. Instead of using superconducting circuits like some competitors, IonQ traps individual ions (charged atoms) and manipulates them with lasers. This approach has achieved impressive technical benchmarks – IonQ reports 99.9% gate fidelity (accura...

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