Rgti Why Rigetti Computing Stock Surged And Then Dropped

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 8:16 AM

rgti why rigetti computing stock surged and then dropped

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.

Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:RGTI) is trading lower Friday afternoon, marking a reversal after a surge earlier in the week driven by retail momentum and sector-wide optimism. The recent volatility comes amid a classic Santa Rally, where retail investors earlier this week rotated into high-beta quantum stocks while institutional trading desks thin out for the holidays. What To Know: Earlier gains this week were fueled by a wave of social media sentiment focused on Rigetti’s 2026 roadmap, which promises higher-qubit systems and significantly lower error rates. This retail interest was compounded by a halo effect from peers like IonQ and D-Wave, which also saw spikes following strategic milestones and bullish analyst coverage. Notably, Wedbush recently initiated coverage on Rigetti with an Outperform rating and a $35 price target, citing the company’s advanced chiplets and vertically integrated production capabilities as key differentiators. Market observers note that this week’s price action fits the pattern of a “Holiday Gap,” where lower trading volumes between Dec.

20 and New Year’s allow retail sentiment to move small-cap stocks more aggressively. While retail investors likely drove the stock higher earlier in the week on the belief that the “quantum age” could arrive by 2026, Friday’s downturn suggests a pause in the momentum as the holiday... NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2025, 2:06 p.m. ET — Market Closed (Weekend) Rigetti Computing, Inc.

(NASDAQ: RGTI) heads into the final trading days of 2025 on a volatile note after a sharp pullback in Friday’s post‑Christmas session. Shares ended Dec. 26 at $22.38, down $2.13 (‑8.69%), after trading as low as $22.33 and as high as $24.37. In after-hours trading, RGTI was last quoted around $22.46 (+0.36%) late Friday evening. AAII+2Yahoo Finance+2 With U.S.

markets closed for the weekend, investors now have a full news cycle to digest a wave of fresh commentary published over the past 24–48 hours—from “big money” ownership spotlights to sharply different 2026 forecasts—before... Friday’s drop stood out not only for its size, but for how quickly sentiment turned after earlier-week momentum in high‑beta “pure-play” quantum names. Benzinga described the move as a Friday afternoon reversal following a surge earlier in the week, attributing the volatility to a mix of retail-driven momentum, sector-wide optimism, and thinner institutional participation during the holiday... Benzinga Shares of Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI - Get Free Report) were down 1.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday .

The company traded as low as $21.93 and last traded at $22.15. Approximately 23,055,970 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 69,407,094 shares. The stock had previously closed at $22.41. RGTI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. B. Riley cut their target price on Rigetti Computing from $42.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th.

Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Rigetti Computing in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. They set a "hold" rating and a $30.00 target price on the stock. Wedbush initiated coverage on shares of Rigetti Computing in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. Alliance Global Partners restated a "buy" rating on shares of Rigetti Computing in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Williams Trading set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Rigetti Computing in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th.

Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $31.22. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $23.88. The stock has a market cap of $7.31 billion, a PE ratio of -17.04 and a beta of 1.68. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 10th. The company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.05) by $0.02.

Rigetti Computing had a negative return on equity of 21.98% and a negative net margin of 4,741.49%.The company had revenue of $1.95 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.17 million. Rigetti Computing's revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Rigetti Computing, Inc. will post -0.34 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, Director Helene Gail Sandford sold 62,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.89, for a total value of $2,783,180.00.

Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 120,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,403,454.19. This trade represents a 34.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Rigetti Computing Inc.’s stock is facing pressure due to recent concerns over operational challenges and market competition in the quantum computing sector. On Monday, Rigetti Computing Inc.’s stocks have been trading down by -3.07 percent. Live Update At 16:04:42 EST: On Monday, February 10, 2025 Rigetti Computing Inc.

stock [NASDAQ: RGTI] is trending down by -3.07%! Discover the key drivers behind this movement as well as our expert analysis in the detailed breakdown below. As Tim Bohen, lead trainer with StocksToTrade says, “Time and experience have taught me that missed opportunities are part of the game. There’s always another setup around the corner.” Seasoned traders often encounter this truth in their trading journey. Despite an ever-changing market, one must remain vigilant and ready to capitalize on the next opportunity that arises. In assessing Rigetti Computing Inc.’s recent earnings, the figures invite both caution and curiosity.

The company reported a revenue of around $12M with a gross margin standing strong at about 60.6%, suggesting that while they’re bringing in money effectively, they aren’t necessarily keeping much of it. With an EBIT margin deep in negative territory (-489.4%) and a profitability ratio showing significant struggles, it’s evident the path to profitability is rugged. Volatility continues to be a hallmark, as seen in the recent price data. A peek into the multi-day chart reveals sharp fluctuations: from January 30 to February 10, prices danced between highs of close to $14 and lows nudging $12. Equally telling was the intraday activity, with prices bobbing significantly, creating waves in the market pond. This mirrors the high-risk-high-reward nature of quantum investments.

Benchmark analyst David Williams just set a $50 price target on $41 Rigetti Computing stock. Rigetti scored a big quantum computer sale last week. The company's revenue remains small, and profits far off. Shares of quantum computing company Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) soared more than 10% in early trading Tuesday -- then gave almost all of it back. By 11:15 a.m. ET, Rigetti stock was up only about 0.5%.

This morning's Rigetti roller-coaster ride comes to you courtesy of the friendly analysts at Benchmark.

Rgti Why Rigetti Computing Stock Surged And Then Dropped

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