Rigetti Rgti Stock Dips Into 2026 As Quantum Names Cool What

Bonisiwe Shabane
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rigetti rgti stock dips into 2026 as quantum names cool what

NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 5:33 PM ET — Market closed. Rigetti Computing shares fell 1.2% on Wednesday, the final trading day of 2025, closing at $22.15. The stock was last up about 0.6% in after-hours trading at $22.28, market data showed, as U.S. exchanges stayed closed on Thursday for New Year’s Day. MarketWatch The move matters because Rigetti has become a bellwether for “pure-play” quantum computing stocks — smaller companies whose main business is quantum hardware and services — where liquidity can be thin and sentiment can...

That dynamic can amplify routine flows such as tax positioning and options-related trading. Investing It also lands as investors reopen risk books for 2026 after Wall Street ended the year’s final session lower in holiday-thin trading, a Reuters report showed. Broader moves in high-growth technology often spill into quantum names, which have traded as a higher-volatility subset of the AI-and-computing theme. Reuters Rigetti traded between $21.93 and $22.67 in Wednesday’s session on volume of about 23.2 million shares, according to price data.

Investing Quantum computing is no longer just a buzzword echoing through research labs and universities. In 2025, its influence spilled over into the stock market, and few companies exemplified this shift as dramatically as Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI). The company’s stock soared 46% in 2025, far outpacing many traditional AI and tech names. For investors, Rigetti became the poster child of quantum’s commercial promise—but also its risks. So, what exactly does Rigetti do?

Unlike software-only quantum firms, Rigetti builds its own quantum processors, designs the supporting software, and delivers cloud-accessible quantum computing services. This vertically integrated approach—controlling everything from chip manufacturing to user experience—sets Rigetti apart from many competitors. As quantum computing moves from theory to real-world applications, Rigetti aims to be the bridge connecting today’s needs with tomorrow’s possibilities. Analysts have taken notice. In December, Wedbush initiated coverage of Rigetti with an Outperform rating and a $35 price target, citing the company’s decade-long expertise in superconducting qubit technology. This particular approach to building quantum computers is seen as versatile and scalable, with support from major global players and government entities.

Mizuho, another prominent investment firm, set an even higher price target at $50, naming Rigetti as the primary scalable peer to industry giants like IBM and Google. Jefferies, meanwhile, was more cautious, issuing a Hold rating and a $30 target, noting Rigetti’s need to deliver consistently and overcome credibility issues stemming from past roadmap delays. But is the excitement justified, or are investors chasing a mirage? Rigetti’s current valuation, as reported by The Motley Fool, is nothing short of staggering. Its price-to-sales (P/S) ratio sits at 925—far above even the wildest heights of the dot-com era. For context, Amazon peaked at 51 and eBay at 144 before the bubble burst.

Such a valuation signals sky-high expectations but also raises alarms about sustainability. History offers sobering lessons. Cisco, once the world’s largest company in 2000, saw its market capitalization plunge by nearly 90% after the dot-com crash. Even today, Cisco’s valuation remains well below its all-time high. Rigetti, as an early-stage quantum pioneer, faces similar risks: limited revenue traction, unproven product-market fit, and ongoing cash burn. Quantum computing, though rich in potential, is still far from mainstream commercial adoption.

Written by Adam Spatacco for The Motley Fool-> Quantum computing stocks are among the hottest plays in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Pure-play developers such as Rigetti Computing are among the most popular quantum AI stocks. While Rigetti's momentum looks unstoppable, history suggests the company's valuation is unsustainable. While artificial intelligence (AI) stocks performed strongly throughout 2025, one particular pocket of the AI realm sticks out from the pack: quantum computing. As of market close on Dec.

23, shares of the Defiance Quantum ETF gained 37% on the year -- more than double that of the S&P 500. 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 is a quantum computing high-flyer that’s seen its shares march choppily higher in recent months. After starting the year with a vicious 70% plunge, it’s quite impressive that shares of RGTI are now down just 21% from all-time highs. Despite being one of the top early contenders for the quantum throne, the name isn’t exactly one you’d want to overweight in the core of your tax-advantaged accounts, not after already posting a 1,900%... In any case, it is quite interesting that analysts who cover the name are staying bullish, even as shares surge past many of their price targets. The big question for investors is whether Rigetti can garner enough excitement to encourage analysts to hike their targets.

With earnings just a week away, it’ll be a moment of truth for Rigetti as it looks to prove to the world that its superconducting quantum architecture is the way of the future. As more competitors (mature and up-and-coming) attract investment dollars, Rigetti will need to keep marching ahead. Of course, it’s hard to pick winners and losers when the quantum race arguably hasn’t even officially begun. In any case, Rigetti is an intriguing name that’s on the watchlists of many investors willing to take a chance on the fast-rising firms striving to deliver the next big quantum leap. Indeed, the $5 billion firm is a household name in the quantum scene this year, but given the high stakes going into August 12 earnings, investors should be ready for a massive move in... Amid the stock’s quantum leap, some notable analysts have stepped forward with buy ratings.

Perhaps most notable among them is a B.Riley Securities analyst named Craig Ellis, who currently holds the Street-high price target (and an overweight rating) of $19.00 per share. Ellis is also a fan of Rigetti’s U.S. government efforts, which is a vote of confidence for the firm over its rivals in the space. With shares currently fluctuating around $15 and change, such a target implies a decent, albeit relatively modest gain just north of 20% from current levels. As Rigetti continues making technical progress while inking more partnerships with well-established firms, it’s not hard to imagine RGTI has enough news-worthy catalysts up its sleeves to fuel a further run to and perhaps... IONQ Quick QuoteIONQ RGTI Quick QuoteRGTI

In 2025, IonQ (IONQ Quick QuoteIONQ - Free Report) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI Quick QuoteRGTI - Free Report) gained the attention of investors tracking the rapid evolution of the quantum computing sector. Throughout the year, IonQ demonstrated accelerating business expansion, reporting a sharp increase in quarterly revenues on a year-over-year basis, record technical benchmarks in system performance and a significantly strengthened balance sheet following capital raises... Rigetti, by contrast, remained focused on execution within superconducting quantum hardware. Throughout 2025, the company highlighted delivery of modular quantum systems, expanded government and research partnerships and continued development of its scalable chip-based architecture, even as near-term financials reflected heavy investment in infrastructure and R&D. As 2026 approaches, investors must balance IonQ’s growing commercial momentum and strong cash position against Rigetti’s specialized hardware focus and increasing real-world deployments, as both companies play key roles in quantum computing’s rapid rise. Year to date, shares of IONQ have risen 8.3% while RGTI stock has soared 45.9%.

Analysts are saying that Rigetti Computing could rise by 2030. Bullish on RGTI? Invest in Rigetti Computing on SoFi with no commissions. If it’s your first time signing up for SoFi, you’ll receive up to $1,000 in stock when you first fund your account. Plus, get a 1% bonus if you transfer your investments and keep them there until December 31, 2025. Rigetti Computing Inc.

(RGTI) has been gaining traction with strategic government contracts and advances in quantum computing technology. The company is building out its hardware development pipeline and expanding partnerships, which is reflected in near-term stock price increases while setting the stage for longer-term growth considerations. In this article, we’ll review RGTI’s current price and valuation, examine price-target forecasts through 2030, analyze Wall Street’s latest sentiment, and break down the bullish and bearish outlooks shaping the stock’s risk/reward proposition. Shares of Rigetti Computing are currently trading near all-time highs of around $32 as of October 2025, reflecting significant gains from a 52-week low near $0.75 last October. Recent momentum underscores strong investor interest fueled by expanding market applications for quantum hardware and renewed optimism in the sector. The company successfully executed an at-the-market equity offering of $350 million in gross proceeds in June, substantially reinforcing its balance sheet and providing a strong cash runway for continued research and development investment.

NEW YORK, December 28, 2025, 21:47 ET — Market closed Rigetti Computing shares slid 8.6% to $22.38 in Friday’s regular session, retreating as quantum-computing stocks pulled back into the final week of the year. The move matters now because year-end trading tends to magnify swings in high-volatility stocks, while investors reassess crowded themes ahead of 2026. Reuters described Friday’s broader tape as light-volume and catalyst-thin, a backdrop that can sharpen moves in speculative corners of the market. Reuters Other “pure-play” quantum names fell in tandem.

IonQ dropped about 7.6%, D-Wave Quantum slid about 8.1% and Quantum Computing Inc fell about 6.5% in the same session. Wall Street finished nearly flat on Friday after the Christmas holiday, with all three major U.S. indexes ending marginally lower. “We had a very strong five-day rally, so in a way we’re just simply catching our breath today after the holiday,” said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group. Reuters

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NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 5:33 PM ET — Market

NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 5:33 PM ET — Market closed. Rigetti Computing shares fell 1.2% on Wednesday, the final trading day of 2025, closing at $22.15. The stock was last up about 0.6% in after-hours trading at $22.28, market data showed, as U.S. exchanges stayed closed on Thursday for New Year’s Day. MarketWatch The move matters because Rigetti has become a bellwether for “pure-play” quantum co...

That Dynamic Can Amplify Routine Flows Such As Tax Positioning

That dynamic can amplify routine flows such as tax positioning and options-related trading. Investing It also lands as investors reopen risk books for 2026 after Wall Street ended the year’s final session lower in holiday-thin trading, a Reuters report showed. Broader moves in high-growth technology often spill into quantum names, which have traded as a higher-volatility subset of the AI-and-compu...

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Investing Quantum computing is no longer just a buzzword echoing through research labs and universities. In 2025, its influence spilled over into the stock market, and few companies exemplified this shift as dramatically as Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI). The company’s stock soared 46% in 2025, far outpacing many traditional AI and tech names. For investors, Rigetti became the poster child of qu...

Unlike Software-only Quantum Firms, Rigetti Builds Its Own Quantum Processors,

Unlike software-only quantum firms, Rigetti builds its own quantum processors, designs the supporting software, and delivers cloud-accessible quantum computing services. This vertically integrated approach—controlling everything from chip manufacturing to user experience—sets Rigetti apart from many competitors. As quantum computing moves from theory to real-world applications, Rigetti aims to be ...

Mizuho, Another Prominent Investment Firm, Set An Even Higher Price

Mizuho, another prominent investment firm, set an even higher price target at $50, naming Rigetti as the primary scalable peer to industry giants like IBM and Google. Jefferies, meanwhile, was more cautious, issuing a Hold rating and a $30 target, noting Rigetti’s need to deliver consistently and overcome credibility issues stemming from past roadmap delays. But is the excitement justified, or are...