Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

This is an exciting time for investors. Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles (EVs), offer strong investment opportunities in innovative businesses.

One such company is QuantumScape (QS +0.55%). It sits at the intersection of AI and EVs, since its solid-state battery technology can provide power for both. The company recently announced the creation of business units dedicated to these two areas, and a third focused on other markets, including aerospace and defense.

After hitting a 52-week high of $19.07 in 2025, the stock fell to a low of $4.77 toward the end of July and has remained near that level. Is this a buy opportunity? Here's a closer look at QuantumScape and whether it's a worthwhile investment.

Image source: Getty Images.

QuantumScape's opportunities The energy density, power performance, and safety profile of QuantumScape's solid-state batteries caught the attention of Volkswagen, which has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the battery maker over the past several years. Volkswagen isn't the only interested party.

QuantumScape announced a multiyear partnership with automotive giant Honda in June. Another major automaker showing confidence in the batteries affirms the strength of the technology. QuantumScape also alluded to working with other major automotive manufacturers, a further sign that its tech is catching on.

Artificial intelligence offers yet another avenue for the company's products. The data centers housing AI systems are increasingly adopting large-scale battery storage architectures pioneered by the electric vehicle industry. This is because AI computing infrastructure is growing in sophistication and size, necessitating so much electricity that EV batteries are now seen as a solution, opening the door for QuantumScape.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

56/100

Today's Change

(

0.55

%) $

0.03

Current Price

$

5.48

QuantumScape's challenges Before it can capitalize on opportunities in the EV and AI markets, QuantumScape must get its solid-state batteries to a point where mass production is possible. Once it proves it can produce thousands of flawless battery cells quickly and cheaply, it can turn over the manufacturing to its automotive partners.

From there, the company can produce revenue by licensing its design and technology to partners. However, management admitted, "Demonstrating scalable production of a unique technology on a first-of-a-kind automated line is a substantial challenge."

Consequently, the company does not expect to achieve commercialization of its batteries until at least 2029. For now, QuantumScape produces no income and keeps its operations afloat by tapping into its cash stockpile.

The company ended the second quarter with over $800 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities on its balance sheet. Without revenue coming in, it strives to stretch its cash hoard to reach the 2029 commercialization milestone.

Whether the battery maker has enough funds is questionable. It projects 2026's full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) loss will be between $250 million and $275 million. Its 2025 adjusted EBITDA loss was $252.3 million. Cost-cutting efforts enabled it to reduce its 2026 full-year capital expenditure guidance to between $27 million and $37 million.

Given these numbers, QuantumScape is skating on thin ice. It would have to execute flawlessly to reach 2029 without requiring additional funding. As a result, investing in QuantumScape stock is only for those comfortable with high risk.

Personally, I would not invest. The company is demonstrating promising technology, but keeping its business afloat without a fresh infusion of cash looks like a challenge right now.

QuantumScape (QS -0.64%), a developer of solid-state batteries, went public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on Nov. 27, 2020. Its stock opened at $24.80 on its first day and closed at an all-time high of $131.67 on Dec. 22, 2020.

Before going public, QuantumScape claimed it could commercialize its first batteries by 2024, and that its revenue would soar from $14 million in 2024 to $275 million in 2026. But as of this writing, it hasn't commercialized any batteries nor generated any meaningful revenue yet.

That's why QuantumScape's stock plummeted 96% to its current price of about $5. Will it bounce back next year as it makes more progress toward launching its first batteries?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why did QuantumScape miss its original targets? QuantumScape's solid-state batteries have higher charging capacities, shorter charging times, and better thermal resistance than liquid-based lithium-ion batteries. But they're also more expensive and challenging to manufacture than their lithium-ion counterparts.

A major technological hurdle for QuantumScape is the mass production of its flexible ceramic separator, which prevents dendrites (lithium fibers) from short-circuiting the battery. Last year, it replaced its older Raptor separator process with its new Cobra separator process to improve its cell reliability, equipment productivity, and total yields. That upgrade helped it ramp up its production of high-volume samples of its QSE-5 batteries for electric vehicle makers.

The QSE-5, which was co-developed with Volkswagen (OTC:VWAP.Y), has an energy density of 844 Wh/L (watt hours per liter) and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 12 minutes. Most lithium-ion batteries have an average density of 300-700 Wh/L with an average charging time of 20 minutes to an hour. Therefore, the QSE-5 could be a major upgrade for EVs.

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

56/100

Today's Change

(

-0.64

%) $

-0.04

Current Price

$

5.44

QuantumScape originally planned to manufacture its own batteries. But in 2024, it abandoned that strategy and instead agreed to license its technology to Volkswagen's PowerCo subsidiary and other automakers. That shift would enable the company to operate a higher-margin, asset-light licensing business, but it's still nowhere near commercializing those designs.

When will QuantumScape finally commercialize its designs? During its second-quarter report on July 22, QuantumScape said its battery designs wouldn't achieve commercial readiness until 2029. At the same time, more automakers and start-ups are joining the race to mass-produce their own solid-state batteries. If QuantumScape can't keep up with those competitors, its business could fizzle out before it commercializes its first batteries.

That's a murky outlook for an unprofitable, pre-revenue company that's already valued at $3.4 billion. So while solid-state batteries might attract more attention next year, investors shouldn't expect QuantumScape's stock to soar back toward its all-time highs.

Timothy Holme, the chief technology officer at QuantumScape Corporation (QS +4.91%), reported a sale of 75,962 shares of Class A Common Stock on August 18 and August 19, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold75,962Shares sold (directly held)54,431Shares sold (indirectly held)21,531Transaction value~$437,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)1,658,075Post-transaction value$9.75 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($5.75); post-transaction value based on the August 19 market close ($5.88).

Key questionsWhat was the regulatory context for this transaction?
The activity was partially non-discretionary, as 34,086 shares were withheld to cover tax obligations following the release of restricted stock units (RSUs), while the remaining sales were scheduled under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on June 5, 2025.How does the executive's remaining position compare to the shares sold?
Holme's remaining direct position of 1.7 million shares is substantially larger than the 75,962 shares disposed of in this transaction, and the executive also holds 1.2 million indirect derivative securities.What is the current valuation framework for these shares?
The stock was priced at $5.88 as of the August 19 market close, a level that reflects a 26% decline over the previous 12 months as of the transaction date.What was the nature of the indirect holdings liquidation?
The transaction resulted in the sale of 21,531 shares held indirectly, which represented the entirety of the executive's indirect common stock position at the time of the filing.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-19)$5.88Market Capitalization$3.6 billionNet Income (TTM)-$405.0 millionOne Year Total Return-26%Company SnapshotQuantumScape specializes in the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, with primary applications in electric vehicle powertrains and secondary applications across various industrial and consumer markets.The company generates revenue through licensing agreements, development partnerships, and manufacturing collaborations with automotive original equipment manufacturers seeking next-generation battery solutions for electrified vehicle platforms.QuantumScape's primary customers are major automotive manufacturers and tier-one suppliers pursuing advanced battery technologies to enhance electric vehicle range, performance, and cost competitiveness in the global EV market.QuantumScape Corporation operates as a pre-revenue stage technology company focused on commercializing solid-state battery technology for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle sector. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company maintains a lean operational structure with approximately 700 employees dedicated to advancing battery chemistry and manufacturing processes. The company's competitive positioning centers on proprietary solid-state lithium-metal battery architecture, which offers potential advantages in energy density, charging speed, and thermal stability compared to conventional lithium-ion battery technologies.

What this transaction means for investorsHolme's sale splits into two pieces, and both are explainable without any signal. Roughly 34,000 shares came out through tax withholding on vested RSUs, while the rest sold under a 10b5-1 plan he set up back in June 2025, well before this quarter's news cycle. Plus, the sale wiped out his entire indirect stock position, which sounds bigger than it is since he still holds 1.7 million shares directly and another 1.2 million in derivative securities.

More importantly, as CTO, Holme is basically the person actually responsible for the technology QuantumScape just got Honda to bet on. CEO Siva Sivaram described that partnership on the July earnings call as the result of "one of the most rigorous assessments of our technology to date," and that assessment is Holme's engineering, not a marketing claim. The company also reported a GAAP net loss of $98.2 million for the second quarter, narrower than the $114.7 million loss a year earlier, while customer billings hit $21.8 million through midyear, already ahead of all of 2025.

For long-term investors, whether QuantumScape's Eagle Line can keep doubling output in the back half of the year, as management has promised, matters far more here than a CTO's scheduled trade.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Kevin Hettrich, the chief financial officer of QuantumScape Corporation (QS +4.91%), disposed of 31,095 shares of Class A Common Stock on August 18, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold31,095Transaction value$179,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)1,785,162Post-transaction value$10.28 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($5.74); post-transaction value based on the August 18 market close ($5.76).

Key questionsWhat were the specific circumstances of this disposition?
The transaction was a non-discretionary sale-to-cover, conducted automatically to satisfy tax withholding requirements upon the vesting of equity awards, and does not reflect a discretionary change in the insider's investment thesis.How much equity does the CFO maintain in the company?
Following this reduction, Hettrich continues to hold 1.8 million shares of Class A Common Stock directly and also holds derivative securities in the form of restricted and performance restricted stock units.What is the company's current financial and market position?
Headquartered in San Jose, the company is developing solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles and reported a trailing twelve-month net loss of $405.0 million as of the August 18 transaction date.How has the stock performed leading up to this filing?
At the time of the transaction, shares were priced at $5.74, reflecting a one-year return of -30% as of August 18, while the stock closed at $5.88 as of the August 19 market close.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-19)$5.88Market Capitalization$3.6 billionNet Income (TTM)-$405.0 millionCompany SnapshotQuantumScape develops and commercializes advanced solid-state lithium-metal battery technology designed primarily for electric vehicle applications, with additional use cases across various industrial and consumer segments.The company operates a technology development and licensing business model, focusing on advancing next-generation battery solutions with enhanced energy density and performance compared to conventional lithium-ion alternatives.QuantumScape's primary target market consists of electric vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers seeking differentiated battery technology to improve vehicle range, charging speed, and overall performance metrics.QuantumScape Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a specialized battery technology company with 700 employees focused on solid-state lithium-metal battery innovation. The company is currently in a pre-revenue or early commercialization phase, as evidenced by its TTM net loss of $405.0 million, reflecting substantial research and development investments required to bring advanced battery technology to market. With a market capitalization of $3.6 billion, QuantumScape represents a capital-intensive venture positioned at the intersection of automotive electrification and advanced materials science.

What this transaction means for investorsHettrich's sale isn't a one-off. He's sold shares every month this year under the same 10b5-1 plan he set up back in June 2025, including 9,800 shares in June and another 9,800 in July, both well before this quarter's news. August's batch is bigger at 31,095 shares, but it fits the same pattern and comes out of the 1.8 million shares he still holds directly.

As CFO, Hettrich is the one actually managing the balance sheet that QuantumScape is burning through to get to commercialization. He reiterated full-year adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250 million to $275 million on the July call, while lowering capital expenditure guidance to $27 million to $37 million, and he called the quarter's $64.2 million adjusted EBITDA loss "in line with expectations." Meanwhile, customer billings reached $21.8 million through midyear, already ahead of the $19.5 million QuantumScape booked in all of 2025, and the company ended the quarter with $859 million in liquidity to fund the Eagle Line ramp. For long-term investors, whether that cash lasts long enough to reach real commercial volume is the number worth tracking, not another month of scheduled selling.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Mohit Singh, chief development officer of QuantumScape Corporation (QS +4.91%), sold 34,304 shares of Class A Common Stock on August 18, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold34,304Transaction value$196,905Post-transaction shares (directly held)1,737,150Post-transaction value$10.01 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($5.74); post-transaction value based on the August 18 market close ($5.76).

Key questionsWhy was this transaction executed?
The sale of 34,304 shares was non-discretionary, performed solely to cover tax obligations following the release of restricted stock units, and does not reflect the insider's view on the stock.What is the current scale of the insider's equity interest?
Following this disposition, Singh retains roughly 1.7 million shares held directly, which include restricted stock units and performance restricted stock units that contribute to his 0.3% ownership stake.What is the financial position of the company?
QuantumScape, which focuses on the advancement of solid-state lithium-metal batteries, reported a trailing twelve-month net loss of $405.0 million as of the August 19 market close.How has the stock performed leading up to this event?
As of the August 18 transaction date, the company's Class A Common Stock had a one-year total return of roughly -30%.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-19)$5.88Market Capitalization$3.6 billionNet Income (TTM)-$405.0 millionCompany SnapshotQuantumScape Corporation specializes in the development and commercialization of solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, a next-generation power solution primarily for electric vehicles and other advanced applications.The company generates revenue through the advancement, licensing, and eventual market deployment of proprietary solid-state battery technology, positioning itself as a technology innovator in the energy storage sector rather than a traditional battery manufacturer.QuantumScape's primary target customers are electric vehicle manufacturers and original equipment suppliers seeking high-performance, next-generation battery solutions to enhance vehicle range, charging speed, and overall performance characteristics.QuantumScape Corporation is a pre-revenue technology development company with a market capitalization of $3.6 billion, reflecting investor expectations for the commercialization of solid-state batteries. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company maintains a focused organizational structure with approximately 700 employees dedicated to advancing solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. The company's competitive positioning centers on proprietary solid-state battery architecture designed to address critical limitations of conventional lithium-ion batteries, including energy density, thermal stability, and charging efficiency.

What this transaction means for investorsSingh's sale is one of several in a batch of QauntumScape executive transactions this past week and marks another tax-withholding sale-to-cover tied to vested equity. For Singh, 34,304 shares barely dent the 1.7 million he still holds directly, so there's no signal here in the filing alone.

That said, his title as chief development officer puts him closer to QuantumScape's long-term roadmap than perhaps any single quarter's numbers. The company's Q2 letter to shareholders, signed by CEO Siva Sivaram and CFO Kevin Hettrich, said "the Eagle Line is ramping up to enable increased customer shipments" in the back half of the year, with larger-format cells and more technology in the pipeline beyond the QSE-5 platform Honda just signed on to evaluate. QuantumScape narrowed its GAAP net loss to $98.2 million last quarter, but the roadmap matters much more because the stock’s price has, of course, priced in future expectations. QuantumScape traded as high as $131.67 in December 2020, and even after a real spike toward $19 in July on AI data-center enthusiasm, shares near $5.74 today sit roughly 96% below that peak. Whether Singh's team can turn the next generation of cells into paying customers is what will eventually close that gap, and this filing won't tell you that.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for QuantumScape Corporation (QS - Free Report) . Shares have added about 11.4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is QuantumScape due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for QuantumScape Corporation before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late.

QuantumScape Q2 Loss Narrower-Than-ExpectedQuantumScape reported second-quarter 2026 loss of 16 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 11.1%. The company had incurred a loss of 20 cents per share a year earlier.

QuantumScape did not report GAAP revenues. The quarter featured lower operating expenses, improving Eagle Line productivity and $10.8 million in customer billings. The company also expanded its automotive relationships and established business verticals targeting electric vehicles, AI data centers, aerospace and defense.

Operating Expenses DeclineGAAP net loss narrowed 14.4% year over year to $98.24 million from $114.70 million. Total operating expenses fell 14.1% to $106.13 million, supporting the improvement in the bottom line.

Research and development expenses declined 18.4% to $82.53 million. General and administrative expenses increased 5.3% to $23.59 million. Interest income was $8.36 million, down from $8.94 million in the prior-year quarter.

QS Builds Automotive PartnershipsThe company announced a multi-year partnership with Honda to advance its solid-state lithium-metal battery technology for automotive and other applications. The agreement followed an extensive evaluation of QuantumScape’s technology and adds another top-10 global automaker to its customer portfolio.

QS also updated its collaboration and licensing arrangement with Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo. The revised milestones focus on automotive cell development, larger-format cells and QuantumScape’s future technology roadmap. The company is working with four top-10 automakers and shipped cells to another automotive customer during the quarter.

Eagle Line Ramps Sample ProductionQuantumScape continued to ramp the Eagle Line, its automated pilot production line in San Jose. Core tools achieved uptime above 90%, while key productivity measures reached management’s targets. The company is increasing cell volumes and shipping samples to customers.

QS aims to double cell output further in the second half of 2026. Higher production is expected to accelerate customer shipments, shorten development cycles and provide a foundation for transferring manufacturing processes to future high-volume facilities. QS continues to work with Murata Manufacturing and Corning on scaling ceramic separator production through the Cobra process.

QuantumScape Targets New High-Value MarketsThe company created three business verticals. QSEV will focus on electric vehicles, QSDC will pursue AI data centers, and QSAS will address advanced applications such as aerospace and defense.

QSDC is working with original design manufacturers and data center architects on solutions based on the QSE-5 platform. QSAS shipped QSE-5 cells to a major U.S. defense contractor and is engaging other aerospace and defense customers. Management believes the technology’s energy density, power capability and safety profile can support these markets.

QS Advances Safety and Larger-Format CellsIncreased Eagle Line output enabled broader safety testing of QSE-5 cells. Testing included nail penetration, external short circuits and thermal stability at temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius. Management said the larger test set replicated findings from earlier prototypes.

The company also demonstrated that its Cobra process can produce larger ceramic separators. Larger-format cells can improve packaging efficiency and raise cell-level energy density, while giving QS greater flexibility to meet varying customer requirements.

Capital Spending Forecast ReducedAdjusted EBITDA loss was $64.19 million compared with a loss of $63.01 million a year earlier. QuantumScape maintained its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250-$275 million.

Capital expenditures totaled $4.62 million, down 46.2% from $8.59 million in the prior-year quarter. QS lowered its 2026 capex guidance to $27-$37 million from $40-$60 million, reflecting capital discipline and savings on specific projects.

Strong Liquidity PositionNet cash used in operating activities improved to $56.75 million from $61.84 million a year ago. Customer billings totaled $21.8 million during the first half of 2026, surpassing the $19.5 million recorded for all of 2025.

QuantumScape ended June with $859 million in liquidity, comprising $132.87 million in cash and cash equivalents and $726.13 million in marketable securities. The balance sheet provides funding as the company scales the Eagle Line, develops larger-format cells and pursues commercialization across its three business verticals. 

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?Since the earnings release, investors have witnessed a upward trend in estimates review.

VGM ScoresAt this time, QuantumScape has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a bit on the Momentum Score front with a C. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a score of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

OutlookEstimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision looks promising. Interestingly, QuantumScape has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry PlayerQuantumScape is part of the Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Over the past month, Autoliv, Inc. (ALV - Free Report) , a stock from the same industry, has gained 5.6%. The company reported its results for the quarter ended June 2026 more than a month ago.

Autoliv reported revenues of $2.8 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +3.3%. EPS of $2.43 for the same period compares with $2.21 a year ago.

Autoliv is expected to post earnings of $2.21 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -4.7%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -7%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Autoliv. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of A.

QuantumScape (QS +1.70%), a developer of solid-state batteries, went public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on Nov. 27, 2020. Before its market debut, it claimed it could commercialize its first batteries by 2024. It also claimed its revenue would surge from $14 million in 2024 to $275 million in 2026.

But as of this writing, QuantumScape has neither commercialized a single battery nor generated any meaningful revenue yet. That's why its stock, which opened at $24.80 on the first day, now trades at about $6. Can it finally achieve those goals this year and revive its ailing stock?

Image source: Getty Images.

Why did QuantumScape miss its original target? QuantumScape's solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of the liquid electrolytes used in conventional lithium-ion batteries. With higher charging capacities, shorter charging times, and better thermal resistance, they're well-suited for electric vehicles (EVs).

Its QSE-5 battery, which it's been co-developing with Volkswagen (OTC:VWAP.Y) for over a decade, has an energy density of 844 Wh/L (watt hours per liter) and can be charged from 10% to 80% in 12.2 minutes. Most lithium-ion batteries for EVs have a density of 300-700 Wh/L with an average charging time of 20 minutes to an hour.

Today's Change

(

1.70

%) $

0.11

Current Price

$

6.30

That sounds like a game changer for the EV market, but QuatnumScape's batteries are also more expensive and difficult to manufacture than their lithium-ion counterparts. A major technological hurdle is the mass production of its proprietary flexible ceramic separator, which prevents dendrites (microscopic lithium fibers) from short-circuiting the battery. In 2025, QuantumScape replaced its older Raptor separator process with its new Cobra separator process to boost its cell reliability, equipment productivity, and total yields. That move helped it ramp up its production of high-volume samples for automakers.

But it also abandoned its original goal of manufacturing its own batteries and licensed its technology to Volkswagen's PowerCo subsidiary and other automakers. So instead of operating capital-intensive manufacturing facilities, it aims to collect higher-margin royalties and licensing fees from its partners once it commercializes its first battery designs.

But when will that actually happen? In its second-quarter report on July 22, QuantumScape said its automotive batteries wouldn't achieve commercial readiness until 2029. Therefore, investors shouldn't put any faith in Wall Street's outdated expectations for the company to start generating revenue in 2027 and 2028.

QuantumScape already has a market cap of $3.8 billion, and it will incur hundreds of millions in net losses every year until it finally launches its first commercial designs. It will remain a volatile and speculative stock, and it could easily be cut in half (or more) in the next market crash.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 5th, 2026

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS – Free Report) by 134.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,735,035 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,290,942 shares during the quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 0.93% of QuantumScape worth $36,570,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of QuantumScape by 333.5% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,126,497 shares of the company’s stock worth $115,938,000 after purchasing an additional 8,559,554 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of QuantumScape in the 4th quarter valued at about $84,584,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 11.8% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 40,959,061 shares of the company’s stock worth $426,793,000 after buying an additional 4,323,829 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of QuantumScape by 456.5% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 4,759,334 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,799,000 after buying an additional 3,904,168 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc acquired a new stake in QuantumScape during the third quarter worth about $44,421,000. 29.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at QuantumScape In other news, Director Jeffrey B. Straubel sold 27,106 shares of QuantumScape stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.85, for a total value of $212,782.10. Following the sale, the director owned 131,298 shares in the company, valued at $1,030,689.30. This trade represents a 17.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CTO Timothy Holme sold 150,320 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.30, for a total transaction of $1,397,976.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer directly owned 1,712,506 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $15,926,305.80. This represents a 8.07% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 687,540 shares of company stock valued at $5,573,615 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 3.93% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of QuantumScape from $8.00 to $6.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, QuantumScape has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $9.47.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on QuantumScape

QuantumScape Stock Performance Shares of QS stock opened at $5.69 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 21.14, a quick ratio of 21.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. QuantumScape Corporation has a 12-month low of $4.77 and a 12-month high of $19.07. The business’s 50 day moving average is $6.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.40. The company has a market capitalization of $3.52 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.02 and a beta of 2.61.

QuantumScape (NYSE:QS – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 22nd. The company reported ($0.16) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.18) by $0.02. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.20) earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that QuantumScape Corporation will post -0.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

QuantumScape Profile (Free Report)

QuantumScape Corporation is a development-stage company specializing in the research and commercialization of next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles. The company’s core technology replaces the traditional liquid electrolyte with a solid ceramic separator, aiming to deliver higher energy density, faster charging times and enhanced safety compared to conventional lithium-ion cells. QuantumScape’s product roadmap focuses on enabling electric vehicle manufacturers to extend driving range and reduce charging downtime, addressing key barriers to widespread EV adoption.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Jose, California, QuantumScape has attracted significant strategic investment and formed partnerships with leading automotive OEMs.

Read More Five stocks we like better than QuantumScape System Upgrade: First Internet Bancorp Options Surge AI Security Breaches Raise New Risks for Microsoft and Amazon’s Agent Push The AI Chip Blockade Is Creating a Shadow Market Grab Holdings Stock Forms Bottom After Strong Beat-and-Raise Quarter Want to see what other hedge funds are holding QS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:QS – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for QuantumScape Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for QuantumScape and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

« PREVIOUS HEADLINEDimensional Fund Advisors LP Has $32.94 Million Stake in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. $MUFG

NEXT HEADLINE »BDF Gestion Invests $1.67 Million in Tenet Healthcare Corporation $THC

QuantumScape (QS +5.44%) is researching and developing solid-state battery technology.

Why did QuantumScape's Q2 earnings beat turn into a 13% rout? Read on to know if it's a buying opportunity or time to exit.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

QuantumScape (NYSE:QS | QS Price Prediction) shares are down 14% to $5.03 in Thursday morning trading, extending a rough stretch for the solid-state battery developer. The move follows the company’s Q2 2026 earnings release after the July 22 close.

The selling is spreading across the small solid-state battery cohort. Solid Power (NASDAQ:SLDP) stock is down 8% to $2.15, and SES AI (NYSE:SES) shares are down 10% to $0.53.

The broader tape isn’t helping. For QuantumScape and its peers SLDP and SES, the S&P 500 is down 1.5% and the NASDAQ 100 is down 2.4% on Thursday, a risk-off backdrop that tends to punish high-beta, speculative names the hardest.

Post-Earnings Reaction Drives QuantumScape Lower QuantumScape posted a Q2 2026 net loss of approximately $98 million, or $0.16 per share, narrower than the $0.1781 loss analysts expected. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250 million to $275 million while trimming capital-expenditure plans to $27 million to $37 million from a prior $40 million to $60 million range.

Beyond the numbers, QuantumScape broadened its focus beyond electric vehicles. Management highlighted a multi-year partnership with Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) for solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, updated milestones with Volkswagen‘s (OTC:VWAGY) PowerCo unit, and initial QSE-5 cell shipments to a major American defense prime alongside engagement with AI data center design partners.

QuantumScape’s operating expenses also improved, falling to $106 million from $124 million a year ago, with research and development at $83 million. Customer billings reached $10.8 million in the quarter, per the 8-K filing.

The reaction looks like a classic sell-the-news response. QuantumScape stock was down 44% year to date (YTD) heading into Thursday, and even a headline EPS beat paired with a marquee Honda deal wasn’t enough to lift a name where investors want to see actual revenue.

Solid Power and SES AI Slide in Sympathy Solid Power has no company-specific catalyst today. The Colorado developer, which counts SK On, Samsung SDI, and BMW as partners, last reported Q1 2026 results in May and is targeting year-end 2026 commissioning of its continuous sulfide electrolyte pilot line. Solid Power shares are down 48% YTD.

The same investor newsletter that told subscribers to buy Amazon in 2002, Netflix in 2004, and Nvidia in 2005 still publishes two new stock picks every month. Over 23 years, Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. New members get this month's picks, the Top 10 Rankings, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Click here to unlock their next top stocks while new members are still being accepted.

SES AI is trading like a pure sympathy name. The sub-$1 speculative stock has fallen 70% YTD, and with a market cap of around $200 million, SES stock tends to move sharply on any shift in sentiment across the solid-state cohort.

Balancing the Bull and Bear Cases on QuantumScape The bear case on QuantumScape stock is straightforward: no near-term revenue, ongoing cash burn, and real execution risk on scaling the Eagle Line pilot facility and Cobra separator process. Liquidity of $859 million gives the company runway, but commercialization timelines in this industry have a habit of slipping.

The bull case rests on the technology itself and its widening addressable market. If QuantumScape’s anode-free lithium-metal architecture can be manufactured at scale, the pull from EVs, AI data centers approaching a megawatt of power per compute rack, and defense customers seeking supply chain independence from Chinese graphite could be substantial.

What to Watch Next The immediate technical level to watch on QuantumScape stock is whether it can hold the $5 level after breaking below $6 on Thursday. Follow-through selling in Solid Power and SES AI shares could signal that the sympathy trade has more room to run.

Analyst notes reacting to the Honda partnership and the lowered capex outlook may shape the next leg. The current sell-side setup on QuantumScape stock is cautious, with seven holds, two sells, and a $7.16 consensus price target.

Solid-state batteries remain a promising long-term technology, but these are speculative, unprofitable names dependent on manufacturing and commercialization milestones that keep slipping. Investors should consider keeping their position sizes modest given the volatility on display in QS, SLDP, and SES shares.

If You'd Bought Amazon When the Motley Fool Said To…In September 2002, Stock Advisor told subscribers to buy Amazon. In December 2004, Netflix. In April 2005, Nvidia. The newsletter still publishes two new stock picks every month — and over 23 years, has more than quadrupled the S&P 500. Here's how to get this month's picks:

- Join Stock Advisor for one year, with a 30-day money-back guarantee

- Get this month's two new picks — plus the Top 10 Rankings and the full historical pick list

- Read the analysis, decide for yourself, and trade through your own brokerage

Five years from now, you'll probably wish you'd bought this month's picks. Don't miss them.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways QuantumScape added Honda while expanding PowerCo work on larger-format cells and its roadmap.First-half billings reached $21.8 million, topping full-year 2025 billings of $19.5 million.QS aims to double cell output in the second half as Eagle Line tool uptime exceeds 90%. QuantumScape Corporation (QS - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to shift investor attention away from a simple quarterly loss figure and toward commercialization milestones, customer expansion and new end markets. Management’s message was that the company is broadening the path to scale while keeping its core automotive plans intact.

That framing mattered because the quarter combined a narrower-than-expected loss with several strategic updates, including a Honda partnership, revised PowerCo milestones and a formal push into AI data centers and defense.

QS Lands a New Automotive PartnerPresident, CEO and director Siva Sivaram put the new Honda partnership at the top of the call. He described it as a multi-year agreement covering automotive and other applications in Honda’s portfolio, and he framed the deal as the result of a demanding technical evaluation.

Management also said it amended the ongoing collaboration and licensing arrangement with Volkswagen PowerCo, with the updated scope tied to automotive cell development, larger-format cells and the future technology roadmap.

Beyond Honda and PowerCo, Sivaram said QS is working with two other top-10 auto OEMs under joint development agreements and shipped cells to an additional automotive OEM during the quarter. That kept the automotive story centered on customer count, technical progress and paid relationships rather than near-term revenues.

QS Keeps the Financial Message NarrowChief financial officer Kevin Hettrich said second-quarter GAAP operating expenses were $106.1 million and GAAP net loss was $98.2 million, while adjusted EBITDA loss was $64.2 million. The company reported second-quarter loss of 16 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents.

Hettrich reiterated full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250 million to $275 million. He also lowered capital expenditure guidance to $27 million to $37 million from prior expectations, citing capital discipline and savings on specific projects.

Customer billings were another focus. Hettrich said second-quarter billings reached $10.8 million and first-half 2026 billings totaled $21.8 million, already above full-year 2025 billings of $19.5 million. He emphasized that billings can be lumpy, but management clearly wants investors tracking commercial traction through this metric.

QuantumScape Broadens the Addressable MarketQuantumScape also formalized three verticals: QSEV for electric vehicles, QSDC for AI data centers and QSAS for advanced solutions such as aerospace and defense. Sivaram said the same underlying technology stack can serve multiple markets, with different go-to-market models layered on top.

The AI data center pitch centered on rising rack power demands and the move toward 800-volt DC architectures. Management said QSDC is already working with original design manufacturers and data center architects on QSE-5-based solutions.

On the defense side, QSAS shipped QSE-5 cells to a major American defense prime. In Q&A, Sivaram added that advanced solutions also cover medical devices and consumer electronics, showing the company wants this unit to be a broader commercialization channel beyond autos.

QS Puts Eagle Line at the CenterThe Eagle Line remained the core operational proof point. Sivaram said the automated pilot line in San Jose is now showing core tool uptime above 90%, while key productivity metrics are meeting targets and sample shipments are ramping.

Management said it aims to double cell output again in the second half of 2026. That target matters because Eagle Line serves three functions at once: producing more customer samples, speeding process learning, and providing the manufacturing template for future scale-up and technology transfer.

In the analyst Q&A, Sivaram repeatedly tied future milestones, especially with PowerCo, back to Eagle Line execution. He said progress there is what determines how quickly QuantumScape can transfer its process to partners for larger-scale production.

QuantumScape Highlights Safety and RoadmapAnother notable management theme was safety. QuantumScape said broader testing on QSE-5 continued to support its argument that the cell design is safer than both conventional and next-generation lithium-ion approaches, with results spanning nail penetration, external short circuit, and thermal stability up to 300 degrees Celsius.

The company also pointed to progress on larger-area separators produced with its Cobra process. Management presented that as evidence that the technology can move beyond the current QSE-5 format toward higher-capacity cells with better packaging efficiency.

Analyst questions reinforced that these roadmap items now sit closer to the center of the PowerCo relationship. Sivaram said larger-format cells and advanced roadmap elements are part of the milestone set now guiding joint work.

QuantumScape Leaves Investors With a Broader PitchThe clearest takeaway from the call was that management wants QuantumScape judged on expanding commercialization options, not just on a single automotive timetable. Sivaram’s prepared remarks and Q&A answers consistently linked autos, AI infrastructure and defense to one common need: better batteries backed by a scalable production system.

At the same time, management did not back away from existing automotive goals. On Q&A, Sivaram said the 2029 production target tied to PowerCo remains unchanged, leaving the quarter’s message as one of addition rather than strategic replacement.

Zacks Signals Remain CautiousQS currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), along with a Value Score of F, Growth Score of B, Momentum Score of A and VGM Score of C. Under the Zacks framework, the rank is the primary signal, while Style Scores work best as a complement rather than a substitute.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

That combination points to mixed style characteristics, with stronger growth and momentum traits offset by weak value measures, but the rank keeps the overall signal cautious. The Zacks framework also notes that the rank can change as earnings estimate revisions adjust after results, so that assessment is not fixed.

1.98K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

MarketBeat Week in Review – 06/29 - 07/03QuantumScape NYSE: QS said it made progress in the second quarter of 2026 on automotive commercialization, new end-market expansion and pilot production of its solid-state lithium-metal battery cells, while reiterating its full-year adjusted EBITDA loss guidance.

On the company’s earnings call, Chief Executive Officer Siva Sivaram highlighted a newly announced multi-year partnership with Honda aimed at advancing QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal battery technology for automotive and other applications in Honda’s product portfolio. Sivaram said the agreement followed “one of the most rigorous assessments of our technology to date” and gives QuantumScape another pathway into high-value markets.

Get QuantumScape alerts:

Burger King’s Turnaround Is Putting Restaurant Brands Back in FocusThe company also updated its ongoing collaboration and licensing arrangement with Volkswagen’s PowerCo. Sivaram said the revised scope includes milestones and payments tied to automotive cell development, larger-format cells and QuantumScape’s future technology roadmap. He added that the relationship remains strong and that the overall goal is unchanged: industrializing QuantumScape’s technology and transferring it to PowerCo for automotive commercialization.

Automotive Partnerships Remain Central to Commercialization Sivaram said QuantumScape is working with four of the top 10 global automotive original equipment manufacturers, including Volkswagen and Honda. The company also shipped cells to an additional automotive OEM customer during the quarter and continues to strengthen relationships with automakers in North America, Europe and Japan.

Slice of the Pie: Why Yum’s Deal Lifts QSRAsked about the updated PowerCo agreement, Sivaram said QuantumScape has updated the Volkswagen PowerCo agreements annually as the relationship has progressed. “There is not anything philosophically different about the objectives of the joint program,” he said, adding that the milestones are now aligned with items such as larger-format cells and future technology work.

Chief Financial Officer Kevin Hettrich said the revised PowerCo scope reduced the total possible payments under the agreement from approximately $131 million to approximately $75 million, but also lowered expected project expenses. He said QuantumScape expects a “net neutral financial impact in terms of cash” compared with the 2025 scope of work. Hettrich also said the separate $130 million royalty prepayment from PowerCo is unchanged and is tied to technical milestones and alignment on form factor.

When asked whether Volkswagen PowerCo’s previously discussed 2029 start-of-production timeline remained the target, Sivaram said QuantumScape had not announced any change from its original plans.

Company Creates Three Business Verticals QuantumScape said it is organizing around three business verticals to address automotive and non-automotive markets:

QSEV, focused on electric vehicles and automotive OEMs, including Volkswagen and Honda. QSDC, focused on AI data centers and working with original design manufacturers and data center architects. QSAS, focused on advanced solutions, including aerospace and defense applications. Sivaram said the company sees interest in its technology beyond electric vehicles, including AI data centers, aerospace, defense, consumer electronics and medical devices. He said the core QuantumScape technology platform can serve these markets, though each may require a different go-to-market strategy.

For data centers, Sivaram said the market is moving quickly and that QuantumScape is working with data center architects and ODMs on designs based on QSE-5 technology. He said the transition to 800-volt DC designs and megawatt racks creates “natural deadlines,” with deployments expected toward the end of 2028, meaning QuantumScape needs to develop and deliver integrated products ahead of that timeframe.

In advanced solutions, Sivaram said QSAS has shipped QSE-5 cells to a major American defense prime and is engaged with global customers across aerospace and defense. He said the advanced solutions business will also explore opportunities such as medical devices and consumer electronics.

Eagle Line Ramps Cell Output QuantumScape said its Eagle Line, a highly automated pilot cell production line in San Jose, California, remains a key part of its commercialization strategy. Sivaram said the line is intended to increase sample volumes for customers, accelerate process development and serve as a proving ground for scaling production.

The company said core tools on the Eagle Line are showing uptime greater than 90%, while key productivity metrics are meeting targets. QuantumScape is ramping sample volumes and shipping cells to customers. Sivaram said the company aims to further double cell output in the second half of 2026 and expects customer sample shipments to accelerate across all three verticals.

In response to a question about shipments to the defense market, Sivaram said improved Eagle Line productivity enabled the company to ship QSE-5 cells to a U.S. defense prime. He said the higher volumes also help QuantumScape learn more quickly and support eventual technology transfer to higher-volume lines.

Safety and Larger-Format Cells Highlighted Sivaram said customers have consistently identified safety as a valuable aspect of QuantumScape’s technology, in addition to energy density and power capability. He contrasted the company’s ceramic separator with next-generation approaches involving silicon or lithium-metal anodes with liquid electrolytes, which he said can pose serious safety hazards.

QuantumScape said increased Eagle Line output is enabling larger-scale safety testing, including nail penetration, external short circuit and thermal stability testing up to 300 degrees Celsius. Sivaram said the results continue to show QSE-5 as “a significantly safer cell design” compared with conventional and next-generation lithium-ion cells.

The company also said it has demonstrated that its Cobra process can produce larger-area separators for higher-capacity cell designs. Sivaram said larger-format cells can improve packing efficiency and potentially increase cell-level energy density.

Financial Results and Outlook For the second quarter, QuantumScape reported GAAP operating expenses of $106.1 million and a GAAP net loss of $98.2 million. Adjusted EBITDA loss was $64.2 million, which Hettrich said was in line with expectations.

The company reiterated its full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250 million to $275 million. QuantumScape lowered its full-year capital expenditure guidance to a range of $27 million to $37 million, citing capital discipline and cost savings on specific projects. Second-quarter capital expenditures were $4.6 million, primarily related to technology roadmap investment and associated facility spending.

Hettrich said customer billings in the second quarter were $10.8 million, bringing total customer billings through the first half of 2026 to $21.8 million. That exceeded full-year 2025 customer billings of $19.5 million, meeting the company’s public goal for 2026. He noted that customer billings represent invoices issued to customers and partners regardless of accounting treatment and are not a substitute for revenue under U.S. GAAP.

QuantumScape ended the quarter with $859 million in liquidity. Hettrich said the company will remain prudent with its balance sheet as it invests in commercialization, new markets and technology development.

About QuantumScape (NYSE:QS)QuantumScape Corporation is a development-stage company specializing in the research and commercialization of next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles. The company's core technology replaces the traditional liquid electrolyte with a solid ceramic separator, aiming to deliver higher energy density, faster charging times and enhanced safety compared to conventional lithium-ion cells. QuantumScape's product roadmap focuses on enabling electric vehicle manufacturers to extend driving range and reduce charging downtime, addressing key barriers to widespread EV adoption.

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Jose, California, QuantumScape has attracted significant strategic investment and formed partnerships with leading automotive OEMs.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in QuantumScape Right Now?Before you consider QuantumScape, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and QuantumScape wasn't on the list.

While QuantumScape currently has a Reduce rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

Tesla, Nvidia, and Google helped shape the last era of market growth, but the next wave could come from a new group of companies. Inside this report, you’ll find 7 stocks that could play a major role in the next tech-driven market boom.

Get This Free Report

QS stock is moving. Watch the price action here. QuantumScape Q2 Details     QuantumScape reported quarterly losses of 16 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate for losses of 18 cents, according to Benzinga Pro data. 

Customer billings came in at $10.8 million for the quarter, representing the total value of invoices issued to customers and partners, regardless of accounting treatment; this metric may fluctuate quarter to quarter as engagement activity progresses.  

Capital expenditures totaled $4.6 million for the quarter, driven mainly by investments in the company’s technology roadmap and related facility spending.

For full-year 2026, capex guidance has been lowered to $27 million to $37 million, reflecting tighter capital discipline and cost savings on select projects.

QS Stock Price Activity: According to data from Benzinga Pro, QuantumScape stock fell 4.60% to $5.60 in Wednesday’s extended trading.  

Photo: Courtesy QuantumScape

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

QuantumScape stock NASDAQ:QS faces a potentially sharp earnings reaction on Wednesday as investors test whether the solid-state battery developer can turn technical progress into a credible manufacturing and commercialisation plan.

Options traders are pricing a move of roughly 12% to 15% in either direction after the second-quarter report, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding a company that still generates little conventional revenue.

QuantumScape ended Friday at $5.86 and will release results after the market closes on July 22, followed by a call at 5 pm ET.

Options-market data suggests QuantumScape shares could move roughly 12% to 15% in either direction after the earnings release, with the estimate shifting alongside the stock price and option premiums.

The difference reflects changing share prices and option premiums, rather than conflicting directional forecasts.

An implied move does not mean traders expect QuantumScape to rally.

Stronger manufacturing disclosures could lift the stock sharply, while delays, vague targets or rising spending could produce a similar decline.

The first-quarter reaction showed that sensitivity. Shares initially surged 23% after the April update before surrendering most gains and closing only 1.4% higher.

MarketWatch noted that heavy short interest and a large retail following may amplify price swings.

Evercore ISI analyst Chris McNally said that QuantumScape had not announced the “completion of any goals”, although it showed progress across several areas.

He had also highlighted a previous “dearth of new headlines”, increasing the importance of each quarterly update.

The central question is whether the Eagle Line pilot facility is becoming a reliable manufacturing operation.

QuantumScape said in April that installation had been completed and start-up activities had begun, with initial QSE-5 cells being produced.

Management planned to increase output during the second quarter while improving equipment uptime, throughput, process stability and cell reliability.

The line is the bridge between successful laboratory cells and batteries that can be reproduced consistently enough for automotive testing and eventual mass production.

Investors will therefore want measurable disclosures on cell output, yields, equipment availability, customer shipments and testing results.

Broad assurances may not be enough as QuantumScape’s valuation rests largely on future commercialisation, making operational milestones more useful than conventional earnings comparisons.

Customer validation offers the clearest bullish catalyst.

QuantumScape signed a multi-year research agreement with Honda R&D in June after the Japanese group completed a technical evaluation and benchmarking programme.

Updates showing that Honda, Volkswagen’s PowerCo or other carmakers are advancing towards broader testing or firmer commitments would strengthen confidence.

The company recorded $11 million of customer billings in the first quarter and ended March with $905 million of liquidity.

It maintained full-year guidance for an adjusted EBITDA loss of $250 million to $275 million and capital expenditure of $40 million to $60 million.

Any increase could revive concerns about how much funding commercialisation will require.

UBS analyst Joseph Spak wrote in comments reported by MarketWatch that QuantumScape’s “2026 goals seem more ambiguous than last year”, making completion difficult to judge.

He also questioned whether expansion into data centres and robotics could dilute management’s automotive focus.

Key Takeaways QS is set to report second-quarter 2026 results on July 22, after the closing bell.QuantumScape remains pre-revenue, with partner payments tied to technical milestones.QS reiterated a 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss outlook of $250-$275 million amid ongoing spending. QuantumScape Company (QS - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 22, after the closing bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s loss per share is pegged at 18 cents.

For the second quarter, the consensus estimate for QuantumScape’s loss has widened by a penny over the past 90 days. Its bottom-line estimates imply a growth of 10% from the year-ago reported numbers.

The company's earnings beat estimates in one of the trailing four quarters, matched twice and missed once, delivering an average surprise of 1.22%. This is depicted in the graph below:

Q1 HighlightsIn the first quarter of 2026, QuantumScape reported a loss of 16 cents per share, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 18 cents. It delivered an earnings surprise of 11.1%. The quarter also showed improving year-over-year performance, with loss per share narrowing from 21 cents in the year-ago period.

Things to NoteQuantumScape remains pre-revenue and does not provide GAAP revenue guidance, so near-term monetization can be volatile. The company’s customer billings metric is non-GAAP and can swing with activity. PowerCo’s project contributions are tied to technical milestones, and the company reported no such payments in the first quarter. This structure could lead to periods of limited recognized revenue despite ongoing activity, reducing financial clarity and increasing short-term earnings unpredictability.

The company reiterated full-year 2026 adjusted EBITDA loss guidance of $250-$275 million, indicating that meaningful profitability remains distant. In the first quarter of 2026, GAAP net loss was $100.8 million, reflecting continued spending to ramp the pilot line and advance product development. Even with customer billings, the accounting treatment and timing of partner payments may not align with the expense run-rate. Until higher-volume shipments and licensing economics begin to scale, losses are likely to persist.

Limited revenue visibility and expected EBITDA losses are likely to weigh on the company’s second-quarter results.

Earnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for QuantumScape for the quarter to be reported, as it does not have the right combination of the two key ingredients. A positive Earnings ESP, combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold), increases the odds of an earnings beat. This is not the case here.

Earnings ESP: QS has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate is pegged in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: It currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are a few players from the auto space that, per our model, have the correct ingredients to post an earnings beat this time.

Gentex Corporation (GNTX - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 24. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.67% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GNTX’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at 50 cents per share and $669 million.

Cummins Inc. (CMI - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on August 4. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.43% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMI’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at $7.34 per share and $9.33 billion.

BorgWarner Inc. (BWA - Free Report) is slated to release second-quarter 2026 results on August 5. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.62% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BWA’s to-be-reported quarter’s earnings and revenues is pegged at $1.26 per share and $3.58 billion.

QuantumScape Corp (NASDAQ:QS) shares are trading higher by almost 6% on Thursday as risk appetite stays firm and traders lean into higher-beta names.

QuantumScape shares are powering higher. Why is QS stock up today? Critical Price Levels To Watch For QSEven with Thursday’s bounce, QS is still trading below its key moving averages: about 2.9% below the 20-day SMA ($7.22), 9.2% below the 50-day SMA ($7.71), and 29.4% below the 200-day SMA ($9.93). That keeps the bigger-picture trend pressured, especially after the death cross in February (50-day SMA below the 200-day SMA).

Momentum is best framed through RSI, which sits at 45.01—neutral territory that suggests the stock isn’t stretched, but also isn’t showing strong upside momentum yet. In practice, that often lines up with choppy rebounds that need follow-through above nearby resistance to turn into a trend.

Key Resistance: $7.50 — a nearby round-number area that also sits close to the 50-day EMA ($7.52), where rebounds can stall Key Support: $6.50 — a nearby floor that’s been close enough to matter as a recent "buyers step in" zone, above the $5.90 52-week low Honda Partnership Expands QuantumScape’s OpportunityIn late June, QuantumScape and Honda announced a joint research program focused on solid-state battery development and related manufacturing processes, giving QS a broader platform technology narrative beyond passenger EV battery packs.

Honda could eventually use QuantumScape’s technology across motorcycles, scooters, industrial equipment, backup power, marine engines and stationary storage, where fast charging, higher energy density and safety could matter.

Meanwhile, higher-margin deployments could help Honda and QuantumScape test manufacturing, integration and safety before scaling into mass-market EVs.

QuantumScape Earnings Preview for July 2026The countdown is on: QuantumScape is set to report earnings on July 22, 2026 (confirmed).

EPS Estimate: Loss of 18 cents (Up from a loss of 20 cents YoY) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $8.93. Recent analyst moves include:

Evercore ISI Group: In-Line (Lowers Target to $10.00) (Feb. 23) HSBC: Upgraded to Hold (Lowers Target to $8.30) (Feb. 19) Morgan Stanley: Equal-Weight (Lowers Target to $8.50) (Feb. 18) QS Stock Price Movement on ThursdayQS Stock Price Activity: QuantumScape shares were up 6.03% at $7.03 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image: Courtesy of QuantumScape

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

About Us Who We Are About Bernie Schaeffer Our Newsroom FAQ Contact Us Corrections Ethics & Fact Checks Policy Market News Trade Alerts Options 101 Deals Deal of the Week Broker Center Free Trial Log-In Search

Our Top Stock Picks of 2026 had a strong second quarter

Managing Editor

Jul 7, 2026 at 1:05 PM

More than half of our Top Stock Picks for the year are in the black halfway through 2026

Subscribers to our Substack, The Contrarian Edge, received this commentary on Sunday, July 5 .

Yesterday, nervous ahead of the U.S.-Bosnia Round of 32 game, I passed the time by performing by auditing the last quarter and checking my 2026 goals. What initially felt like an insurmountable task turned into a 20-minute exercise that provided clarity on the months ahead.

What’s the point of goals and resolutions if you don’t check up on them? Now past the halfway point of the year, its time for our Top Stock 2026 progress report. Quarterly gains for the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were reflected by four picks pivoting from the red in Q1 to the green in Q2. Only two names went the other direction, while 11 names overall gained ground from Q1 to Q2.

The report has a history of timing some trends that ultimately define the broad market risk appetite. Betting on 3D printing and AI infrastructure as winners in 2026 has been astute, so far. The space boom with Rocket Lab (RKLB) last year emblemized the growth stock revival of 2025. In recent years, Semiconductor and software names like Taiwan Semiconductor and MongoDB (MDB) have burst onto the scene, shaking up market breadth.

But they’re not all crystal ball, shot-calling dart throws; stabler names like CF Industries (CF), Cintas (CTAS), or Waste Management (WM), to name a few, exemplify the importance of hedges against growth plays.

This simple report offers a snapshot of how to navigate the ins and outs of the stock market. Quarterly check-ins help take the temperature of risk within actionable timeframes.

Overall, halfway through the year, nine of the 15 stocks are in the black, and the equal-weighted return of the entire report sits at 21%. In Q1, it was -0.2%.

Velo3D Inc (NASDAQ:VELO)

One of my favorite banter rebuttals is ‘I’m never wrong, just early.’ VELO is the poster child for that. My exact words, back on April 2, were ‘watch this space for a melt-up.’ The 3D-printing stock bounced off a stable floor at $10, an area – we called as a floor -- that roughly coincides with its 100-day moving average. Then, a 49.4% post-earnings explosion from May 13 reset expectations, with the Velo trading as high as $31.75 on June 11.

The shares have since come back down to earth from there, finishing June with a 27% drawdown. So far though, the 80-day trendline is stepping up, an ‘overbought’ condition is getting worked off, and 25% of the stock’s total available float is sold short. Time to double down and call that VELO is coiling up for its next unwind higher.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP)

The gene-editing staple has added 7% in the first two days of July and is currently trading at its highest level since March 4. Keep an eye on the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) creeping up to 75, but with nearly 30% of its total available float sold short, CRSP is one post-earnings pop away from entering another stratosphere.

IonQ Inc (NYSE:IONQ)

IonQ made up for lost time, adding over 113% in April and May, thanks in large part to the Trump administration backing quantum computing. What’s crazy about that two-month run is sandwiched between it is a 9.3% post-earnings selloff on May 7. Watch for round-number $50 during this inevitable rotation.

Quick Thoughts on the Other Big Winners

DigitalOcean (DOCN) and Nebius Group NV (NBIS) are doing most if not all of the heavy lifting. Both stocks are off their June peaks, testing key support, and are heavily shorted.

Facing the Music with the Laggards

QuantumScape Corp (NASDAQ:QS) has never really gotten off the bus this year. Seven-straight weekly wins from April through May was then followed by a 15.8% loss in June. A top-line beat from the lithium battery producer only resulted in a muted 1.2% post-earnings move, and the trendline from November highs to the 2026 peak in June is firmly intact. Per the chart below, maybe a floor at $7 steps up, and there’s still massive short squeeze potential.

Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) is what happens when you tie yourself to a commodity. Gold was the darling of Q1 but has completely shut down since, and stocks like AEM paid the price.

Cue the Bon Jovi. We’re halfway there, and there’s only one question to ask: do you believe this is a top, or not? If you do, then the AI trade has had its 15 minutes of fame, and all of these high-beta growth names are going to come crashing down. If that’s the case, the likes of AEM, consumer cyclical Colgate-Palmolive (CL), and Dollar Tree (DLTR) will be there to pick up the slack.

But if you view the recent volatility as a natural shaking out of weaker hands and profit taking, then there are plenty of contrarian plays with potential still to unwind.

What’s Next For These Picks? Blurred Text Example Fuck Elon Musk.

Click Here to view the rest on Schaeffer’s Substack!

The SEC Moves to End the $25,000 Day Trading Barrier

For years, this rule kept most traders on the sidelines. Now, the door is opening to a whole new wave of active traders.

Dynamite Day Trading Signals helps you hit the ground running with up 2 options trade alerts per week, built to capture fast-moving opportunities. 

+293% in the last 3 months*

👉 Sign up now to receive the next trade

QuantumScape (QS 0.40%), a developer of solid-state batteries, went public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on Nov. 27, 2020. Its stock started trading at $24.80 and skyrocketed to an all-time high of $131.67 on Dec. 22, 2020.

Unfortunately, QuantumScape missed its goal of commercializing its first batteries by 2024, didn't generate any meaningful revenue, and racked up steep losses. That's why its stock now trades at about $7. But could it eventually bounce back as the EV market expands and evolves?

Image source: Getty Images.

What's QuantumScape's long-term plan? QuantumScape's solid-state batteries run on solid electrolytes rather than the liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries. That difference gives them greater stability, better thermal resistance, higher charging capacities, and shorter charging times.

QuantumScape has been co-developing its batteries with Volkswagen (OTC:VWAP.Y) over the past decade. Its latest QSE-5 battery has a cell-level density of 844 Wh/L (watt hours per liter) and can be rapidly charged from 10% to 80% in under 15 minutes.

By comparison, Tesla's (TSLA +2.23%) in-house lithium-ion batteries have a cell-level density of about 650 Wh/L and require 30-45 minutes for a full charge. In theory, QuantumScape's solid-state batteries could represent a major leap forward for the EV market. In reality, solid-state batteries are pricier and more difficult to manufacture than lithium-ion batteries.

Today's Change

(

-0.40

%) $

-0.03

Current Price

$

7.56

That's why QuantumScape abandoned its original plan of manufacturing its own batteries in 2024 and agreed to license its technology to Volkswagen's PowerCo subsidiary and other automakers instead. Those higher-margin licensing fees and royalties could eventually help it break even, but it doesn't expect to commercialize its first designs (in low volumes) until 2027.

For now, QuantumScape is manufacturing higher-volume, near-production "B-sample" cells at its Eagle Line using its new Cobra separator process. If these samples are well-received, they could support the expansion of its commercial licensing business. It won't generate any revenue until that happens, but it expects its current cash runway to last through 2029.

Is it the right time to buy QuantumScape? If QuantumScape successfully launches its first commercial designs, analysts expect its revenue to rise from zero in 2026 to $99 million in 2028. Its stock might seem expensive at 47 times its 2028 sales, but the solid-state battery market could expand at a 47.6% CAGR from 2026 to 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights. If QuantumScape maintains its early mover's advantage in that nascent market, its sales and profits could skyrocket. Therefore, this speculative stock might be worth nibbling on today before it attracts a lot more attention.

Quantumscape Corp (NYSE:QS) shares surged about 15% on Thursday after the solid-state battery developer announced a joint research agreement with Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) subsidiary Honda R&D Co Ltd to advance its battery technology platform.

The multi-year collaboration will focus on solid-state battery development and related manufacturing processes, combining the expertise of both companies.

The agreement follows Honda's completion of a technology evaluation program with QuantumScape that included an in-depth assessment of the company's solid-state battery platform and benchmarking against competing technologies through a series of standard technical tests.

"QS technology demonstrated compelling and unique advantages during our evaluation," Atsushi Ogawa, chief operating officer of Honda R&D's Research Center of Excellence, said in a statement.

He added that the company sees potential for the technology across multiple applications, including automotive uses.

QuantumScape CEO Siva Sivaram said Honda's assessment represented "one of the most rigorous evaluations of our technology to date."

“This agreement reflects the growing confidence in QS solid-state lithium-metal batteries to enable safer, higher-density energy storage,” Sivaram said.

The company develops solid-state lithium-metal batteries, which are viewed as a potential alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries due to their potential for higher energy density and improved safety characteristics.

The joint research agreement includes a multi-year plan focused on solid-state battery development and associated manufacturing processes. The deal follows Honda’s successful completion of a technology evaluation agreement with QuantumScape, which included an in-depth, hands-on technical study of the company’s solid-state technology platform as well as competitive benchmarking across a range of standard technical tests.

“QS technology demonstrated compelling and unique advantages during our evaluation,” said Atsushi Ogawa, COO of Honda R&D’s Research Center of Excellence. “We see potential for QS technology to add value across a range of applications, including automotive, and we are excited to move forward into the next phase of our partnership.”

QuantumScope Shares SurgeQS Price Action: At the time of publication, QuantumScope shares are trading 6.81% higher at $7.37, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Image via Shutterstock.com

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Solid-state battery maker QuantumScape (QS +16.52%) has been moving closer to commercializing its technology, and it received a major boost of confidence from a global automaker today.

News that the research and development (R&D) arm of Honda Motor (HMC +0.27%) is working with QuantumScape to advance its battery platform for electric vehicles (EVs) and other applications sent QuantumScape stock soaring today. As of 11:21, shares were up 12.9% after paring some of an earlier 16% gain.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Massive market opportunity QuantumScape's technology could revolutionize EV batteries. It's not the only company working on solid-state batteries, though, so a partnership with Honda is meaningful for investors hoping to choose a winner in the race to commercialization. That has people buying the stock today.

Honda R&D COO praised QuantumScape, stating, "We see potential for QS technology to add value across a range of applications, including automotive, and we are excited to move forward into the next phase of our partnership."

Today's Change

(

16.52

%) $

1.14

Current Price

$

8.04

That's quite a vote of confidence from a major auto company, and gives investors insight into just how big the market could be for QuantumScape and others developing solid-state batteries. Electric cars, motorcycles, power tools, and generators are all Honda products that could utilize the batteries.

Investors see the potential and are betting on QuantumScape stock today. Those who do should know that it's still speculative, so allocate accordingly, as the risk remains high.

Howard Smith has positions in QuantumScape. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

QuantumScape QS shares are ripping higher on June 18th as investors react to a major new OEM partnership.

The solid-state battery pioneer announced a multi-year joint research agreement with Honda R&D to co-develop next-gen lithium-metal battery platform architectures and manufacturing processes.

And while QuantumScape stock is already up some 15% following the announcement, a solid case can be made that longer-term implications of this agreement are far more bullish than the market realizes.

The Honda partnership is particularly bullish for QS shares because it isn’t just an “exploratory” memorandum of understanding (MoU).

In fact, the joint research deal actually follows the successful completion of a formal technology evaluation agreement; the Japanese conglomerate conducted hands-on technical studies and competitive benchmarking.

For an OEM like Honda to explicitly say the technology demonstrated “compelling and unique advantages” means QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal platform passed a highly restrictive gauntlet.

Honda’s validation shifts QS from the realm of “speculative” lab tech into a commercially vetted asset.

Passing a legacy titan’s strict benchmarking proves that the firm’s proprietary ceramic separator can handle real-world stress, effectively de-risking the tech in the eyes of the broader automotive industry.

Until recently, the major bear case against QuantumScape shares was its heavy reliance on the Volkswagen (via PowerCo).

By bringing Honda officially into a multi-year development and manufacturing process plan, QS proves it can capture multiple global OEMs; it transforms the company from a VW-captive project into a true independent industry standard-bearer.

A subtle but vital note in the press release came from Atsushi Ogawa (COO of Honda R&D), who said there’s potential “across a range of applications, including automotive.”

Honda is a powerhouse in motorcycles, aviation (HondaJet), and power equipment, and solid-state benefits – higher energy density, lower weight, and rapid charging – are arguably more valuable in aviation and small-scale mobility than standard passenger vehicles.

This dramatically widens QuantumScape’s total addressable market and positions the company as a cross‑sector electrification supplier rather than a single‑OEM battery bet.

Ultimately, the Honda agreement represents a fundamental pivot point for QS stock, lifting it out of its single-customer silo and validating its tech on a global stage.

The market is currently treating this as a fleeting, headline-driven momentum, but the structural implications run far deeper.

By proving its proprietary tech can meet the stringent demands of multiple top-tier OEMs – and unlocking massive potential addressable markets in aviation and micro-mobility – QuantumScape is effectively rewriting its long-term bull case.

For investors looking past the immediate double-digit rally, this partnership sets a resilient new floor for the company’s valuation as next-gen electrification edges closer to commercial reality.

Today's Change

(

16.52

%) $

1.14

Current Price

$

8.04

QuantumScape (QS +16.52%), a solid-state battery developer for EVs, closed at $8.04, up 16.52%. Shares rose after the announcement of a new joint research agreement with Honda (HMC +0.27%) focused on development and manufacturing processes. Investors are also watching for the late-July earnings window and the company’s commercialization strategy.
Trading volume reached 79.0M shares, coming in about 271% above its three-month average of 21.3M shares. QuantumScape IPO'd in 2020 and has fallen 19% since going public.

How the markets moved todayThe S&P 500 (^GSPC +1.08%) closed at 7,501, up 1.08%, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +1.91%) closed at 26,518, up 1.91%. Among advanced battery technology peers, Solid Power (SLDP +6.30%) closed at $2.87, up 6.30%, while lithium producer Albemarle (ALB 3.73%) closed at $160.35, down 3.73%.

What this means for investorsQuantumScape will be teaming up with Honda on a new joint research program for its solid-state battery technology. As QuantumScape advances toward validation of the technology and manufacturing capability at scale, investors are gaining optimism about the total addressable market.

Honda isn’t just an automaker; as a partner, it could be a solid-state battery customer for its power equipment as well as for electric cars and motorcycles.

QuantumScape also has a partnership with Volkswagen (VWAGY 0.90%). Earlier this year, QuantumScape debuted a Ducati motorcycle featuring its battery technology. Ducati is part of Volkswagen’s Audi division.

Investors were scooping up QuantumScape shares today, seeing more opportunity beyond EVs once it fully commercializes its solid-state batteries.

Howard Smith has positions in QuantumScape. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.