Former CRO, Pouya Dianat, assumes newly created Chief Product Officer role, strengthening product leadership while accelerating commercial growth , /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing Inc. ("QCi" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: QUBT), a vertically integrated quantum company pioneering photonics and semiconductor manufacturing, today announced the appointment of Susan Hunt as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and that Pouya Dianat, who has served as the Company's CRO, will transition into the newly created role of Chief Product Officer (CPO). The leadership changes reflect QCi's continued focus on accelerating commercial growth while strengthening product strategy and execution as the Company scales.
Joining QCi as CRO, Susan Hunt is an accomplished technology executive with more than 30 years of experience driving revenue growth and commercializing disruptive technologies across enterprise software, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, telecommunications and emerging technology markets. Hunt has consistently united cross-functional teams, developed scalable revenue organizations and successfully brought breakthrough technologies to market, driving sustained commercial growth.
Throughout her career, Hunt has held executive leadership positions at Orbital Insight, Nuance Communications, LivePerson, Salesforce and Sprint PCS, where she built and led high-performing global sales organizations, negotiated more than $2 billion in enterprise agreements and helped scale category-defining companies through rapid growth and market expansion. She is widely recognized for bringing breakthrough technologies to market and building enterprise sales organizations that consistently deliver sustainable revenue growth.
The creation of the Chief Product Officer (CPO) role marks an important step in QCi's evolution. As CPO, Dianat will lead the Company's product vision, strategy and management, ensuring QCi's technologies are translated into differentiated solutions that address the evolving needs of commercial and government customers. Bringing a unique combination of market insight, customer understanding, and deep knowledge of QCi's technical portfolio, Dianat is well-positioned to drive the Company's product roadmap and accelerate innovation aligned with customer demand.
"This is a thoughtful and strategic evolution of our leadership team as QCi enters its next phase of growth," said Yuping Huang, CEO of QCi. "Our technology and products are ready for broader deployment, delivering meaningful value to customers through practical applications in real-world environments. We are excited to welcome Susan to lead our revenue organization and accelerate commercial growth, while Pouya brings his deep understanding of our technology, customers and markets to the Chief Product Officer role. Together, they will strengthen our ability to execute our strategy and create long-term value for our customers and shareholders."
As Chief Revenue Officer, Hunt will lead QCi's global revenue strategy, sales organization, business development, strategic partnerships, customer success initiatives and go-to-market execution as the Company continues expanding its commercial presence.
"As organizations increasingly look to harness the power of quantum technology to solve complex business challenges, QCi is uniquely positioned to deliver practical, differentiated solutions," said Susan Hunt, CRO. "Throughout my career, I have been passionate about bringing bleeding-edge technologies to market and building world-class enterprise sales organizations. I look forward to partnering with the exceptional team at QCi to accelerate commercialization, deepen customer relationships and drive the Company's next phase of growth."
As Chief Product Officer, Dianat will oversee product strategy, management and commercialization, working closely with technology, engineering and marketing teams to ensure QCi's innovations are developed into market-leading solutions that solve meaningful customer challenges.
"I'm excited to take on this new role at an important point in QCi's growth," said Pouya Dianat, CPO. "Our opportunity is to transform innovative quantum technologies into products that solve real business problems. I look forward to leading our product strategy and working across the organization to bring solutions to market that help executives address complex operational challenges while unlocking the full potential of our technology."
These leadership appointments underscore QCi's commitment to aligning its executive team to support the Company's next phase of growth. By strengthening leadership across both product innovation and commercial execution, QCi is well-positioned to accelerate customer adoption, expand revenue opportunities and deliver long-term value to customers, partners and shareholders.
About Quantum Computing Inc.
Quantum Computing Inc. (Nasdaq: QUBT) is a vertically integrated quantum company pioneering photonics and semiconductor manufacturing, and delivering accessible, scalable, and cost-effective quantum machines, photonics products, and advanced packaging. The Company provides foundry services for photonic chips and semiconductor manufacturing, and offers a vertically integrated portfolio spanning photonics and electronic components, subsystems, and full-stack systems.
Designed to operate at room-temperature with low-power requirements, QCi's technologies enable practical deployment across high-growth markets, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, and advanced sensing and imaging.
Headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, QCi also has operations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia. By combining advanced materials, device engineering, and scalable manufacturing, QCi delivers integrated quantum, photonics, and semiconductor technologies, accelerating commercialization and real-world adoption.
Company Contact:
John Nesbett/Zach Nevas
IMS Investor Relations
[email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements and forecasts, generally identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "enhance," "intends," "goal," "objective," "seek," "attempt," "aim to," or variations of these or similar words, involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief, or current expectations of QCi and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including the acceleration of commercialization, increasing revenue, acceleration of product development and bringing quantum solutions to market, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by federal securities law, QCi undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward- looking statements to reflect changed conditions.
Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The investigation concerns potential self-dealing. Shareholders may be entitled to damages and corporate governance reforms.
If you are a long-term QUBT stockholder please contact Sophia Anne Silayan by email at [email protected] or call (833) 672-0814. The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.
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NEW YORK, July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The investigation concerns potential self-dealing. Shareholders may be entitled to damages and corporate governance reforms.
If you are a long-term QUBT stockholder please contact Justin Kuehn, Esq. by email at [email protected] or call (833) 672-0814. The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you. Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights.
Why Your Participation Matters:
As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future.™
Key Takeaways QUBT enters Q2 with a $16 million backlog and focus on contract execution and new opportunities. QUBT advanced Dirac to internal testing and expects Fab 1 to expand foundry sales through prototype chips. QUBT targets Fab 2 progress as the foundation for large-scale commercial quantum hardware manufacturing. Following the strategic acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt, Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi entered the second quarter of 2026 with a focus on transitioning from a technology developer into a commercial quantum manufacturing company.
The company ended the first quarter with contract backlog of approximately $16 million and a strong cash position. In the second quarter, the company is expected to have focused on executing existing contracts while pursuing additional opportunities in both the commercial and government sectors.
QCi also expects meaningful progress on its next-generation Dirac optimization machine during the second quarter. Per latest update, the system has entered the internal testing phase, with engineers achieving encouraging technical results on a regular basis. This represents one of the most significant near-term product milestones.
The company's Fab 1 thin-film lithium niobate foundry in Arizona is expected to have continued ramping up its small-batch manufacturing capabilities throughout the second quarter. It expects the facility to have generated improved foundry revenues through prototype chip fabrication while refining manufacturing processes and improving production recipes. A key strategic objective for the second quarter was the advancements of Fab 2, the company's proposed large-scale manufacturing facility. Fab 2 is viewed as the foundation of QCi's long-term strategy to manufacture quantum hardware at commercial scale.
Peer UpdateRigetti (RGTI - Free Report) remains on track to deliver a 150-plus-qubit system with approximately 99.7% median two-qubit fidelity by the end of 2026, with its chiplet architecture serving as the foundation of its scaling strategy. Regitti’s technological roadmap is supported by its existing Fab 1 facility, which is believed to be sufficient to reach the quantum advantage milestone without near-term expansion. This reduces execution risk and underscores a capital-efficient, organically driven scaling strategy.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS - Free Report) announced its forthcoming gate-model quantum computing simulator, which is expected to be the first of its kind designed for error-aware programming. QBTS continues to advance its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service.
QUBT’s Share Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 21.6% compared with the industry’s 4.6% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 65.33X compared with the industry’s median of 4.72X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT Stock Estimate TrendOver the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at 14 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways QUBT is highlighted as the top quantum stock after the sector's recent valuation-driven correction. Quantum Computing posted Q1 2026 revenues of $3.7M versus $0.1M a year ago on acquisitions and demand. QUBT could benefit from chip foundry growth, contract wins and stronger 2026 revenue expectations. Cooling inflation has eased some pressure on financial markets over the past month, but it has done little to revive investor appetite for speculative growth stocks.
U.S. consumer inflation slowed to 3.5% in June from 4.2% in May, while core inflation held at 2.6%, suggesting underlying price pressures are moderating (data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 14, 2026). However, the Federal Reserve continues to maintain a cautious stance, keeping the federal funds rate at 3.50%-3.75% and reiterating that future policy decisions will remain data dependent as inflation still exceeds its 2% target (June 2026 release by the Fed). Meanwhile, a resilient labor market, healthy wage growth and lingering geopolitical risks have affirmed expectations that interest rates could stay elevated for longer.
Against this backdrop, investors have rotated away from high-beta technology stocks, triggering a sharp correction across the pure-play quantum computing space. Over the past 30 days, IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) has plunged 35.7%, followed by Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) , down 29%, and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) , down 27.8%, significantly underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 4.5% decline.
30-Day Quantum Computing Stock Performances
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
While the sector remains volatile, the recent correction appears to have created a more attractive entry point, particularly for another pureplay, Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi, whose improving commercial momentum positions it well for a potential sentiment-driven rebound.
Why the Recent Sell-Off May Be a Buying OpportunityWhile higher interest rates have compressed valuations across emerging technology companies, the quantum computing industry's long-term outlook continues to strengthen. The Trump administration's June executive orders on quantum innovation are aimed at accelerating commercialization through an updated National Quantum Strategy, expanded quantum networking infrastructure, the Department of Energy's Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) initiative and faster adoption of post-quantum cybersecurity. Coupled with increasing enterprise adoption and steady technological progress, these initiatives provide solid long-term support for the sector despite near-term macroeconomic challenges.
Valuation Reset Improves the Risk-Reward ProfileExiting the quantum computing space entirely may not be the most prudent investment decision. Although these companies remain highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and investor risk appetite, the recent valuation reset has created more attractive entry points. With this valuation reset, a single quarter of stronger-than-expected commercial execution or earnings could rapidly improve investor sentiment across the sector.
Our PickQUBT: QCi appears well-positioned for a rebound, backed by improving fundamentals and a stronger earnings outlook. The company delivered first-quarter 2026 revenues of $3.7 million, compared with $0.1 million in the year-ago quarter, driven by contributions from its recently acquired businesses and growing demand for its integrated photonics portfolio.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The upcoming second-quarter report is expected to show further evidence of revenue acceleration, improving operating leverage and updates on customer engagements for its quantum photonic chips, LiDAR and quantum cybersecurity solutions. Beyond Q2, continued integration of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt, higher utilization of its Arizona chip foundry, expanding government and commercial contracts, and improving revenue visibility through the remainder of 2026 could support further estimate revisions and multiple expansion.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Reflecting this improving outlook, QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $21.7 million compared with the year-ago reported revenues of $ 0.7 million. Based on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target of $18.33 for QCi represents an increase of 120.3% from the last closing price. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Despite its status as the largest pure-play quantum computing firm by market capitalization, IonQ Inc. NYSE: IONQ has proven not to be the most stable bet in recent weeks. Shares have fallen about 35% in the last month, and despite a strong Q1 2026 in many respects, the firm's losses per share are widening. Add to that a sky-high price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 113.3, and it's clear that, in spite of its wins, IonQ could be ripe for disruption.
While investors may be tempted by other flashy names like D-Wave Quantum Inc. NYSE: QBTS and Rigetti Computing NASDAQ: RGTI—both of which have strengths but also challenges—there is another group of often-overlooked challengers that may warrant closer examination. At the top of this list are Quantinuum NASDAQ: QNT and Quantum Computing Inc. NASDAQ: QUBT.
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Quantinuum: Brand New and Highly SpeculativeTwo months after its IPO, shares of Quantinuum are up about 18%. The company attracted attention from insiders in the quantum computing space long before it went public, however—NVIDIA's NASDAQ: NVDA major investment last September infused hundreds of millions of dollars, helping to bring the firm's valuation up to $10 billion.
Quantinuum Today
$60.46 -6.17 (-9.26%)
As of 12:21 PM Eastern
52-Week Range$50.10▼
$86.79Price Target$98.75
As a very new quantum company in the public eye, Quantinuum faces a crowded field of competitors that are generally more established. But the firm's momentum, including a recently announced partnership with Rolls-Royce OTCMKTS: RYCEY, the University of Edinburgh, and others, may be accelerating.
Add to that the fact that Quantinuum has demonstrated success with its hardware in terms of fidelity and qubit ratio, and that, thanks in part to NVIDIA's support, the company has several years' worth of cash runway, and Quantinuum becomes a competitor to watch.
Of course, there is still a long way to go toward commercial adoption of the products Quantinuum is developing, which means there are plenty of potential hiccups along the way. Its revenue remains minuscule at under $31 million across all of 2025, despite a market capitalization approaching $18 billion. This places its price-to-sales ratio at an eye-popping 1,01. Even with all of its cash on hand, the company is quickly burning through capital to fund its ambitious R&D programs, putting it at even greater risk of catastrophe.
In a quantum landscape notable for its highly speculative plays, Quantinuum is one of the riskiest ventures at this early stage. Conversely, it may have tremendous potential for those investors willing to take the risk. Wall Street analysts certainly seem to think so, based on 12 Buy ratings and just two Holds, as well as a consensus price target of nearly $99, about 48% above where QNT currently trades.
Quantum Computing: Buying Spree Could Turbocharge Production, But Risks Are HighLarger rival D-Wave has made headlines for its major acquisitions, including a $550-million purchase of Quantum Circuits earlier in 2026, but Quantum Computing has been on a buying spree of its own. The firm completed acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt, both photonics or quantum optics companies, in the first quarter of the year. It more recently announced the completed purchase of NHanced Semiconductors, which it called a key step toward "scalable commercial production."
Quantum Computing Today
QUBT
Quantum Computing
$7.96 -0.36 (-4.27%)
As of 12:39 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$6.18▼
$25.84Price Target$18.33
The firm is able to do this thanks to its strong cash position and backlog, as it ended Q1 2026 with almost $1 billion in cash and investments and a growing backlog of $16 million. Quantum Computing seems to be on the precipice of shifting from a research-focused firm to one attempting to scale its production, and it is buying up smaller firms to fast-track this process.
This may be a positive sign for Quantum Computing, but the proof will be in whether the company can right its operating expenses and generate non-investment income. In Q1, operating expenses climbed by 123% year over year to almost $20 million, leading to a net loss of $4.1 million. All of the added headcount and other M&A-related expenses contributed to compressed margins and anticipated cash burn.
The bigger issue may be that Quantum Computing has yet to fully articulate its commercialization thesis based on its revenue performance. With under $4 million in revenue from core operations last quarter, the firm is still relying on its investments to generate the bulk of its top line. Thus, like QNT above, QUBT shares are highly speculative at this stage. Analysts tend to be a bit more cautious about this firm, assigning it four Buy ratings, two Holds, and one Sell rating. Shares have shed 19% of their value so far this year but have about 120% in analyst-predicted upside potential.
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Quantum computing stocks are the sharpest casualties in Monday morning trading, with the group selling off in unison even though there is no company-specific news driving the move. IonQ (NYSE:IONQ | IONQ Price Prediction) stock is leading the decline, down 8% to $39.52 and extending a rough stretch that has already carried the shares 31% lower over the past month.
The rest of the pure-play basket is moving in lockstep. D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) shares are down 6% to $18.85, Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) stock is off 6% to $1560, and Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) shares are lower by 6% to $8.18.
The backdrop is the tell. With the NASDAQ 100 tracking Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) down 1.48% intraday and the AI and chip complex under pressure, the market’s most speculative corner is getting repriced first.
Risk-Off Ripple, Not Company News Today’s slide in IonQ, D-Wave, Rigetti, and Quantum Computing shares traces to macro forces rather than company-specific catalysts. The catalyst is a broader risk-off tape driven by the Strait of Hormuz conflict, an oil price spike, and renewed AI-trade angst weighing on semiconductor and memory names.
High-beta quantum names sit at the far end of that risk spectrum. IonQ carries a beta of 3.23, which quantifies why it moves multiples of the market on days like this. Options flow suggests hedging is in play too, with IonQ’s full-chain put/call ratio at 0.83 and Rigetti’s at 0.7.
The Valuation Fault Line Quantum stocks are fragile on valuation, and that is the spine of today’s move. IonQ is the only name in the group with positive trailing earnings, posting TTM EPS of $0.39 against a stretched TTM P/E ratio of 103x. Its price-to-sales ratio sits at 85x, leaving little cushion when sentiment turns.
The rest of the cohort has no earnings anchor at all. D-Wave posts TTM EPS of -$1.14, Rigetti -$0.89, and Quantum Computing -$0.26, so none carries a trailing P/E ratio. When risk appetite fades, pre-profit stories with triple-digit multiples get sold first.
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Still, it could be argued that the fundamentals remain intact. IonQ’s Q1 FY2026 revenue jumped 755% year over year to $64.67 million, and management lifted full-year guidance to a range of $260 million to $270 million. On a risk-off tape, however, growth stories with thin profitability get repriced regardless.
Quantum ETF Softens the Blow The Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSE ARCA:QTUM) tells the diversification story cleanly. QTUM shares are down 2.42% to $150.72, a mere fraction of some of the pure-play stock moves.
That gap exists because QTUM isn’t a pure quantum bet. The fund holds large semiconductor and machine-learning names alongside IonQ, D-Wave, Rigetti, and Quantum Computing, which dampens single-name volatility. Over the past year, QTUM shares have climbed 65%, versus IonQ stock’s 4% decline across the same window.
The ETF isn’t leveraged, but it still carries concentration and thematic risk that investors may want to weigh when sizing exposure.
What to Watch The bull case for IonQ stock rests on long-term quantum optionality and its status as the most prominent pure-play. The bear case is a 103x multiple, thin profitability, and a 3.23 beta that cuts hard on days like today. Investors leaning into these quantum-computing names may want to keep their position sizes modest given the volatility.
Watch for whether IonQ shares can defend the $40 level into the close, and whether the NASDAQ 100 finds its footing this afternoon. If the broader risk-off mood eases, this sector typically retraces first; if oil stays elevated and chip stocks stay down, the pressure could persist.
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Key Takeaways Quantum Computing is benefiting from U.S. policy focused on quantum commercialization and deployment. QUBT expanded with NHanced and a Planck Dynamics deal for NeuraWave systems due in 2026. QUBT has a strong balance sheet, $16M backlog and 2026 revenue estimate of $21.67 million. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi”, an emerging pure-play quantum computing company with market capitalization of approximately $2.11 billion, is well positioned to benefit from the rapid expansion of the quantum computing market as commercial adoption accelerates across industries.
The Trump administration's executive orders issued on June 22 represent a significant shift in U.S. quantum policy. Rather than focusing primarily on basic scientific research, the new directives emphasize commercialization, technology deployment, and national security applications. This policy change reflects the growing recognition of quantum computing as a strategic technology that will play a critical role in strengthening economic competitiveness, enhancing cybersecurity, and supporting defense capabilities.
Among publicly traded pure-play quantum computing companies, Quantum Computing stands out as a compelling investment opportunity due to its direct exposure to the industry's long-term commercialization and deployment trends. As governments and enterprises increase investments in quantum technologies, QCi is well positioned to capitalize on the sector's expanding growth opportunities.
Over the past year, QUBT stock has surged 23.9%, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s 16.1% gain and the S&P 500 composite’s 10.5% return. During this period, shares of QCi's key peers, D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) and IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) , have gained 44.8% and 58.6%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Tailwinds for QUBTQCi has pursued several strategic initiatives to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and broaden its quantum technology portfolio. The company acquired NHanced Semiconductors, Inc. (NHanced), for a combination of cash and QCi stock valued at $73.1 million, subject to customary adjustments and up to an additional $72.0 million if certain performance targets are achieved.
QCi recently received a purchase order and entered into a framework agreement with Planck Dynamics to deploy QCi’s NeuraWave photonic reservoir computer as a foundational platform for next-generation AI applications. Under the terms of the agreement, QCi received an initial purchase order for five NeuraWave systems, with delivery expected during 2026.
One of QCi's primary R&D initiatives is the development of the next version of its Dirac quantum optimization platform. QCi is also advancing its gate-based quantum computing program, which aims to create a scalable, room-temperature quantum computer using photonic technology. Research efforts are focused on two key areas — improving gate fidelity through advanced engineering design and developing ultra-high-quality photonic integrated circuits based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) technology.
QCi maintains a strong balance sheet, with approximately $1.6 billion in total assets and stockholders' equity of roughly $1.6 billion. Total liabilities accounted for $23.4 million, much lower than the cash level.
The company generated $13.5 million in interest income during the first quarter, highlighting the earnings potential of its sizable cash reserves. QCi also reported a contract backlog of $16 million, providing visibility into future revenue opportunities and supporting the company's growth outlook.
QUBT Stock’s Estimate TrendAt present, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for QUBT’s 2026 revenues implies a massive 3076.9% improvement to $21.67 million. Earnings per share (EPS) estimates for 2026 have remained unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Valuation Metrics Look for QUBTBased on the forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S), QUBT trades at 71.66X, below its median of 82.34X but above the sector average of 6.86X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ConclusionQCi appears well positioned to benefit from the accelerating commercialization of quantum technologies. Supported by favorable U.S. policy initiatives, strategic acquisitions, ongoing innovation in photonic quantum computing and a strong balance sheet with substantial cash reserves, the company has established a solid foundation for long-term growth.
The stock has significantly outperformed the sector over the past 12 months. From a valuation standpoint, QUBT is trading at a discount. Backed by positive revenue estimate, the stock appears to be an attractive investment opportunity.
QUBT carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways QUBT acquired NHanced to expand U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and accelerate Fab 2 rollout. Quantum Computing secured a Planck Dynamics deal for five NeuraWave systems, with 2026 delivery expected. QUBT is broadening its quantum portfolio through manufacturing expansion and edge AI initiatives. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or "QCi" has pursued several strategic initiatives to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and broaden its quantum technology portfolio. The company acquired NHanced Semiconductors, Inc. (NHanced), for a combination of cash and QCi stock valued at $73.1 million, subject to customary adjustments and up to an additional $72.0 million if certain performance targets are achieved.
This acquisition marks a significant step in QCi's strategy to build a stronger domestic semiconductor manufacturing base. The acquisition builds on the successful launch of Fab 1 in Tempe, AZ, and accelerates the rollout of Fab 2, allowing the company to scale its manufacturing capacity years ahead of its original plan.
Also, photonic reservoir computing has emerged as an important computing architecture for edge AI, enabling efficient processing of data directly at the point of generation. Driven by this demand, QCi recently received a purchase order and entered into a framework agreement with Planck Dynamics to deploy QCi’s NeuraWave photonic reservoir computer as a foundational platform for next-generation AI applications. Under the terms of the agreement, QCi received an initial purchase order for five NeuraWave systems, with delivery expected during 2026.
Peer UpdateD-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS - Free Report) announced its forthcoming gate-model quantum computing simulator, which is expected to be the first of its kind designed for error-aware programming. QBTS continues to advance its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service.
Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI - Free Report) announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the U.S. Department of Commerce for an award of up to $100 million in funding over three years to accelerate superconducting quantum computing R&D. Rigetti achieved a two-qubit gate fidelity as high as 99.9% at 28-nanosecond gate speed on a prototype platform using its new proprietary adiabatic CZ scheme.
QUBT’s Share Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 55.1% compared with the industry’s 16.3% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 71.25X compared with the industry’s median of 5.25X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at 14 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
As Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) stock signals a macro reversal, Maxwell Michaelis, a Wall Street analyst at Lake Street, reiterated a bullish outlook on July 6.
Michaelis maintained a Buy rating for QUBT stock, according to a note analyzed by Finbold on July 7, 2026. He also set a 12-month price target of $16 for Quantum Computing stock.
The Wall Street analysts maintained a bullish outlook for Quantum Computing stock following its completed acquisition of NHanced Semiconductors. Notably, Quantum Computing acquired NHanced for a combined cash-and-share value of $73.1 million. The deal also includes an earnout of up to an additional $72.0 million.
Michaelis framed the deal as a solid follow-up to the Luminar Semiconductor (LSI) acquisition, which closed in February. Moreover, the acquisitions could further deepen the company’s photonics manufacturing and advanced-packaging capabilities.
QUBT stock forecast and performance Following the bullish rating review from Michaelis, 5 Wall Street analysts surveyed by TipRanks, over the past three months have set an average 12-month price target for QUBT stock at $16. Additionally, the analyst surveyed had a Moderate Buy on Quantum Computing stock.
QUBT stock forecast. Source: TipRanks The highest Quantum Computing stock price forecast at press time was $22, while the lowest prediction was around $10. With Quantum Computing stock price trading at about $8.7 on Tuesday, both Michaelis and the average target from Wall Street analysts show a potential 83.9% upside.
Year-to-date (YTD), Quantum Computing’s stock price has dropped by over 55%. As such, the company had a total market capitalization of nearly $2.1 billion.
QUBT stock 1-year chart. Source: Finbold However, QUBT stock price has been signaling a potential reversal over the past few months, which could align with analysts’ expectations. Moreover, the company has strong fundamentals and is part of the small-cap Quantum Computing stocks.
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Although the growth rates coming out of the quantum computing segment look genuinely spectacular on paper, Wall Street has stood on this exact ledge before, and the fall has never been gentle. IonQ (NYSE:IONQ | IONQ Price Prediction) posted Q1 FY26 revenue of $64.67 million, up 755% year over year. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) nearly tripled sales to $4.40 million. D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) reported a bookings figure of $33.4 million, roughly 2,000% higher than the prior year. Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) reported a 9,364.1% revenue jump, driven almost entirely by acquisitions.
The percentages are eye-popping. However, the market capitalizations perched on top of them are what should give a retirement-minded investor pause.
What is particularly notable is how closely today’s setup resembles previous Wall Street love affairs. IonQ carries a market cap of roughly $19.2 billion against FY25 revenue of $130.02 million, or roughly 148 times sales. Alpha Vantage pegs its trailing price-to-sales at 109 and its EV-to-revenue at 96. Rigetti trades at a trailing price-to-sales of 465. D-Wave’s trailing price-to-sales is 873. Quantum Computing’s comes in at 505 on trailing revenue of $4.3 million.
Those multiples reflect narratives far more than established businesses.
The Long Memory: What Happened Last Time Wall Street has run this play repeatedly. In November 2013, 3D printing was going to remake manufacturing. 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) peaked near $63 that month. It closed on July 1, 2026, at $2.96, a drawdown of 95.3% from that peak. Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS), the sector’s other flagship, closed at $8.48 on July 1, 2026, well off its own $12.85 high in early February 2025 and a shadow of its 2014 highs. The technology worked. It still works. The stocks never came back for the people who bought the hype.
The cannabis mania told the same story. Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) vaulted to roughly $300 in September 2018. It closed at $4.43 on July 1, 2026, and only after a 1-for-10 reverse split executed on December 2, 2025. The dot-com wreckage was harsher still: Cisco fell roughly 89%, JDS Uniphase roughly 99%. In every case the revolutionary technology narrative was correct. The valuations proved unsustainable.
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The Numbers Behind the Story Quantum’s operating reality is where the historical mirror gets uncomfortable. IonQ’s Q1 FY26 operating loss was $271.5 million, with an operating margin of negative 420%. FY25 net loss came in at $512.12 million. Rigetti’s FY25 revenue actually shrank 34.3% to $7.09 million, with a net loss of $216.21 million. D-Wave’s FY25 bookings, the leading indicator management points at, declined 22% to $18.7 million. QUBT’s FY25 revenue totaled $682,000, and its Q1 FY26 gross profit was actually a loss of $721,000 because cost of revenue exceeded sales.
Meanwhile, the commercialization clock keeps stretching. On The AI Investor Podcast, Eric Jhonsa noted that Jensen Huang “made some noise by like saying that … quantum computing is probably at least 15 years away from being … commercialized and maybe longer,” with host Eric Bleeker adding that today’s quantum names resemble “deeply unprofitable dot-coms” from 2000 like “Webvan and eToys and Pets.com.” D-Wave’s own roadmap targets 100 logical qubits by 2032.
Retail Has Already Started to Wobble Reddit sentiment on IonQ registered peak bullish scores of 78 in early June 2026 before cooling to 54 by June 24, 2026. Rigetti’s chatter followed the same arc, sliding from bullish 72-78 readings on June 3 to neutral 48-52 by late June. Price action confirmed the mood: IonQ fell 25.8% in the past month to $51.40, Rigetti dropped 27.1% to $18.68, D-Wave gave back 19.5% in that time, and Quantum Computing is now down 49.4% over one year to $9.43.
IonQ’s CEO Niccolo de Masi told investors, “IonQ has begun 2026 with strong momentum, delivering our fourth consecutive quarter of record-breaking results and the biggest quarter in our company’s history.” That is likely true. It was also true of 3D Systems in 2013, and of Tilray in 2018.
The Verdict Long term, Wall Street tends to reward genuinely useful technology. The internet did change the world. 3D printing did reshape manufacturing. Cannabis did become a legal industry. In each case, the companies that survived the shakeout emerged stronger a decade later. The catch is that investors who paid 148x, 358x, 714x, or 3,100x sales at the peak rarely got to enjoy that recovery. For a cautious, retirement-skewing reader, the pattern is the prediction: revolutionary technology plus microscopic revenue plus astronomical multiples have a remarkably familiar ending. History is not obligated to rhyme, but it usually does.
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Key Takeaways QUBT is expanding quantum photonics R&D and ended Q1 2026 with about $1.4B in cash and investments. D-Wave reported surging bookings, a larger sales pipeline and plans to deliver at least 2 systems in 2026. QUBT trades at a lower forward P/S than QBTS, while analysts see higher upside from current levels. Over the past year, shares of Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) have lost 3.4% and 8.9%, respectively, significantly outperforming the industry’s 16.3% decline. The primary challenges facing the quantum computing market are extreme physical fragility, massive error-correction overhead, prohibitive infrastructure costs and a severe global talent shortage.
However, as the quantum computing industry continues its transition from a research frontier to real-world validation, different underlying technologies are emerging as potential winners. Given these positives, QCi’s revenues increased to $3.7 million from $39,000 in the first quarter, while D-Wave’s bookings were up 1,994% from the year-ago period’s level.
It is time for investors to assess whether this momentum can extend through 2026. Let’s find out.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Case for QUBTQCi is continuously investing in research and development (R&D) to strengthen its position in quantum photonics and scalable quantum computing. During the first quarter of 2026, the company expanded its engineering, scientific and technical workforces, contributing to a 133.5% year-over-year increase in research and development expenses.
One of QCi's primary R&D initiatives is the development of the next version of its Dirac quantum optimization platform. QCi is also advancing its gate-based quantum computing program, which aims to create a scalable, room-temperature quantum computer using photonic technology. QCi’s recent acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt have significantly expanded its research talent base and technical capabilities, supporting a vertically integrated approach to quantum technology development.
QCi exited the first quarter of 2026 with a strong balance sheet, providing the company with financial flexibility to carry out its growth strategy. Quantum Computing ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and investments of about $1.4 billion, demonstrating that the company maintained a substantial liquidity position. QCi’s financial strength is further reflected in its total assets of about $1.6 billion and stockholders' equity of approximately $1.6 billion. Total liabilities accounted for $23.4 million, much lower than the cash level.
The Case for QBTSD-Wave continues to advance its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service. Commercial momentum carried into the first quarter of 2026. The company’s sales opportunity pipeline and average potential deal size more than doubled versus the fourth quarter of 2025. It further expects two to three system deals per year with delivery of at least two systems in 2026.
The company is extending its product set into gate-model computing following the Quantum Circuits acquisition in January 2026. It highlighted dual-rail qubits with built-in error detection and on-chip cryogenic control as key elements of its gate-model approach. Alongside this longer-dated gate-model roadmap, the company continues to add commercial annealing applications in production and expand research use cases, including work in quantum AI and blockchain benchmarking.
At the end of the first quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $338.2 million and marketable investment securities amounted to $250.2 million. Operating cash outflow was $45 million, while investing cash outflow included $250.8 million of cash consideration for the Quantum Circuits acquisition. Even after that step-down, the balance sheet supports continued investment in R&D, sales coverage and system installations. Leap cloud utilization was below 50% entering 2026, which leaves capacity headroom and additional annealing systems can be installed within months at modest cost.
Valuation: QUBT vs. QBTSQuantum Computing currently trades at a forward one-year price-to-sales (P/S) of 82.07X, much lower than its median. D-Wave’s 134.08X P/S also sits below its median.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Short Term Price Target Favors QUBT Over QBTSQUBT: Based on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target of $18.33 represents an increase of 99.67% from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QBTS: Based on short-term price targets offered by 13 analysts, the average price target of $38.31 represents an increase of 68.32% from the last closing price.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
End NoteBoth QCi and D-Wave Quantum are making meaningful investments to strengthen their positions in the rapidly evolving quantum computing industry but they are pursuing different strategies. QUBT is focused on building a vertically integrated photonics ecosystem supported by a sizable cash position to fund long-term research and product development.
Meanwhile, QBTS benefits from stronger commercial traction. The company's growing sales pipeline, expected system deployments and expanding cloud business demonstrate increasing customer adoption. Also, a healthy balance sheet provides sufficient resources to continue investing in innovation and commercialization.
For investors, QCi, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), appears to be the stronger choice, given that it has outperformed D-Wave in the year-to-date period. QUBT is more attractively valued than QBTS. Investors who already own D-Wave, which carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), may consider holding the stock for long-term gains. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways QUBT secured a Planck Dynamics deal and an initial order for five NeuraWave systems. Quantum Computing expects 2026 delivery, with a framework tied to milestones and $10M value. QUBT's NeuraWave targets temporal AI and edge workloads needing speed and power efficiency. Photonic reservoir computing has emerged as an important computing architecture for edge AI, enabling efficient processing of data directly at the point of generation. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi’s NeuraWave platform leverages photonic reservoir computing to address temporal artificial intelligence (AI) and time-series machine learning workloads, enabling the efficient processing of complex, data-intensive applications where speed, power efficiency and edge AI analytics are critical.
The architecture is particularly well-suited for distributed AI deployments at the network edge, where moving large volumes of data to centralized computing resources may be impractical or undesirable.
Driven by this demand, QCi recently received a purchase order and entered into a framework agreement with Planck Dynamics to deploy QCi’s NeuraWave photonic reservoir computer as a foundational platform for next-generation AI applications.
Under the terms of the agreement, QCi received an initial purchase order for five NeuraWave systems, with delivery expected during 2026. The agreement also establishes a commercial framework designed to support the scaled deployment of NeuraWave systems as end-user milestones are achieved, representing a potential aggregate program value in excess of $10 million.
The agreement represents a significant commercial milestone for QCi's NeuraWave system and further validates the growing market interest in photonic computing technologies for AI applications.
Peer UpdateD-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS - Free Report) announced its forthcoming gate-model quantum computing simulator, which is expected to be the first of its kind designed for error-aware programming. Built around D-Wave’s dual-rail technology, the simulator is expected to enable error-aware programming, giving developers visibility into errors so they can design applications and workflows that respond to real processor behavior. The announcement marks the next step in D-Wave’s gate-model roadmap and comes just weeks after the company’s outlined differentiated approach to fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI - Free Report) announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the U.S. Department of Commerce for an award of up to $100 million in funding over three years to accelerate superconducting quantum computing R&D. Under the LOI, Rigetti would pursue R&D projects that address major technical challenges in scaling and advancing superconducting quantum computing.
QUBT’s Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 40.1% compared with the industry’s 22.1% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 87.38X compared with the industry’s median of 4.97X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at 14 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Initial commercial commitment establishes a pathway for deployment of up to 100 NeuraWave systems, representing potential value in excess of $10 million , /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing Inc. ("QCi" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: QUBT), an innovative, quantum optics and integrated photonics technology company, today announced that it has received a purchase order and entered into a framework agreement with Planck Dynamics (the "Customer"), a portfolio company of The Netherlands based defense technology investment firm NUNC Capital BV, to deploy QCi's NeuraWave photonic reservoir computer as a foundational platform for next-generation AI applications.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Customer has issued an initial purchase order for five NeuraWave systems, with delivery expected during 2026. The agreement also establishes a commercial framework designed to support scaled deployment of NeuraWave systems as end-user milestones are achieved and representing a potential aggregate program value in excess of $10 million. Future purchase orders beyond the initial order are contingent upon the Customer's achievement of specified program milestones and other customary conditions and, accordingly, are not guaranteed.
"We believe photonic reservoir computing represents an important new computing architecture for AI workloads that must operate at the edge, where data are generated," said Yong Meng Sua, Chief Technology Officer at QCi. "With NeuraWave, we're giving organizations a highly differentiated path to deploy real-time intelligence for temporal AI and time-series applications, without dependence on centralized compute infrastructure."
"The significance of this agreement extends well beyond the sale of the hardware. Planck Dynamics selected NeuraWave as a foundational technology platform and made an initial commercial commitment that provides a pathway for scaled deployment over time. We believe this validates both the performance of our technology and its ability to address emerging AI infrastructure requirements at commercial scale," said Pouya Dianat, Chief Revenue Officer at QCi.
The Customer's program is focused on advancing next-generation reservoir computing architectures utilizing an electro-optic approach to artificial intelligence processing. The initiative is intended to support a broad range of applications spanning commercial and government markets, with an emphasis on enabling AI-at-the-edge capabilities in environments where low latency, power efficiency, and real-time decision-making are critical.
"Planck Dynamics was created to bring real-time insights to tactical operators at the frontlines. We work at the tip of the spear, ensuring that the right decision can be made with zero latency. To accomplish this in an environment with sensor overload, next-generation AI algorithms are needed, along with a full leap in technology capability. That is why Planck has partnered with QCi, developing our high-demand AI applications with advanced electro-optic computing built to work in low thermal footprint, low power, edge-native environments. We are excited to establish a foundation for a long-term collaboration with QCi as we build solutions that uniquely support the extraordinary demands of NATO and allied forces worldwide," said Nathan Eskue, Managing Director, Planck Dynamics.
"Planck Dynamic's collaboration with QCi represents a tangible step forward in bringing advanced nonlinear photonics capabilities into the European defense domain. That QCi has selected Planck Dynamics as an early commercialization and development partner for NeuraWave underscores the strategic nature of this collaboration. As the lead investor and main shareholder, NUNC Capital has supported Planck Dynamics from an early stage, providing not only capital but also access to defense networks, validation pathways, and initial market traction. This partnership reflects the kind of company NUNC aims to build and scale, one that translates cutting-edge innovation into deployable capabilities for the men and women on the ground," said Bram Oostvogel, Founding Partner, NUNC Capital BV.
The agreement supports the Customer's efforts to develop and deploy electro-optic computing technologies designed to address emerging requirements for advanced data-intensive applications across multiple operating environments, with both companies working together to accelerate the adoption of photonic reservoir computing for advanced temporal AI and machine learning applications.
The agreement represents a significant commercial milestone for QCi's NeuraWave system and further validates the growing market interest in photonic computing technologies for artificial intelligence applications. NeuraWave leverages photonic reservoir computing to address temporal AI and time-series machine learning workloads, enabling the efficient processing of complex, data-intensive applications where speed, power efficiency, and AI at the edge analysis are critical. The architecture is particularly well-suited for distributed AI deployments at the network edge, where moving large volumes of data to centralized computing resources may be impractical or undesirable.
The collaboration aligns with QCi's vision of expanding access to advanced computing technologies by bringing photonic AI capabilities into real-world commercial applications. The companies will commence technical kickoff activities and execute a formal Statement of Work to establish development milestones, integration objectives, and deployment schedules. The collaboration is expected to accelerate the adoption of photonic computing technologies in emerging AI markets.
About Quantum Computing Inc.
Quantum Computing Inc. (Nasdaq: QUBT) is a quantum optics and integrated photonics company focused on delivering accessible, scalable, and cost-effective quantum machines and photonic solutions. The Company provides foundry services for thin-film lithium niobate ("TFLN") photonic chips and offers a vertically integrated portfolio spanning photonics components, subsystems, and full-stack systems.
Designed to operate at room-temperature with low-power requirements, QCi's technologies enable practical deployment across high-growth markets, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, and advanced sensing and imaging.
Headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, QCi has operations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Virginia. By combining advanced materials, device engineering, and scalable manufacturing, QCi delivers integrated quantum and photonics technologies, accelerating commercialization and real-world adoption.
Company Contact:
John Nesbett/Zach Nevas
IMS Investor Relations
[email protected]
About Planck Dynamics
Planck Dynamics is a Netherlands-based defense technology company that puts split-second, trustworthy AI in the hands of the units operating at the tactical edge. Its platform, RAPTR (Rapid Action Platform for Theater Resolution), brings together edge data governance, a certified AI runtime, and quantum-inspired photonic compute in a single ruggedized platform for mounted land forces, special forces, border protection, and tactical intelligence units. RAPTR runs where other tactical AI cannot, keeps a unit's data at its fingertips, and amplifies the operator's judgement to create a sustained, asymmetric advantage. The company is built inside TU Delft's House of Quantum and is backed by NUNC Capital. For more information, visit www.planckdynamics.ai.
About NUNC Capital
NUNC Capital is a Netherlands-based investment firm founded in 2013 that builds and scales defense technology companies supporting NATO and allied forces. The firm focuses on critical domains including advanced materials, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, new energy, quantum technologies, unmanned systems, and mission-critical software. NUNC combines capital with deep defense market expertise, an international network, and access to key stakeholders across government and industry. It works closely with early-stage companies to validate technologies, secure initial deployment opportunities, and accelerate operational and commercial traction. Through this approach, NUNC develops and scales companies that deliver practical, mission-relevant capabilities to those operating on the front lines. For more information, visit www.nunccapital.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements and forecasts, generally identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "enhance," "intends," "goal," "objective," "seek," "attempt," "aim to," or variations of these or similar words, involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief, or current expectations of QCi and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including the sale of additional NeuraWave units beyond the initial purchase order, the ability of NeuraWave to address AI infrastructure requirements at commercial scale, the Customer's achievement of specified milestones, and the ability of reservoir computing to address demanding applications, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by federal securities law, QCi undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed conditions.
Strategic acquisition launches Fab 2 to accelerate key roadmap initiatives and expands manufacturing capabilities , /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing Inc. ("QCi" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: QUBT), an innovative, quantum optics and integrated photonics technology company, today announced the completion of acquiring NHanced Semiconductors, Inc. ("NHanced"), for a combination of cash and QCi stock valued at $73.1 million, subject to customary adjustments, and up to an additional $72.0 million if certain performance targets are achieved (the "Transaction").
The acquisition marks an important step in QCi's transition from research-driven innovation and prototyping to scalable commercial production. By adding semiconductor and nanophotonics fabrication capabilities, advanced packaging expertise and specialized engineering talent, QCi is strengthening its operational capabilities and manufacturing readiness. Advanced photonics technology and manufacturing are at the core of QCi's commercialization roadmap. The recent acquisition and successful integration of Luminar Semiconductor Inc. have installed world-class expertise and fabrication in laser, light detection, photonic packaging, and testing at QCi. This acquisition will provide the foundation for scalable chip-manufacturing of the Company's quantum and photonics technologies, supporting commercialization efforts and advancing its vision of a vertically integrated platform spanning research, development and manufacturing. It positions QCi to address growing market demand across quantum computing, sensing, networking, and photonics markets while accelerating the path from innovation to market deployment. Aside from its quantum technology and product portfolio, QCi now also offers leading-edge services, products, and solutions in semiconductor and nanophotonics manufacturing, lasers, detectors, testing, and packaging.
"The acquisition of NHanced significantly enhances our nanophotonics manufacturing capabilities and strengthens QCi's ability to execute its long-term growth strategy. Last year, we successfully completed and operationalized Fab 1, a pioneering, small-scale manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona. Today, we are delivering on our commitment to launch Fab 2 and expand our manufacturing capabilities and capacity years ahead of our original timeline. By adding proven fabrication assets and deep technical expertise, we are accelerating commercialization across all verticals and substantially advancing the development and scaling of our thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integrated circuit platform. The expanded manufacturing footprint will increase production flexibility, enhance operational resilience and support future revenue growth. The Transaction accelerates our path to commercial-scale production and reflects our commitment to strategically investing in infrastructure that drives long-term growth and shareholder value. We look forward to welcoming the talented NHanced team to QCi and combining our strengths to advance the commercialization of quantum and photonic technologies," said Yuping Huang, CEO of QCi.
NHanced is a U.S-based advanced packaging foundry specializing in integration, hybrid bonding, chiplet architectures, silicon interposers and photonics device integration. Its expertise in advanced semiconductor packaging and manufacturing complements QCi's photonic and quantum portfolio, creating opportunities to accelerate commercialization and scale next-generation quantum and photonics solutions enabled by the 2.5D/3D heterogeneous integration and scale-up of QCi's TFLN-on-Silicon Photonics technologies.
The acquisition is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, bolster supply-chain resilience and support the development of advanced photonic chips for applications spanning quantum computing, artificial intelligence, networking, secure communications and defense technologies. This acquisition bridges the gap between quantum innovation and scalable semiconductor products, helping bring next-generation photonics and quantum solutions to market more efficiently.
"Joining forces with QCi marks an exciting new chapter for our company, our employees and our technology. Over the years, we have built a world-class semiconductor platform with a focus on innovation, manufacturing, excellence and customer success. By combining our expertise with QCi's vision for photonic and quantum technologies, we believe we can accelerate the commercialization and manufacturing of next-generation solutions and create greater value for customers and partners. We are proud of what our team has accomplished and look forward to contributing to QCi's mission," said Bob Patti, CEO of NHanced.
NHanced will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of QCi, remaining committed to supporting its current customers and partners, including those within the quantum ecosystem, and will continue to provide the products, services and technical expertise its customers rely on today while pursuing new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Rosenblatt served as financial advisor, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation served as legal counsel, to QCi. Needham & Company served as financial advisor, and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal counsel, to NHanced.
About Quantum Computing Inc.
Quantum Computing Inc. (Nasdaq: QUBT) is a quantum optics and integrated photonics company focused on delivering accessible, scalable, and cost-effective quantum machines and photonic solutions. The Company provides foundry services for thin-film lithium niobate ("TFLN") photonic chips and offers a vertically integrated portfolio spanning photonics components, subsystems, and full-stack systems.
Designed to operate at room-temperature with low-power requirements, QCi's technologies enable practical deployment across high-growth markets, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, and advanced sensing and imaging.
Headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, QCi has operations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Virginia. By combining advanced materials, device engineering, and scalable manufacturing, QCi delivers integrated quantum and photonics technologies, accelerating commercialization and real-world adoption.
Company Contact:
John Nesbett/Zach Nevas
IMS Investor Relations
[email protected]
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements and forecasts, generally identified by terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "enhance," "intends," "goal," "objective," "seek," "attempt," "aim to," or variations of these or similar words, involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief, or current expectations of QCi and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances under which the anticipated benefits of the Transaction are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of NHanced, diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities, operating costs and business disruption following the Transaction, exposure to potential litigation, the integration of NHanced's products and technologies with QCi, and the acceleration of QCi's development roadmap, supply chain risks, NHanced customer retention risks, and that actual results (including revenue growth and value creation) may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by federal securities law, QCi undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward- looking statements to reflect changed conditions.
Key Takeaways QUBT posted record $3.7M first-quarter 2026 revenues, driven by Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt buyouts.Quantum Computing ended the quarter with a $16M contract backlog and about $1.4B in cash and investments.QUBT regained its 50-day moving average, while analysts' average price target implies 73.9% upside. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi has delivered a modest 6.2% gain over the past two months, trailing the broader Computer & Technology sector's 11.8% advance and the company’s direct peer IonQ’s (IONQ - Free Report) 23.2% growth. The relative underperformance stands in contrast to the company's improving fundamentals, raising an important question for investors: Is it time to book profits, or does the stock still have room to run? Let’s find out.
QUBT: 60-day Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The fundamental picture for QCi has strengthened meaningfully in recent months. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2026 and the current year has risen over the past 60 days, reflecting growing confidence in the company's execution.
Estimates for first-quarter loss per share have narrowed by 1 cent to a loss of 5 cents per share in the past 60 days. The same for the current year has narrowed by 10 cents to a loss of 14 cents per share in the said time frame.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The upward estimate revisions follow a solid first-quarter 2026 report, in which QUBT posted record revenues of $3.7 million, driven primarily by the Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt acquisitions. The company ended the quarter with a $16 million contract backlog and approximately $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments.
QUBT management also reiterated its strategy of transitioning from a technology innovator to a volume manufacturer through Fab 2, expanding commercial deployments, advancing next-generation quantum hardware and strengthening its integrated photonics platform.
QUBT 50-and-200-Day SMAs
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
While the fundamental outlook has improved, the technical setup also suggests the rally may not be fully mature yet. QUBT has regained its 50-day simple moving average, reflecting improving short-term momentum, but the shares continue to trade below the 200-day moving average, a closely watched long-term resistance level. Any significant move above that threshold could support bullish sentiment.
Upbeat Target Price TooBased on short-term price targets from six analysts, the average price target for Quantum Computing represents a 73.9% increase over the last closing price of $10.54.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Our TakeQUBT appears well-positioned for additional upside. Rising earnings estimates, a strong balance sheet, expanding commercialization efforts and favorable quantum computing tailwinds support its long-term growth story. The stock's recent underperformance relative to the broader technology sector also suggests that much of its improving fundamental outlook may not yet be fully reflected in the share price. Backing this optimism, QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), making the stock worth considering for investors seeking exposure to the fast-growing quantum computing space. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
For much of the past two years, investors treated quantum computing as a single investment theme. Whether a company pursued trapped-ion systems, superconducting qubits, quantum annealing, or photonic architectures mattered less than the fact that it was associated with quantum computing. Capital flowed broadly into the sector as investors searched for the next transformative technology platform following artificial intelligence.
Recent stock performance suggests that phase may be ending.
Investors are beginning to distinguish between companies demonstrating commercial progress and those that remain dependent on future technological milestones. This shift is important because it often marks the transition from speculative enthusiasm to fundamental analysis, a pattern that has repeated itself throughout technology history. The internet boom eventually separated Amazon from hundreds of failed dot-coms. Artificial intelligence ultimately produced clear winners such as Nvidia while countless AI startups disappeared. Quantum computing appears to be entering a similar phase.
Over the past six months, one company has clearly separated itself from the pack.
Quantum Computing Is No Longer One Trade Investors often speak about quantum computing as if every company in the sector is moving in the same direction. Stock performance suggests otherwise. During the past six months, investors have become increasingly selective, rewarding companies demonstrating commercial progress while punishing those still dependent on future technological milestones. This shift is important because it suggests the market is moving beyond broad enthusiasm for quantum computing and beginning to evaluate individual companies based on execution, revenue growth, and customer adoption.
I show in Chart 1 that the four leading publicly traded pure-play quantum computing companies have produced dramatically different returns despite operating within the same industry.
| IONQ Price Prediction
Chart 1. Six-Month Performance of Leading Pure-Play Quantum Computing Stocks
The chart highlights a growing divergence among the leading publicly traded quantum computing companies. While IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) has generated positive returns for investors, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI), and Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) have all moved lower despite continued announcements of technological progress, partnerships, and product development. Investors appear to be rewarding evidence of commercialization while becoming less willing to finance future possibilities indefinitely.
This development is not necessarily a judgment on the quality of the underlying technologies. Rather, it reflects a growing emphasis on revenue growth, customer adoption, strategic partnerships, and balance sheet strength. As industries mature, investors gradually shift their focus away from scientific potential and toward business execution. The market is beginning to ask which companies can build sustainable businesses rather than simply demonstrate scientific achievements.
The Jensen Huang Turning Point One of the catalysts for this transition can be traced back to comments made by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang in January 2025. When Huang suggested that practical quantum computing might still be decades away, the sector experienced a sharp selloff. Many investors interpreted the remarks as a dismissal of quantum computing’s future prospects.
What happened afterward tells a more nuanced story.
Nvidia did not retreat from quantum computing. Instead, the company increased its engagement with the industry through CUDA-Q development, quantum ecosystem initiatives, and partnerships designed to support hybrid quantum-classical computing environments. Huang’s comments ultimately highlighted a distinction that many investors initially overlooked. Fully fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of transforming entire industries may still be years away, but commercial quantum applications are already beginning to emerge in optimization, simulation, logistics, materials science, and scientific research.
That distinction helps explain why investors are becoming more selective. The debate is no longer whether quantum computing will eventually become important. The debate is which companies can bridge the gap between promising technology and sustainable revenue generation.
Why IonQ Is Pulling Ahead While investors often group quantum companies together, the reality is that they pursue very different technologies and target different end markets. The sector remains fragmented, with no dominant architecture and no clear commercial standard. Some companies emphasize optimization, others focus on general-purpose quantum computing, while still others pursue photonic or software-centric approaches. The market is beginning to differentiate among these strategies based not on scientific promise alone, but on each company’s ability to generate revenue, secure customers, and establish a sustainable business model.
I show in Table 1 the principal publicly traded quantum computing companies and their current commercial positions.
Among these companies, IonQ appears to have gained an early advantage. The company’s trapped-ion architecture has attracted considerable attention, but investors seem equally focused on its expanding commercial relationships, government contracts, research partnerships, and growing financial resources. These factors provide a level of visibility that many competitors have yet to achieve.
By contrast, D-Wave continues to pursue a specialized quantum annealing strategy focused on optimization applications, while Rigetti remains committed to superconducting architectures that compete more directly with approaches used by larger technology companies. Quantum Computing Inc. continues to pursue photonic and software-based solutions, but investors remain cautious as the company works to establish meaningful commercial traction.
The Infrastructure Companies May Be the Real Winners The challenge facing all of these companies is that quantum computing remains one of the most difficult engineering problems in modern technology. Error correction, system scalability, manufacturing complexity, software development, and hardware reliability continue to limit widespread deployment. Progress is occurring, but the pace remains slower than many investors originally expected.
This reality helps explain why some of the largest beneficiaries of quantum computing may ultimately be companies that never build a quantum computer themselves.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), IBM (NYSE: IBM), and Nvidia continue investing heavily in quantum infrastructure, cloud platforms, software frameworks, and hybrid computing environments. These companies are positioned to benefit regardless of which hardware architecture ultimately becomes dominant. The strategy mirrors Nvidia’s role in artificial intelligence, where the company became indispensable without developing the applications that captured headlines.
For investors, this creates two very different approaches to the sector. One approach involves selecting individual quantum companies and attempting to identify the eventual winners. The other involves investing in the infrastructure providers that stand to benefit from broader industry adoption regardless of which architecture prevails.
Investor Takeaway History suggests that technology revolutions rarely produce as many winners as investors initially expect. During the internet boom, hundreds of companies promised to reshape commerce, communication, and media. A handful ultimately dominated while most disappeared. Quantum computing is likely to follow a similar path.
Investor enthusiasm for the sector remains understandable. The potential applications span drug discovery, advanced materials, financial modeling, logistics optimization, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The opportunity is enormous if the technology can achieve commercial scale. The challenge is determining which companies will capture that opportunity and which will struggle to convert scientific progress into economic returns.
The stock market appears to be making its first decisions.
For now, IonQ is emerging as the early favorite among publicly traded pure-play quantum computing companies. Whether that leadership proves durable remains to be seen, but the market’s message is becoming increasingly clear. Investors are no longer buying quantum computing simply because it sounds exciting. They are beginning to reward companies that demonstrate a credible path toward commercialization and sustainable growth.
That shift may ultimately prove to be the most important development in the sector since quantum computing became an investable theme.
Key Takeaways QUBT expanded its workforce, driving a 133.5% increase in first-quarter 2026 R&D expenses. QUBT is developing the next Dirac platform and a room-temperature photonic quantum computer. Quantum Computing uses Fab 1 for process validation, with future transfer to volume-production Fab 2. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi” is continuously investing in research and development (R&D) to strengthen its position in quantum photonics and scalable quantum computing. During the first quarter of 2026, the company expanded its engineering, scientific and technical workforces, contributing to a 133.5% year-over-year increase in research and development expenses.
One of QCi's primary R&D initiatives is the development of the next version of its Dirac quantum optimization platform. QCi is also advancing its gate-based quantum computing program, which aims to create a scalable, room-temperature quantum computer using photonic technology. Research efforts are focused on two key areas — improving gate fidelity through advanced engineering design and developing ultra-high-quality photonic integrated circuits based on thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) technology.
The company’s fabrication facility (Fab 1) serves primarily as an R&D and technology validation center rather than a revenue-generating manufacturing operation. QCi uses Fab 1 to develop and stabilize fabrication processes that will eventually be transferred to a larger-scale Fab 2 facility designed for volume production.
QCi’s recent acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt have significantly expanded its research talent base and technical capabilities, supporting a vertically integrated approach to quantum technology development.
Peer UpdateRigetti (RGTI - Free Report) achieved a two-qubit gate fidelity as high as 99.9% at 28-nanosecond gate speed on a prototype platform using its new proprietary adiabatic CZ scheme. Rigetti made strong progress toward deployment of its 108-qubit chiplet-based quantum system, advancing both performance validation and system-level integration. Rigetti continued collaborating with Riverlane on error correction research, focusing on system-level integration and long-term scalability.
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) continues to advance its annealing platform through Advantage2 and the Leap cloud service. The company is expanding its product portfolio into gate-model quantum computing following the Quantum Circuits acquisition in January 2026. QBTS is targeting roughly 175 physical qubits by the end of 2028 to demonstrate error correction and logical operations. D-Wave continues to add commercial annealing applications in production and expand research use cases, including work in quantum AI and blockchain benchmarking.
QUBT’s Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 47.7% compared with the industry’s 19.6% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) of 93.31X compared with the industry median of 4.96X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at 14 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Quantum computing offers the promise of being the next big technological breakthrough. However, the many companies attempting to develop commercially viable quantum systems are pursuing a host of different technological approaches. While some of these may pan out, others may not. And while some could reach a useful level of accuracy soon, others may take considerably longer.
Let's look at four of the main quantum computing technologies and the companies pursuing them.
1. The superconducting qubit approach All quantum computers are built around qubits -- their fundamental units for holding and processing information. But just how one goes about creating and manipulating those qubits is where the variation gets wide.
One of the most common approaches being pursued uses superconducting qubits: electronic circuits made of superconducting materials that must be brought to temperatures near absolute zero, and that are controlled using microwave pulses. These circuits can be manufactured in traditional semiconductor fabs, and the qubits don't require complex laser setups to hold them in place.
The biggest strength of the technology is its gate speed, which is much faster than some of the other techniques being pursued. However, its fabricated qubits are more susceptible to being influenced by external forces, which leads to more errors in their calculations. They also require expensive dilution refrigerators to keep the entire system cooled to the temperatures where the qubits' behavior is governed by quantum mechanical principles.
Among the companies pursuing this technology are IBM (IBM 3.12%) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI 1.91%). Rigetti has had documented issues with delays and accuracy, and seems further behind many of its peers in the race to deliver a useful system. While IBM's systems also lag in fidelity measurements, it is taking some novel approaches to solving the error-correction problem, such as c-couplers and real-time error-correction decoders, that look promising.
Image source: Getty Images.
2. The trapped-ion quibit approach The trapped-ion approach uses individual charged atoms (ions) to make each qubit, holding them in electromagnetic fields and manipulating them with lasers. These qubits can hold their quantum states (coherence) for much longer than superconducting qubits. The big advantage of technology is that it has been developed to the point where it offers the most accuracy so far.
The biggest downside to the technology is that it is exponentially slower than the superconducting qubit approach. It also generally requires complex setups of lasers and mirrors to keep the ions in place. It also trails in the number of physical qubits in a working system, since charged atoms repel each other, and because every individual qubit has to be controlled by lasers. This makes charged-ion systems more difficult to scale.
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Two companies using this technology are IonQ (IONQ 2.44%) and Quantinuum (QNT +13.21%), both of which have achieved relatively impressive accuracy. IonQ has attained 99.99% 2-qubit gate fidelity, while Quantinuum has reached 99.92%.
The two companies are taking slightly different approaches, with IonQ turning to a combination of lasers and microwave antennas built on its chips to help shrink the size of its systems and improve stability. Quantinuum has stuck to using only lasers, arguing that using microwaves results in slower gate speeds.
3. The neutral-atom qubit approach Like the trapped-ion approach, the neutral-atom approach also uses individual atoms suspended in a vacuum, but in this case, they are uncharged. They are controlled and manipulated using grids of tightly focused lasers, called optical tweezers. Since neutral atoms don't repel one another like ions do, it is possible to achieve a greater qubit density. This can lead to high accuracy and faster speeds.
Ultimately, the neutral-atom approach lies between the superconducting qubit and trapped-ion approaches. The technique is still thousands of times slower than superconducting qubits, while its 2-qubit gate fidelities trail those of trapped ions.
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While several pure-play quantum computing companies are pursuing this method, most are currently private, except for Infleqtion (INFQ 0.15%). Infleqtion achieved 99.73% 2-gate fidelity in 2024 and believes it can reach 99.9% this year. The company also has a strong quantum sensing and precision timing tools business. Alphabet is also exploring this technology.
4. Quantum annealing + superconducting It's also worth mentioning D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 4.26%). While it is a leader in quantum annealing, that is more of a niche technology, as it's only suitable for a narrow range of uses, mostly involving optimization problems. That contrasts with the systems being built around the other technologies discussed above, which would be more general-purpose machines, useful in solving a wider variety of extremely complex problems.
However, through D-Wave's recent acquisition of Quantum Circuits, a company founded by a Yale professor who developed the superconducting circuit architecture, the company is also pursuing a unique hybrid technology that uses a dual-rail gate-model processor.
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The goal is to apply the quantum system expertise it has acquired while developing annealing systems to superconducting qubit technology to develop a system that combines the speed of superconducting qubits with the superior accuracy of trapped-ion technology. However, it's still early in that process, and the company has yet to provide any verified metrics.
Quantum Computing QUBT shares rose sharply on Monday after analysts reiterated bullish views on the company, pointing to upcoming product launches, growing commercial adoption, and long-term opportunities in quantum software and hardware.
The stock gained 13.65% to $11.28, benefiting from a broader market rally and renewed investor interest in quantum-computing companies.
Despite the move higher, Quantum Computing shares have declined 53% over the past 12 months, underperforming several peers in the sector.
Over the same period, Rigetti Computing, IonQ, and D-Wave Quantum have posted gains of 73%, 51%, and 46%, respectively.
The company's unconventional history has also drawn attention.
Quantum Computing began as an inkjet-cartridge seller before transitioning into beverage distribution and eventually evolving into a company focused on quantum optics and photonic computing technologies.
Analysts maintain bullish outlookRecent analyst commentary has helped improve sentiment around the stock.
John McPeake of Rosenblatt Securities reiterated a Buy rating on June 10 and maintained a $22 price target, implying substantial upside from current levels.
Edward Woo of Ascendiant Capital Markets also reiterated a Buy rating while increasing his price target to $30 from $27.
Woo said Wall Street's revenue expectations for the company appear achievable.
Based on conversations with management, he believes consensus estimates calling for full-year revenue of $20 million to $25 million are reasonable.
Revenue growth has been supported in part by Quantum Computing's acquisition of Luminar Semiconductor.
The all-cash $100 million transaction closed in February and contributed $3.7 million in revenue during the company's most recent quarter.
Woo also highlighted the potential of the company's Qatalyst software platform.
“As quantum computing hardware continues to advance, we expect a corresponding growth in demand for quantum software to run on these computers,” Woo wrote.
Qatalyst is designed to allow developers to solve computational problems without requiring expertise in low-level quantum programming languages, potentially broadening access to quantum computing applications.
New hardware launches remain in focusAnalysts also see upcoming hardware developments as potential catalysts for the stock.
McPeake said there are “catalysts likely ahead” as Quantum Computing prepares to launch a more powerful version of its Dirac 3 system, while a separate next-generation hardware platform is also under development.
Dirac serves as the company's flagship quantum-computing platform and was first released through cloud access in 2022.
The company has also secured government-related work.
In 2024, Quantum Computing won a contract from NASA to enhance satellite radar imagery using a third-generation version of the Dirac system.
The upcoming hardware launches are expected to play an important role in expanding the company's capabilities and market reach as competition in the quantum-computing sector intensifies.
Beyond research and government applications, Quantum Computing has reported signs of growing commercial traction.
According to McPeake, the company sold a $332,000 quantum system to an unnamed large financial institution last year.
It also conducted a live cybersecurity demonstration at a conference in March.
The analyst expects revenue from quantum networking and cybersecurity applications to increase over time.
However, McPeake believes the company's larger long-term opportunity lies in product miniaturization.
“Management sees a broader market” once the company condenses its bulky, rack-mounted systems into smaller chips in a few years, he wrote.
The ability to reduce the size of its hardware could significantly expand the range of commercial applications for Quantum Computing's technology and potentially open new markets beyond its current customer base.
Key Takeaways QUBT gains 34.7% in three months, beating the broader quantum-computing industry's 20.8% rise.Quantum Computing expanded photonics, communications and manufacturing via Luminar and NuCrypt.QUBT posted $3.7M in Q1 revenues, held about $1.4B in cash and investments, and had a $16M backlog. The quantum computing market is becoming more selective, differentiating between firms pursuing long-term research ambitions and those building commercial ecosystems around quantum hardware, photonics, communications and manufacturing. The federal government recently unveiled a $2 billion quantum investment initiative aimed at strengthening domestic quantum-computing and manufacturing capabilities.
But the spending wave extends well beyond Washington. In March, the United Kingdom announced a package worth up to £2 billion ($2.7 billion) to support quantum computing, networking, sensing and commercialization efforts, with a goal of becoming the first nation to deploy quantum computers at scale. More than £500 million is earmarked specifically for quantum computing and over £400 million for sensing, navigation and supporting infrastructure.
The private sector is responding as well. IBM (IBM - Free Report) recently committed more than $10 billion toward advancing large-scale quantum computing through 2031, underscoring growing confidence in the technology's commercial potential. NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) has emerged as a key catalyst for the sector through its CUDA-Q platform, partnerships with leading quantum developers and the launch of the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC).
Meanwhile, as investors increasingly view quantum computing as the next layer of the AI infrastructure stack, capital has begun flowing beyond established names such as IonQ and D-Wave into emerging players with differentiated technologies like Quantum Computing (QUBT - Free Report) or QCi.
QUBT Is Outperforming the Quantum Leaders
One of the biggest beneficiaries of this shift has been Quantum Computing. Over the past three months, the stock has climbed 34.7%, outperforming the broader quantum-computing industry's 20.8% gain while also edging ahead of D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) (+33.8%) and significantly outpacing Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) (+20.8%).
QUBT Three-Month Stock Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What makes the move notable is that QUBT has historically received far less investor attention than industry heavyweights such as IonQ, Rigetti and D-Wave. Yet recent market action suggests investors are beginning to view the company through a different lens.
Quantum Infrastructure Plays the RoleUnlike many peers that remain focused primarily on achieving future fault-tolerant quantum computing, QUBT is increasingly positioning itself as a quantum-photonics infrastructure and manufacturing company.
The acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt materially expanded the company's capabilities in lasers, detectors, photonic packaging, quantum communications and semiconductor manufacturing. Together, the transactions provide QUBT with a more vertically integrated platform spanning design, manufacturing, testing and deployment.
Management has repeatedly emphasized scalability and commercialization rather than purely experimental breakthroughs. Its photonics-based approach also carries potential advantages, including room-temperature operation, lower power requirements and easier integration into existing infrastructure.
Earnings Momentum Is StrengtheningFirst-quarter revenues surged to $3.7 million from just $39,000 a year earlier, driven largely by the recently completed acquisitions. The company ended the quarter with approximately $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments, while backlog was $16 million.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Analyst estimates have been moving higher in recent months. Over the past 60 days, analysts have made positive estimate revisions for the second quarter and full-year 2026 from a loss of 6 cents and a loss of 23 cents to a loss of 5 cents and a loss of 14 cents per share, respectively, with no downward revisions shown in the table.
What Technical Analysis SaysFrom a technical standpoint, the stock recently closed at approximately $9.93, slightly above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) of $9.72, which coincides with rising revenue expectations, upward estimate revisions and growing investor interest in the quantum-computing space.
However, shares remain below the 200-day SMA, indicating that the longer-term trend is yet to fully turn bullish. A decisive breakout above that level would likely strengthen the bullish case and signal improving long-term momentum.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bullish Price TargetAnalyst sentiment remains firmly bullish on QUBT. The average short-term price target stands at $17.83, implying nearly 80% upside from the recent closing price of $9.91. Notably, even the most conservative target of $10 sits slightly above current levels, suggesting limited downside in analysts' outlook.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Our TakeWhile bigger players like IonQ and Rigetti remain compelling long-term quantum-computing stories, QUBT currently offers one of the most attractive risk-reward profiles in the sector. Unlike many peers that are still largely dependent on future computing breakthroughs, QUBT is building a broader commercialization platform spanning photonics, quantum communications and semiconductor manufacturing.
With upward estimate revisions, a strong cash position, a growing backlog, favorable analyst price targets and improving technical trends, the company appears well-positioned to benefit from the accelerating wave of government and private-sector quantum investment. For investors seeking exposure to the quantum theme today, QUBT is a great bet at this moment. Supporting the bullish thesis, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Quantum Computing Inc. receives a speculative buy rating, targeting investors willing to accept high risk for asymmetric returns. QUBT's $850M cash position post-raise eliminates near-term funding risk, providing a 30-year runway at current burn rates. Revenue is accelerating but remains modest; the investment thesis hinges on scaling photonic quantum technology in a rapidly growing market.
Valued at only $2.2 billion in market capitalization, Quantum Computing (QUBT 0.32%) stock may have the best name in the quantum computing industry -- but it's still one of the smaller stocks in this industry. Despite what you may be seeing happen with the stock price today, however, I fear Quantum Computing may be destined to stay small.
Shares of Quantum Computing leapt 16% through 11:05 a.m. ET Thursday morning, after The Wall Street Journal reported the Trump Administration plans to award $2 billion in grants to nine quantum computing companies and take equity stakes to secure its investment in each.
Image source: Getty Images.
Money for thee, but not for me That sounds like good news, but here's the thing:
Quantum Computing is not one of these nine companies. Instead of giving money to Quantum Computing, the Trump Administration will award $100 million each to its rivals D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 0.52%), Infleqtion (INFQ 2.36%), and Rigetti Computing (RGTI +0.69%), $375 million to Globalfoundries (GFS +3.02%), and a cool $1 billion to International Business Machines (IBM 0.30%)!
A handful of privately owned companies will split the remainder of the $2 billion.
And Quantum Computing itself will get none.
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What does this mean for Quantum Computing stock? So how is this good news for Quantum Computing stock, if it's getting no money, and everyone else is getting a lot of money -- plus backing from the U.S. government that will give it an interest in seeing Quantum Computing's rivals succeed (and perhaps that Quantum Computing fails)?
I honestly don't see any logic in investors buying Quantum Computing stock on this news. With analysts still expecting the stock to lose money for years, it may be time to sell.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends GlobalFoundries and International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
It’s a good day to be an American quantum computing company—well, as long as you’re willing to give up some equity.
Nine major firms are splitting $2 billion in grants from the Trump administration, the Wall Street Journal reports. In return, the government will take varying equity stakes in each of the companies.
IBM will receive half the award, putting it toward a new IBM company called Anderon. IBM will match the grant with another $1 billion in cash for the Albany, New York-based standalone company.
It’s an investment that IBM predicts will pay off in spades.
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“Anderon will operate as a state-of-the-art 300-millimeter quantum wafer foundry,” IBM stated in an announcement. “It will help the nation solidify its leadership at the center of a thriving new quantum industry that is estimated to generate up to $850 billion in economic value by 2040 and spur American economic growth while also bolstering national security.”
Alongside IBM, GlobalFoundries is set to receive $375 million from the grant, while companies such as D-Wave Quantum, Inc., Infleqtion Inc., and Rigetti Computing Inc. should get $100 million each.
Diraq, a private startup, is expected to receive $38 million.
Shares of Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI), Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT), D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS), and IonQ (NYSE:IONQ | IONQ Price Prediction) are extending Thursday’s sector rebound into a second straight session. In morning trading, RGTI shares are up 17%, QUBT shares are up 14%, QBTS shares are climbing 13%, and IONQ shares are rising 8%.
It’s no longer a one-day bounce. RGTI, QBTS, QUBT, and IONQ shares are now mid-way through a two-day rally with serious cumulative magnitude across the basket, extending well beyond Thursday’s single-session bounce.
24/7 Wall St. flagged Thursday’s sharp rebound across RGTI, QBTS, QUBT, and IONQ. Today’s session is stacking right on top of yesterday’s gains, and the leadership pattern inside the group is repeating almost line for line.
Day Two Stacks on Day One RGTI shares are up 17% today, on top of Thursday’s 19% jump. Rigetti stock trades near $26, against a $22.04 prior close.
QBTS shares are up 13% today, on top of Thursday’s 19% move. D-Wave Quantum stock’s one-month gain now sits at 33%.
QUBT shares are up 14% today after rising 13% on Thursday. Quantum Computing Inc. stock has now logged a one-month gain of 27%.
IONQ shares are up 8% today, after climbing 7% on Thursday. IonQ stock remains the day’s laggard, even though its one-month gain of 31% is undeniably impressive.
Same Dispersion Pattern Repeats The ranking within the group from Thursday is repeating today almost exactly. RGTI and QBTS, the two most beaten-down names heading into the week, are leading again on Day 2.
QUBT continues to sit in the middle of the pack. IONQ, a strong one-month and year-to-date (YTD) performer, is again bouncing the least, consistent with the classic deepest-pullback-bounces-hardest pattern playing out across two consecutive sessions.
The four companies pursue meaningfully different quantum approaches. Rigetti runs superconducting qubits, D-Wave Quantum sells annealing systems, IonQ uses trapped ions, and Quantum Computing Inc. is built around photonic technology. The basket trade tends to flatten those distinctions on momentum days.
Bull Case Versus Bear Case The bull case rests on AI-quantum convergence narratives, growing government and defense interest, and broader speculative-name rotation. IonQ’s Q1 2026 revenue of $64.67M (up 755% year over year) and raised FY2026 guidance of $260M to $270M give the group leader real fundamental thrust, while D-Wave Quantum’s Q1 bookings of $33.4M point to commercial pull.
The bear case is straightforward. These are pre-revenue or barely-revenue companies trading mostly on sentiment, two-day vertical moves in speculative names often attract profit-takers, and competition from larger incumbents like IBM and Quantinuum continues to loom over the pure-plays.
What to Watch Investors will watch for whether Monday brings a third consecutive up-day for the quantum basket, or whether the typical pattern of a Friday rip cooling by the next session asserts itself. D-Wave Quantum’s first-ever Investor Day, scheduled for June 1 at the NYSE, is the next dated catalyst on the calendar.
Beyond that, broader sentiment toward speculative AI-adjacent themes and any individual technical milestones could move the group. RGTI, QBTS, QUBT, and IONQ trade together, but each name has its own roadmap and its own balance sheet.
For investors in RGTI, QBTS, QUBT, and IONQ, the honest framework matters more than the headline. A two-day vertical move is real, yet pre-revenue companies trading on sentiment can reverse course just as quickly as they rallied, and prudent position sizing is the takeaway here.
Quantum computing stocks are flying again, lifted by a wave of policy enthusiasm after reports that the Trump administration is taking stakes in select quantum names. Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) has joined the parade, jumping 19.35% on May 21 and another 15.64% intraday on May 22 to $13.20. The problem: QUBT was not one of the companies receiving an investment, and the fundamentals make the move difficult to defend.
Riding Coattails It Did Not Earn Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) was a named beneficiary of the federal push and is up 48% on the week with another 20% session today. IonQ (NYSE:IONQ | IONQ Price Prediction), the sector revenue leader, is up 46.71% over the past month and remains a plausible future recipient of similar support. QUBT, by contrast, was not on the list and is unlikely to be added.
Reddit captured the mood with a top post noting, “The Trump administration just announced it is buying in quantum stocks. Bullish activity picked up 2 days prior.” That reflects sector momentum rather than a QUBT-specific thesis.
The Numbers Do Not Support the Stock QUBT carries a market capitalization near $2.99 billion against Q1 2026 revenue of just $3.691 million, which itself missed estimates by 24.77%. The price-to-sales ratio sits at 497. Gross profit was negative $721,000, meaning cost of revenue exceeded revenue. Operating loss came in at $20.55 million, with contract backlog of only $16 million.
The headline revenue growth of 5,950.8% year over year is misleading. Nearly all of it traces to the $110 million Luminar Semiconductor acquisition closed in February and the smaller $5 million NuCrypt deal in March. The reported $0.02 EPS loss was cushioned by $13.5 million in interest income and a $3.2 million non-cash derivative gain.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Quantum Computing didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
A Different Risk Profile From Its Peers CEO Yuping Huang framed the quarter as progress toward “accessible, scalable, and affordable quantum machines and photonic solutions.” Compare that to IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi describing “the biggest quarter in our company’s history” on $64.67 million in revenue and raised guidance of $260M to $270M for the year.
QUBT also carries baggage its peers do not: a history of securities fraud allegations tied to claims about technology capabilities, contracts, and revenue sources, plus a long-running reputation as a serial promoter. CFO Christopher Roberts disposed of 78,262 shares in early March at around $7.85, well below current prices.
Analyst targets average $17.83, but that consensus was set against a different fundamental backdrop. The sector rally is real. QUBT’s participation in it rests on association rather than fundamental results.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Quantum Computing didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Yesterday, as you've probably heard, The Wall Street Journal reported on a Trump Administration plan to award $2 billion in grants to nine quantum computing companies -- none of which is named Quantum Computing (QUBT 0.32%).
It's perhaps unsurprising that the company named "Quantum Computing" still got caught up in the quantumania yesterday. Indeed, Quantum stock started moving a day before the announcement, then rocketed higher yesterday -- and higher again today.
Up 15.6% through 11:50 a.m. Friday, Quantum shares have gained 44% in three days of trading. But does it make sense that one of the only quantum computing stocks to not win a grant is going up right alongside all the quantum computing stocks that did?
Image source: Getty Images.
Now it's official Maybe... if there was a typo in the Journal article? Maybe... if someone simply forgot to mention that Quantum Computing got its own contract, too?
Except that didn't happen.
Shortly after WSJ broke the story, the Department of Commerce confirmed the list of winners. Operating under the CHIPS and Science Act, Commerce will "support and accelerate critical research and manufacturing of technologies for the quantum ecosystem," awarding foundry contracts to Globalfoundries (GFS +3.02%) and International Business Machines (IBM 0.30%), and quantum technology contracts to "Atom Computing," "Diraq," "PsiQuantum," "Quantinuum," D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 0.52%), Infleqtion (INFQ 2.36%), and Rigetti Computing (RGTI +0.69%).
But again, not a penny for Quantum Computing Inc.
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What does this mean for Quantum Computing stock? Most grants were for $100 million, enough to give Quantum Computing two years of runway before it runs out of money -- if it had won a grant. Without a grant, Quantum Computing must continue burning its own cash at a rate of more than $42 million per year.
This is bad news, not good news, for Quantum Computing stock.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends GlobalFoundries and International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The quantum computing race is heating up, but choosing a winner involves navigating significant financial losses. Will you favor Rigetti Computing (RGTI +0.69%) or the smaller Quantum Computing (QUBT 0.32%) today?
Rigetti builds quantum devices using superconducting technology while Quantum Computing focuses on photonics as its approach. Both companies are early-stage players in a field that could redefine computing power. This comparison evaluates their financials and business models to see which is better positioned for your portfolio.
The case for Rigetti ComputingRigetti Computing builds superconducting quantum processors and offers access through its own cloud platform. It serves national laboratories and research centers within the tech stocks landscape, with a heavy reliance on the U.S. government. Sales to government entities comprised roughly 90.2% of total revenue in its 2025 fiscal year, which adds a layer of risk to the business.
In its 2025 fiscal year, revenue reached $7.1 million, representing a decrease of nearly 34.3% from the prior year. The company reported a net loss of $216.2 million for the period. The net margin reached approximately -3,050.4%, indicating that losses were significantly larger than the total revenue generated.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is zero. This indicates that the company has no total debt relative to its shareholder equity. The current ratio, which measures the ability to cover short-term liabilities with current assets, is very high at nearly 37.4x. Free cash flow, which is cash from operations minus capital expenditures, was negative $77.2 million.
The case for Quantum ComputingQuantum Computing develops integrated photonics and quantum optics products for high-performance computing. The company says its technologies serve diverse markets, and it has operations in Arizona, California, and Massachusetts. It operates a specialized foundry for integrated photonics to support its machine development.
In its 2025 fiscal year, revenue reached roughly $682,000, indicating an 82.8% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. Despite this growth, the company reported a net loss of $18.7 million. The net margin was approximately -2,738.1%, which highlights the fact that the company is currently spending much more on research than it earns.
As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio is zero. The current ratio is roughly 102.4x, which suggests a high level of liquid assets relative to upcoming bills. Free cash flow was approximately negative $37 million, and investors should monitor how quickly the company uses its cash reserves.
Risk profile comparisonRigetti Computing faces significant revenue concentration, as most of its business comes from U.S. government contracts. This creates high exposure to budget cuts or changes in federal fiscal policy. The company also faces intense competition from massive tech firms such as Alphabet and IBM., which also use superconducting technology.
Quantum Computing relies heavily on chip manufacturers in East Asia, which exposes it to geopolitical instability and trade restrictions. The company has limited experience in large-scale manufacturing, making the transition from research to commercial production difficult. It also competes for talent and market share against established giants like IBM.
Valuation comparisonBoth companies lack a Forward P/E due to negative earnings estimates, and they carry a high P/S ratio.
MetricRigetti ComputingQuantum ComputingSector BenchmarkForward P/En/an/a40.4xP/S ratio848x530xSector benchmark uses the SPDR XLK sector ETF. Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers.
Having studied and invested in the quantum computing sector for a few years, my choice between investing in Rigetti Computing or Quantum Computing Inc., which refers to itself as QCi, is Rigetti. That said, quantum computer technology is still in its early days, and the long-term winner will be the one with the approach that captures widespread commercial adoption. At this stage, both companies offer viable solutions.
My preference for Rigetti over QCi involves several factors. Its revenue is larger, which suggests its technology is capturing more customers. While 2025 sales were down year over year, that appears to be changing in 2026. Its first-quarter revenue totaled $4.4 million, up from 2025’s $1.5 million. It was also awarded a contract with the U.S. government worth up to $100 million in May. Moreover, superconducting quantum tech is more widely adopted as a promising methodology, which is why IBM and Google use it.
QCi shows some traction in gaining customers. Its Q1 sales were $3.7 million compared to just $39,000 in 2025. However, it was not among the companies that received the government award in May.
While neither stock is particularly cheap from a valuation perspective, investing in Rigetti is about its likelihood for long-term success. Thanks to its higher revenue and quantum computing approach, which is more widely-adopted in the industry, it looks like the better investment compared to QCi.
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS 0.52%), a quantum computing systems and services developer, closed Tuesday at $27.81, down 5.25%. The stock is moving as traders react to recent CHIPS and Science Act funding headlines and consider the stock’s already lofty valuation.
Trading volume reached 54.2 million shares, coming in about 78% above its three-month average of 30.4 million shares. D-Wave Quantum IPO'd in 2020 and has grown 174% since going public.
How the markets moved todayThe S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.02%) added 0.62% to finish Tuesday at 7,519, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.06%) rose 1.19% to close at 26,656. Within quantum computing, peers saw mixed action as IonQ (IONQ 1.75%) closed at $63.62 (-0.06%) and Quantum Computing (QUBT 0.32%) finished at $11.61 (-5.12%), underscoring ongoing volatility across speculative growth names.
What this means for investorsInvestors piled into D-Wave Quantum stock late last week after it announced $100 million in new funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Shares of D-Wave and other quantum computing names pulled back today, however, after Flatiron Institute researchers challenged the superiority of quantum computing simulations over classical computing.
The institute, which focuses on advancing scientific research, claimed that classical computers are capable of addressing a category of problems once thought to be solvable exclusively by quantum computers. D-Wave responded in a press release, disputing the claim, stating that the researchers used an algorithm that is “not effective across the full range of problem classes studied in D-Wave’s Science paper,” which showed simulation quantum superiority.
The dispute highlights just one risk associated with quantum stocks like D-Wave, which already have success built into their pricey valuations.
Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends IonQ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Editor’s Note: Chegg and Fiverr have both lost nearly 100% of their value since their 2021 highs. Teleperformance — once a $25 billion company — has been cut to pieces.
None of them saw it coming.
Jonathan Rose spent months studying the wreckage — and found four repeating signals the market missed every time. And those same signals are now stacking up in 12 names that still look fine today…
He and Marc Chaikin broke it all down at their Convergence event earlier this week.
You can catch the replay here — and read on for more.
I did some research recently that I can’t stop thinking about.
I went back and studied the companies that AI has already destroyed:
Chegg Inc. (CHGG) Fiverr International Ltd. (FVRR) Teleperformance SE (TLPFY) I looked at what they all had in common — not after the AI trend has destroyed them, but before. When the stock was still holding up and nobody was really worried yet.
I found four specific tells. Four characteristics that showed up, in some combination, in every single company before the fall.
Once I had the framework, I started running it forward and applied it to companies that by most measures look fine today. I found 12 names with multiple tells stacking up right now.
Some of them will upset you. You might own a few of them. Someone you respect probably recommended them.
But here’s the important point.
The same four signals that show me where smart money is quietly leaving also show me where it’s quietly arriving.
Institutional capital doesn’t sit in cash. When it rotates out of one place, it shows up somewhere else. It is ebb and flow, tidal gravity. It is ecological balance.
And right now, the somewhere else that smart money is flowing is getting very interesting.
In today’s piece, let’s take a walk through these three things:
The four tells – the warning signs I found in every AI casualty before the market caught on – and the 12 stocks those signals are flashing on right now.
Where the big money rotation is going right now, with some proof from our own track record to back it up.
A stock that sits directly in the path of that rotation. It’s one of the names where both a big trend and the smart money activity are pointing in the same direction at the same time.
Let’s get into it.
The Four Warning Signs Before AI Breaks a Stock I want to be clear: I didn’t start this research by looking for specific companies. I started by asking what the pattern was. Then I let the pattern find the names.
Here’s what I found.
Tell #1: Coordinated Insider Selling Not one executive trimming a position for tax reasons. Multiple senior people selling at the same time, across different titles, in size. When the people who know the business best are quietly getting out together, that’s not a coincidence.
Tell #2: Senior Talent Leaves for AI Companies Top engineers. Product leads. Salespeople who know where the customers are going. When they start moving to OpenAI, Anthropic, or the hyperscalers, they’re not leaving for the money alone. They’re leaving because they can see the trajectory from the inside.
Tell #3: Pricing Models Start to Change When a software company suddenly pivots from per-seat to consumption-based pricing, they’ll call it “innovation.” It isn’t. It’s a response to AI undercutting their model. Companies that are genuinely winning don’t restructure their pricing under pressure.
Tell #4: CEOs Start Denying the Threat This one is almost a perfect inverse signal. The earnings call where the CEO says, “AI cannot disrupt our business — our moat is too wide.” Real moats don’t require that kind of reassurance. When you hear it, pay attention to what’s happening underneath the surface.
12 Stocks Flashing Multiple AI Warning Signs The 12 names where I’m seeing multiple tells stack up:
Salesforce Inc. (CRM) Adobe Inc. (ADBE) Workday Inc. (WDAY) Gartner Inc. (IT) Atlassian Corp. (TEAM) HubSpot Inc. (HUBS) EPAM Systems Inc. (EPAM) DXC Technology Co. (DXC) Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) ServiceNow Inc. (NOW) Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) CoStar Group Inc. (CSGP) I’m not saying they all collapse tomorrow. I’m saying the smart money is repositioning out of them – and historically, price follows positioning. These are names I’m watching carefully, not holding.
Where Smart Money Is Rotating Next The flip side is more interesting.
Everything that AI is dismantling in software is simultaneously creating demand somewhere else. The infrastructure has to exist before the disruption can happen. The hardware. The computing power. The specialized applications that replace what’s being disrupted.
That’s where the smart money is building right now. And one of the clearest areas of concentration I’m tracking is quantum computing.
Why Quantum Computing Is Getting Attention Again I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t quantum just the next hype cycle?
Fair question. But let me tell you what the data actually shows—not the hype narrative, but the smart money activity.
The stock I want to share with you today is Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT).
This is a small-cap company working on quantum hardware, photonics, and cybersecurity applications. It’s speculative. I’ll say that plainly. But there’s a significant difference between speculation with a defined opinion and proof of big money moving in… and speculation on a story alone.
What’s catching my attention in QUBT isn’t the quantum narrative — it’s the activity. Unusual, concentrated positioning building around this ticker at a time when money is rotating hard out of legacy software and into the infrastructure layer underneath it.
QUBT recently reported a sharp jump in revenue following acquisitions tied to photonics and cybersecurity technologies. And the positioning we’re seeing has the same character as names we’ve caught early before.
Why Past Trades Matter We saw similar activity in Rigetti Computing Inc. (RGTI) before our trade on it ran 234% in five days . In MP Materials Corp. (MP) before a 700%-plus gain on our bullish trade. In Albemarle Corp. (ALB) before a 959% gain on a lithium trade.
None of those came from following a story or making a prediction. They came from watching where serious money was moving — and following it before the broader market figured out why.
That’s the setup in QUBT today.
Which brings me to what Marc Chaikin and I have been working on.
The Convergence Trigger: When Positioning and Money Flow Agree Marc has spent 60 years in markets. He created the Money Flow indicator — it’s now in Bloomberg terminals and virtually every major trading platform on the planet. For decades he built research tools for the world’s biggest hedge funds, then walked away to give regular investors access to the same analysis.
Marc can tell you where institutional money is flowing. I can tell you where the highest-conviction positioning is building. We both thought those two things were built to work together.
And so, we’ve spent the last few months putting them together to see what happens.
We backtested the combination against nearly 200 of my real trade recommendations. The results surprised even me. Confirmed setups produced 45% higher average gains than unconfirmed ones. Win rate jumped 17 percentage points. And the filter would have kept us out of two-thirds of losing trades.
We’re calling it the Convergence Trigger. And we just showed it off for the first time ever at a free event earlier this week.
QUBT is one of five stocks where that Convergence Trigger is flashing right now. You’ll get all five when you sign up for the event’s VIP list.
Click here to watch the replay.
The rotation is already underway. The question is which side of it you’re on.
QUBT weekly chart shows recovery following 88.6% Fibonacci retracement above 200-week moving average tend support Lower High Signals Ongoing Resistance Pressure This week’s high of $13.39 generated a second and lower high after finding resistance for the second time near the noted resistance zone. Price behavior suggests that a deeper pullback may follow to test lower support levels and possibly extend into a consolidation phase toward the 20-day average at $10.30 and the rising uptrend line.
Trend Channel Structure Defines Short-Term Path There is a short-term rising trend channel on the chart, which was recognized as resistance with Monday’s lower high. Although the post-earnings trend high briefly overshot the top of the channel, the close was near resistance at the top boundary. In each case, QUBT has respected the channel, which increases the possibility that the lower boundary line of the channel will be tested as support before an attempt at new trend highs occurs. Also, notably, there had not yet been a decisive close above the 200-day moving average on a sustained basis.
Breakout Threshold Toward Major Upside Extension A sustained recovery of the 200-day moving average and lower swing high at $13.64 would trigger a trend reversal, putting QUBT on track to eventually challenge multi-year highs near the 2025 peak of $25.84. Although QUBT has lagged some other quantum stocks, relative to the 200-day moving average, once it reclaims that indicator, bullish momentum should strengthen meaningfully, improving the probability of an extended upside move.
If you’d like to know more about technical analysis and how traders use it, please visit our educational area.
Quantum Computing Inc.: A Sudden Jump in RevenueQuantum Computing Inc. (QUBT 0.32%) primarily generates revenue by providing specialized software tools and application accelerators for quantum computers, focusing heavily on serving large commercial and government entities through its quantum optics and integrated photonics technology.
While it completed the acquisition of NuCrypt and introduced its new deployment-ready computing architecture, it reported a net income margin of negative 110% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
IonQ: Steadily Climbing RevenueIonQ (IONQ 1.75%) primarily develops general-purpose quantum computing systems and generates revenue by selling computational access through major cloud platforms and proprietary networks using ion-based technology.
It commercially launched new Earth monitoring capabilities and secured an advanced defense research contract, and it reported a gross margin of about 24% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Why Revenue Matters for Retail InvestorsRevenue represents the total amount of money a business brings in from its core operations before any expenses are subtracted, serving as a fundamental baseline measure of overall consumer demand and business growth.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Quarterly Revenue for Quantum Computing and IonQQuarter (Period End)Quantum Computing RevenueIonQ RevenueQ2 2024 (June 2024)$183.0K$11.4 millionQ3 2024 (Sept. 2024)$101.0K$12.4 millionQ4 2024 (Dec. 2024)$62.0K$11.7 millionQ1 2025 (March 2025)$39.0K$7.6 millionQ2 2025 (June 2025)$61.0K$20.7 millionQ3 2025 (Sept. 2025)$384.0K$39.9 millionQ4 2025 (Dec. 2025)$198.0K$61.9 millionQ1 2026 (March 2026)$3.7 million$64.7 millionData source: Company filings. Data as of May 28, 2026.
Foolish TakeExamining the revenue trends between IonQ and Quantum Computing Inc., which refers to itself as QCi, shows a stark contrast, and provides meaningful insights to investors. Not only is IonQ’s sales consistently larger than QCi’s, its revenue growth rate is spectacular.
For example, IonQ reported record revenue of $64.7 million in the first quarter, representing jaw-dropping 755% year-over-year growth. This indicates the company’s ion-based quantum computing technology is capturing customers.
Meanwhile, QCi’s sales trend shows anemic and inconsistent revenue, revealing its photonic technology hasn’t been able to gain traction with customers. That finally seemed to change in Q1 with sales of $3.7 million compared to just $39,000 in the previous year. However, that dramatic boost came from its acquisition of NuCrypt and Luminar Semiconductor.
Given what the revenue numbers between these two companies reveal, IonQ looks like a solid business to invest in for those who want exposure to the quantum computing sector. Its technology is winning customers, as its strong growth rate and consistency in rising revenue over recent quarters indicates.
QCi has not proven its technology can generate meaningful sales, and its Q1 year-over-year increase was due to acquisitions, not customer growth. This trend is concerning, unless the acquired businesses can help to ignite sales.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Computing Inc. ("QCi" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: QUBT), a quantum optics and integrated photonics company, today announced that management will be participating in the following investor conferences:
Bank of America's Global Technology Conference on June 2-3, 2026 in San Francisco Rosenblatt's 6th Annual Technology Summit on June 9-10, 2026, attending virtually Bank of America's Transforming World Conference on June 16, 2026 in New York City Benchmark's Quantum Computing Summit on June 17, 2026 in Washington, DC Northland's Growth Conference on June 23, 2026, attending virtually Please contact your sales representative to register for any of the above conferences.
About Quantum Computing Inc.
Quantum Computing Inc. (Nasdaq: QUBT) is a quantum optics and integrated photonics company focused on delivering accessible, scalable, and cost-effective quantum machines and photonic solutions. The Company provides foundry services for thin-film lithium niobate ("TFLN") photonic chips and offers a vertically integrated portfolio spanning photonics components, subsystems, and full-stack systems.
Designed to operate at room-temperature with low-power requirements, QCi's technologies enable practical deployment across high-growth markets, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, and advanced sensing and imaging.
Headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, QCi has operations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Virginia. By combining advanced materials, device engineering, and scalable manufacturing, QCi delivers integrated quantum and photonics technologies, accelerating commercialization and real-world adoption.
Company Contact:
John Nesbett/Zach Nevas
IMS Investor Relations
[email protected]
Shares of Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) have gained 29.9% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $11.96, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $17.83 indicates a potential upside of 49.1%.
The mean estimate comprises six short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $6.4. While the lowest estimate of $10.00 indicates a 16.4% decline from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 125.8% to reach $27.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in QUBT. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why QUBT Could Witness a Solid UpsideThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 43.2%, as three estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, QUBT currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much QUBT could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
Quantum Computing shares surge 19.4% year to date as the company boosts revenues, completes two acquisitions and expands DIRAC commercialization despite margin pressures.
Key Takeaways QUBT is highlighted as a June quantum pick as IonQ and Rigetti face rising expectations.QUBT's Q1 2026 revenues rose to $3.7M from $39,000, aided by Luminar and NuCrypt acquisitions.QUBT reported $1.4B in cash and investments, a $16M backlog, and progress on Fab expansion. The quantum computing space is gaining massive momentum in the race to become Wall Street's hottest opportunity in 2026. This is all because federal funding is accelerating, enterprise interest is growing, and investors continue to search for the next breakthrough technology after artificial intelligence.
Yet stock selection is becoming increasingly tricky day by day.
While investors have aggressively bid up industry leaders like IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) during the first half of 2026, a closer look at earnings revisions and business fundamentals suggests that Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) , a comparatively more speculative quantum stock, may offer the more attractive opportunity in June.
Quantum Momentum Builds but Risks Remain for Pureplay LeadersAfter facing significant headwinds early in 2026, quantum computing has rapidly regained investors’ favor and become one of Wall Street's most compelling investment opportunities. Earlier in the year, risk-off sentiment driven by tariff concerns, persistent inflation uncertainty and concerns that large-scale quantum commercialization remained years away weighed heavily on the sector. However, the sentiment shifted dramatically as both public- and private-sector participation accelerated.
According to McKinsey’s latest report, quantum computing could create up to $2.7 trillion of economic value worldwide by 2035. IonQ and Rigetti Computing emerged as two of the biggest beneficiaries of this uptrend during the first half of 2026. IonQ gained momentum on the back of strong revenue growth, a growing backlog and strategic acquisitions, while Rigetti gained investors’ interest through hardware advancements, deployment of its 108-qubit system and continued participation in government-funded quantum initiatives.
Meanwhile, a major catalyst came in May when the U.S. Department of Commerce announced letters of intent for roughly $2 billion in proposed funding for quantum-related projects under the CHIPS and Science Act. Around the same time, IBM pledged to invest more than $10 billion in U.S.-based quantum and mainframe manufacturing over the next five years, reflecting growing confidence in the technology's long-term potential.
However, this also raised expectations considerably. While IonQ has benefited from acquisition-driven revenue growth and Rigetti has made notable technological progress, both companies continue to face profitability challenges and execution risks. As valuations expanded rapidly, investors increasingly began questioning whether near-term fundamentals could keep pace with stock-price appreciation, creating a more selective environment within the quantum space.
QUBT: A Better Bet for JuneUnlike IonQ, whose shares have already captured much of the sector's renewed optimism, Quantum Computing (popularly known as QCi) offers a more attractive risk-reward profile at current levels. Year to date, QUBT has significantly underperformed the broader quantum rally, gaining only about 9.1%. This leaves more room for upside if execution continues to improve.
QUBT YTD Share Price Comparison
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company's fundamentals are also strengthening. First-quarter 2026 revenues surged to $3.7 million from just $39,000 a year ago, driven by the acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt.
The company ended the quarter with $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments and reported a healthy $16 million backlog. Management also highlighted increasing business-development activity, early revenue generation from its Fab 1 foundry, progress toward a larger Fab 2 facility and growing traction in quantum communications, photonics and government-related markets.
With a stronger balance sheet, expanding manufacturing capabilities and lower investor expectations than some peers, QUBT appears better positioned for positive surprises in the months ahead.
Technical Chart Signals Improving Investor SentimentQCi currently trades below its 200-day SMA but above its 50-day SMA, implying that while the stock remains in a longer-term consolidation phase, near-term momentum has turned positive and buying interest is gradually returning. The graph shows the potential for a longer-term trend reversal if the stock can reclaim its 200-day moving average.
QUBT Technical Analysis Since June 4, 2025
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Short-Term Price Target ImpressiveBased on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target for Quantum Computing represents an increase of 59.2% from the last closing price of $11.20.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Closing CallThe market's focus has largely centered on IonQ and Rigetti, but QUBT may offer a better risk-reward profile at current levels. Strong liquidity, growing backlog, manufacturing expansion and improving business momentum provide several potential catalysts for future gains. Given that investor expectations remain relatively modest compared with the bigger names, QUBT appears well positioned to surprise on the upside. Notably, this improving outlook is reflected in its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), while IonQ and Rigetti currently carry a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Quantum Computing exited Q1 2026 with about $1.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and investments. QUBT reported about $1.6 billion in assets and equity, while liabilities totaled $23.4 million. Quantum Computing generated $13.5 million in interest income and reported a $16 million backlog. Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi” exited the first quarter of 2026 with a strong balance sheet, providing the company with financial flexibility to carry out its growth strategy. QCi ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and investments of about $1.4 billion, demonstrating that the company maintained a substantial liquidity position despite completing the acquisitions of Luminar Semiconductor (“LSI”) and NuCrypt.
QCi’s financial strength is further reflected in its total assets of about $1.6 billion and stockholders' equity of approximately $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, total liabilities accounted for $23.4 million, much lower than the cash level.
The company generated $13.5 million in interest income during the first quarter, highlighting the earnings potential of its sizable cash reserves. QCi also reported a contract backlog of $16 million, providing visibility into future revenue opportunities and supporting the company's growth outlook.
Overall, QCi's substantial cash reserves, strong equity base and healthy backlog position the company to fund organic growth initiatives, pursue strategic acquisitions and invest in manufacturing scale-up efforts without near-term financing concerns. This financial flexibility is a valuable cushion in an industry where research and development costs remain high.
Peer UpdateRigetti (RGTI - Free Report) exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash, cash equivalents and short-term available-for-sale investments of $418.2 million. The company ended the quarter with no debt on its balance sheet, underscoring a solid solvency position. This means Rigetti has ample liquidity to fund its operations and roadmap execution without near-term financing pressure.
D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) exited first-quarter 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $338.2 million and marketable investment securities were $250.2 million. Operating cash outflow was $45 million in the first quarter, while investing cash outflow included $250.8 million of cash consideration for the Quantum Circuits acquisition. Even after that step-down, the balance sheet supports continued investment in R&D, sales coverage and system installations. Entering 2026, Leap Cloud utilization remained below 50%, providing ample capacity headroom, and allowing additional annealing systems to be deployed within months at modest cost.
QUBT’s Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 5.4%, outperforming the industry’s 11.3% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) of 95.27X compared with the industry median of 4.97X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has moved north to 14 cents.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Quantum Computing acquired Luminar Semiconductor and NuCrypt to expand photonics and communications. QUBT placed a Dirac-3 system on Quantum Corridor's network for secure customer access. QUBT's Fab 1 facility began small-batch manufacturing and started generating early revenues. During the first quarter, Quantum Computing (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi” made several significant operational progress, which further strengthened its long-term growth roadmap.
During the first quarter, QCi completed the acquisition of Luminar Semiconductor, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at $110 million. LSI manufactures and sells a portfolio of photonic components and brings established capabilities in lasers, detectors, advanced packaging and manufacturing, complementing QCi’s position in thin film lithium niobate (“TFLN”) integrated photonics.
QCi also completed the acquisition of NuCrypt, LLC, a quantum communications technology company, in a transaction valued at $5 million. By integrating NuCrypt’s suite of quantum communications systems and products, QCi expects to advance its technology roadmap while extending its portfolio of quantum communications and quantum photonics solutions.
QCi announced the placement of a QCi Dirac-3 quantum optimization machine on Quantum Corridor’s network, a multi-state quantum-safe commercial communication network in North America. The partnership with Quantum Corridor will allow for enhanced, secure and on-demand Dirac-3 access for institutions and commercial customers on Quantum Corridor’s network.
QCi’s Fab 1 facility, which is currently dedicated to research, development and prototyping, has been ramping up small-batch manufacturing and is beginning to generate revenues.
Peer UpdateRigetti (RGTI - Free Report) continued to demonstrate progress in gate performance across its superconducting quantum platforms during the first quarter. RGTI achieved a median 99.8% two-qubit gate fidelity with 40-nanosecond gate speeds on its 9-qubit system by using a proprietary adiabatic CZ gate scheme.
Throughout the quarter, Rigetti continued to improve system-level performance through refinements across the stack, including innovations in materials and fabrication techniques and upgraded control electronics. It continued its collaboration with ecosystem partners, including Riverlane, to advance error mitigation and error correction research on Rigetti’s superconducting quantum systems.
During the first quarter, IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) was awarded a $39 million contract to advance next-generation tactical space communications under the Space Development Agency’s (“SDA”) HALO Program, paving the way for mission-ready, quantum-space systems in national security.
IonQ signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KISTI to explore the advancement of hybrid quantum-HPC technologies incorporating NVIDIA-accelerated computing, representing a powerful convergence of quantum computing, AI and classical supercomputing. The company also sold its first sixth-generation, chip-based 256-qubit system to the University of Cambridge. The agreement is anchored by a secure quantum network and a broad intellectual property (IP) generation partnership spanning quantum computing, networking, sensing and security.
QUBT’s Stock Price PerformanceOver the past year, QCi’s shares have plunged 30.6% compared with the industry’s 16.4% decline.
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QUBT’s Expensive ValuationQUBT currently trades at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) of 84.56X compared with the industry median of 4.97X.
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QUBT Stock Estimate TrendIn the past 30 days, QCi’s loss per share estimate for 2026 has moved north to 14 cents.
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QUBT currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways OpenAI, SpaceX and Anthropic IPO filings may boost investor interest in QUBT and QBTS.QUBT posted $3.7M in Q1 2026 revenues and highlighted photonics foundry capabilities.QBTS cited proposed CHIPS Act funding, strong bookings growth and a new roadmap. The quantum computing industry may not be a direct participant in the upcoming AI IPO wave, but it could still be one of its biggest beneficiaries. Following confidential IPO filings by Anthropic on June 1 and OpenAI on June 8, the stage is set for what could become two of the largest AI listings in history.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is expected to go public this week in a blockbuster offering that could further fuel enthusiasm for frontier technologies. As investors evaluate these potential trillion-dollar-valued listings, attention is increasingly shifting to how they could reshape capital flows across emerging technologies, including quantum computing.
Here, we have picked two pure-play quantum computing stocks, Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS - Free Report) , with more than 40% short-term price upside potential. These two stocks are well-positioned to capitalize on the increased capital flows and growing investor attention likely to accompany the upcoming AI IPO wave.
AI IPOs Could Unlock Fresh CapitalThe impact on quantum computing is likely to be felt first through capital markets. Successful AI IPOs can strengthen investor appetite for emerging technologies, potentially making it easier for quantum companies to raise equity, attract strategic partners and secure long-term funding. This comes at a time when governments and corporations are already increasing their commitment to the sector. In June, the U.S. government unveiled a more than $2 billion quantum investment initiative, while major technology companies continue to expand spending on advanced computing infrastructure. Meanwhile, major technology companies continue to invest heavily in advanced computing infrastructure, creating a favorable backdrop for emerging computing platforms.
Quantum's Path to Commercialization May ShortenAside from this, the pace of commercialization may also gain traction within the quantum computing niche. Over the past three years, massive investment in AI has fueled spending on data centers, specialized chips and software platforms, creating clear winners across the value chain. Quantum investors are hoping for a similar trajectory. Other than QUBT and QBTS, companies such as IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) are pursuing commercial opportunities in optimization, cybersecurity, networking and AI-related applications. At the same time, IBM and Microsoft continue to advance quantum hardware and software development. A strong AI IPO cycle could make it easier for quantum firms to attract strategic partnerships and fund expensive initiatives such as error correction, scalable hardware and quantum networking.
2 Quantum Stocks with 45%+ Price Target to Benefit From This TrendQuantum Computing Inc. or QCi: It appears well-positioned to benefit from any potential increase in investor interest toward frontier technologies following the OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs. QCi is differentiating itself through quantum photonics rather than traditional superconducting architectures, with applications spanning AI, cybersecurity and high-performance computing. QUBT reported first-quarter 2026 revenues of $3.7 million, up from just $39,000 a year earlier. It ended the quarter with approximately $1.4 billion in cash and investments. The company has also been highlighting its photonics foundry capabilities and room-temperature systems, which could become increasingly attractive as capital flows toward next-generation computing infrastructure.
QUBT currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Based on short-term price targets offered by six analysts, the average price target for Quantum Computing represents an increase of 70.62% from the last closing price of $10.45.
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D-Wave Quantum: It is among the most direct beneficiaries of the U.S. government’s recently announced $2 billion quantum initiative. In May, D-Wave signed a Letter of Intent for $100 million in proposed CHIPS Act funding, validating its annealing and gate-model quantum technologies. D-Wave also reported a 2,000% year-over-year improvement in first-quarter bookings and recently unveiled a roadmap targeting fault-tolerant quantum systems. Capitalizing on the AI IPO cycle and with federal funds accelerating quantum development, D-Wave's growing commercial traction and government backing could strengthen its position in the race toward large-scale commercialization.
QBTS currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Based on short-term price targets offered by 13 analysts, the average price target for D-Wave Quantum represents an increase of 46.54% from the last closing price.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Quantum Computing QUBT drew a bullish call from Rosenblatt Securities after analyst John McPeake kept a Buy rating and a $22 price target, implying about 130 % upside, following a fireside chat with management at the firm's technology summit.
Quantum Computing is still early in commercialization, but McPeake said the company appears to be shifting from a research-heavy model toward one centered more on products and revenue. He pointed to an upgraded version of the company's Dirac 3 platform and additional sales as possible near-term catalysts.
Quantum Computing also has about $1.4 billion in cash and little debt, which McPeake said could produce roughly $40 million to $45 million a year in interest income. That helps offset annual expenses of about $80 million and lowers near-term financing pressure.
McPeake said investors are likely to focus more on execution, customer adoption and whether Quantum Computing can build repeatable sales. He said the risk-reward setup still looks favorable, but long-term success will depend on scaling the business and proving steady demand.
