As China accelerates its progress in quantum communications—mainly with space-based quantum key distribution (QKD)—IonQ, Inc. IONQ is racing to fortify its global leadership. The first-quarter 2025earnings callshowed that IonQ is not just keeping pace but expanding aggressively across compute, networking, and space applications, making bold moves that could entrench its competitive edge for years.
IonQ’s strategy hinges on its ability to scale quantum computing through a networked, multicore architecture, enabled by photonic interconnects and powered by key acquisitions. The recent buyouts of Lightsynq and Capella are pivotal. Lightsynq brings quantum memory and repeater technology that can stretch quantum networks hundreds of miles, while Capella adds satellite-based QKD capabilities and classified project access, directly addressing the frontier where China is surging ahead.
Meanwhile, IonQ’s expansion isn’t just technical, it’s commercial. The company sold a $22 million Forte Enterprise system to EPB, marking the first U.S. deployment combining a quantum computer and network. It also closed the ID Quantique deal, adding four commercial quantum networks in the telecom and defense sectors.
Despite reporting a net loss of $32.3 million in the first quarter, IonQ remains well-capitalized with nearly $700 million in cash. With DARPA partnerships, cloud access via AWS, and breakthroughs in quantum machine learning, IonQ is staking its claim as the full-stack quantum leader.
While China looms as a formidable rival, IonQ’s integrated approach across ground, cloud, and space gives it a real shot at long-term supremacy in the quantum race.
Rivals in the Race: IBM and Alphabet Deepen Quantum Push
Two of IonQ’s most relevant competitors in the global quantum race are International Business Machines Corporation IBM and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL, both of which are heavily investing in quantum computing and encryption technologies. IBM, a long-standing player, has built one of the most mature quantum platforms with its IBM Quantum program. It recently announced plans for a 100,000-qubit machine within a decade, emphasizing error correction and scalable architectures. While IBM leads in industrial partnerships and open-access quantum development, it lags IonQ in photonic interconnect innovation and commercial quantum networking.
Alphabet, via its Google Quantum AI division, also poses a major challenge. Known for achieving "quantum supremacy" in 2019, Google is pursuing superconducting qubit systems and has laid out a roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. However, it remains focused on in-house research rather than commercializing quantum networking, where IonQ currently holds a distinctive first-mover advantage.
IONQ’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
IonQ shares have gained 71.6% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IonQ’s forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 102.99 is far above the industry average of 3.89.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For IONQ, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 loss per share has narrowed over the past 60 days, as you can see below, depicting analysts’ optimism. The estimated figure indicates a much narrower loss than the year-ago reported loss of $1.56 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues implies year-over-year growth of 97.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IONQ stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Can IonQ Maintain Its Quantum Edge With China Advancing Fast?

Although the technology arena is still heavily involved in the artificial intelligence (AI) arms race, the quantum computing race is starting to heat up. Quantum computing could unlock the next phase of AI, as well as drive innovations in other fields, like logistics. However, the industry is still a few years away from seeing quantum computing deployed on a wide scale, and investors need to be careful not to get involved too early.
Still, I think there are a few quantum computing stocks that are worth buying today and could work out well for investors, regardless of how the next few years of quantum computing developments unfold.
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Nvidia
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) probably isn't the first company that comes to mind when you think of quantum computing. It specializes in graphics processing units (GPUs), which are built to run using traditional computing techniques. However, Nvidia sees the potential in quantum computing and wants to partner with as many quantum computing companies as possible to ensure its equipment is used in conjunction with quantum computers.
One technology that sets Nvidia apart in the GPU world is its CUDA software, which allows developers to maximize the computing potential of GPUs. Nvidia has begun developing CUDA-Q software, which will integrate with various quantum processing units being developed by other companies. This software integration will bridge the gap between traditional and quantum computing, ensuring that Nvidia, regardless of its success, will capture a slice of the quantum market.
In the meantime, investors continue to reap the benefits of Nvidia's GPU sales, which are fueling the AI arms race. There's still a ton more computing capacity that needs to be built out, and Nvidia's stock will continue to capitalize on that for years to come.
Alphabet
Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) kicked off the quantum computing investment hype in December when it announced its Willow quantum computing chip. Willow solved a problem in five minutes that would have taken the fastest supercomputer 10 septillion (10 to the 25th power) years to complete. This test was stacked in Willow's favor, as it involved a problem that leverages quantum computing's strengths, but it demonstrates that accurate quantum computing technology is feasible.
Similar to Nvidia, Alphabet doesn't need its quantum computing investments to work out in order to be a successful investment. It has an incredibly successful base business and is also developing top-notch AI tools that will allow Alphabet to excel in an AI-first world. Furthermore, Alphabet's stock is currently undervalued at 18 times forward earnings.
While most quantum computing and AI stocks are quite expensive, Alphabet's stock offers solid value to investors. Alphabet is a heavyweight competitor in both the AI and quantum computing races, making it an excellent buy right now.
IonQ
IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) is a pure-play quantum computing investment, and it's my top pick among companies whose business models are solely based on the success of its quantum computing products. There is no backup plan for IonQ; if it fails, the stock price will drop to $0. This is an important consideration for investors, and position sizing needs to be appropriate for a company that carries as much risk as IonQ.
However, there are several positive signs with IonQ's stock. It holds several key quantum computing contracts, including one with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab. The company also boasts a leading two-qubit gate fidelity, a common measure of the accuracy of a quantum computing calculation. This stems from IonQ's all-to-all connectivity, which allows each qubit to interact with each other to produce the most accurate calculation possible.
Furthermore, IonQ has developed a practical approach for quantum computing, as its trapped ion approach enables the computers to operate at room temperature. Most other solutions are focusing on the superconducting path, which requires cooling the particle to nearly absolute zero temperatures. Should IonQ's technology deliver solid results for prospective clients, it can differentiate itself from the competition based solely on its operating costs.
IonQ is still a long shot, but I think it's the best among the pure-play start-ups. Pairing IonQ with Alphabet and Nvidia in an investment portfolio is a solid approach, as it allows investors to balance the risk of an all-or-nothing investment like IonQ with companies that have established, solid businesses, such as Nvidia and Alphabet.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*
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The Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Right Now

Advancements in quantum computing are generating buzz in the stock market, promising to revolutionize fields like machine learning, optimization, simulations, and cryptography. Some investors may wonder whether quantum systems will follow the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a game-changing technology, driving massive growth for pioneering companies and spectacular shareholder returns.
Are quantum computing stocks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for investors? Here's what you need to know.
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What is quantum computing?
Quantum computers are designed to tackle highly complex calculations, far surpassing the capabilities of even the most advanced supercomputers. Unlike classical systems that rely on binary logic, quantum computers use qubits, which can represent 0, 1, or both simultaneously in an additional dimension of data.
This ability to unlock exponentially greater computational speeds could be critical for future breakthroughs in everything from cybersecurity, encryption, and drug discovery to materials science, financial modeling, and even the next generation of AI.
According to some experts, quantum computing could represent a $170 billion market for hardware and software providers by 2040, with rapid acceleration expected into the next decade.
The early pioneers
Several companies are advancing quantum computing with diverse architectures.
IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) employs trapped-ion technology, generating $47 million in revenue in 2024 (through March 31) via its quantum computing-as-a-service (QCaaS) model on cloud platforms. Though not yet profitable, IonQ projects nearly doubling its revenue in 2025 amid numerous high-profile contracts, including with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab.
D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) uses quantum annealing to address optimization problems, counting 133 customers exploring real-world applications as last reported. Its shares are up 1,186% over the past year.
Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) stands out through vertical integration, designing and fabricating its Ankaa-3 system in-house, with plans for a 108-qubit superconducting system later this year. Despite modest revenue of $1.5 million in its first quarter (through March 31), its ambitious roadmap fueled a 1,135% stock gain over the past year.
In fact, market enthusiasm has carried each of these three quantum investments to multibagger gains and billion-dollar valuations, despite their relatively modest financial results.
While it's unclear which quantum architecture will have a competitive edge, the opportunity will be fiercely competitive. Established tech giants, such as Alphabet, International Business Machines, and Microsoft, have embraced quantum computing, announcing proprietary quantum chip development. These companies leverage vast resources alongside AI and cloud computing leadership, positioning them at the forefront of innovation.
Still in the NISQ era
Before getting too excited about the trajectory of the quantum pioneers, it's important to recognize that the technology has limitations. The main challenge quantum computing faces is that the systems are still stuck in what researchers refer to as the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era.
While capable of achieving quantum solutions, current quantum computers struggle to scale qubits significantly while managing rising error rates. This means that the quantum computers being sold by companies like IonQ and D-Wave Systems are limited to niche or research applications -- unable to outperform conventional hardware on a reliable basis.
In contrast to AI, which had its breakthrough with the emergence of AI chatbots in late 2022, quantum computing may be lacking a defining application necessary to drive widespread adoption at the enterprise level. The timetable for quantum computing's ChatGPT moment will continue to be debated, making investing in the industry particularly tricky.
Extreme valuations warrant caution
More pressing for investors in the near term will be reconciling some eye-watering valuations for the companies in the quantum computing spotlight. Amid the massive stock price gains over the past year, shares of IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti Computing are all trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio exceeding 100, an extreme premium compared to the more proven tech giants and their single-digit sales multiples.
The market appears to be pricing in hyper-growth scenarios, betting on overcoming technical hurdles and achieving commercial scalability -- outcomes that remain uncertain. With extremely high expectations, the risk is that results disappoint, forcing expectation resets and sharp stock declines.
The big picture for investors
Quantum computing investments hold potential, but early-stage uncertainties and sky-high valuations make it a more speculative gamble than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The prudent move is to stick with companies presenting high-quality fundamentals, generating positive cash flows, and showing consistent profitable growth. Companies like Alphabet and Microsoft provide safer quantum exposure within diversified portfolios.
Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now?
Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Dan Victor has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, International Business Machines, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Quantum Computing Investments: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity?

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in Datadog Inc (Symbol: DDOG), where a total volume of 26,249 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.6 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 54.9% of DDOG's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 4.8 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $140 strike call option expiring July 18, 2025, with 3,866 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 386,600 underlying shares of DDOG. Below is a chart showing DDOG's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $140 strike highlighted in orange:
Ionq Inc (Symbol: IONQ) saw options trading volume of 127,115 contracts, representing approximately 12.7 million underlying shares or approximately 54.6% of IONQ's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 23.3 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $44 strike call option expiring July 03, 2025, with 9,047 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 904,700 underlying shares of IONQ. Below is a chart showing IONQ's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $44 strike highlighted in orange:
And Dave Inc (Symbol: DAVE) options are showing a volume of 2,545 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 254,500 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 53.4% of DAVE's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 476,690 shares. Particularly high volume was seen for the $300 strike call option expiring December 19, 2025, with 651 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 65,100 underlying shares of DAVE. Below is a chart showing DAVE's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $300 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for DDOG options, IONQ options, or DAVE options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
BLND market cap history
SSP market cap history
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Monday Option Activity: DDOG, IONQ, DAVE

Investing early in a leading developer of a cutting-edge technology has enabled some individuals to amass fortunes in the past. Could buying shares of quantum computing pioneer IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) set you up for life? The answer is... maybe.
There's no question that IonQ is sizzling hot right now. But here's what it will take for the stock to generate the kind of returns that could be life-changing.
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IonQ's promise
Some technologies that are heralded as revolutionary don't live up to the hype. However, quantum computing is one that truly could be worthy of that description. And IonQ's promise is intertwined with the potential for quantum computing.
As powerful as today's classical computers are, they're limited. Some calculations can't be done, at least in any reasonable timeframe, with even the fastest supercomputers available today. Quantum computers, though, offer the possibility of performing calculations in seconds and minutes that could require millions of years for current computers.
We're not talking about esoteric uses that help only a few mathematicians and theoretical scientists. Quantum computing could transform artificial intelligence (AI), drug discovery, optimization used in logistics and manufacturing, materials science, simulation, weather forecasting, and more. By 2030, quantum computing could be a $65 billion market -- and that's likely to be only the tip of the iceberg.
IonQ is well positioned to claim a significant share of that market. The company already sells viable quantum computers available on all three major cloud platforms. Its trapped-ion technology offers lower error correction overhead, something that's extremely important in quantum computing, compared with rival approaches. IonQ's systems can also run at room temperature instead of requiring super-cooling, a big advantage.
IonQ's challenges
However, we also need to acknowledge IonQ's challenges. The most immediate one is that the company remains unprofitable. And its losses are widening -- $48.5 million in 2022, $157.8 million in 2023, and $331.6 million in 2024.
As promising as early quantum computers developed by IonQ are, they're nowhere close to the point of fulfilling the potential of the technology. In particular, future quantum computers must be able to use a much higher number of qubits than current systems.
IonQ is betting the farm on its trapped-ion architecture. However, there are several other promising quantum computing architectures, including superconducting qubits, neutral atom quantum computing, photonic quantum computing, and topological qubits.
On a related note, the company faces some well-heeled competition. Google parent Alphabet, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and Nvidia could be formidable rivals. So could other up-and-coming quantum computing companies such as D-Wave Quantum, Quantum Computing Inc., and Rigetti Computing.
Setting you up for life?
Another reason the best answer to the question about whether buying IonQ stock can set you up for life is that the amount required to set one person up for life could be different from the next person. The magic number won't always be the same.
If $1 million is your target, the odds that IonQ will set you up for life are low. To grow an initial investment of $10,000 into $1 million would require that the company deliver a hundredfold return. I think it's possible that IonQ's market cap could skyrocket from around $10.5 billion today to over $1 trillion, but is it probable? No. While some stocks do manage to generate such staggering returns, most don't.
Perhaps the better question to ask is whether investing in IonQ could make you a lot of money over the next 10 to 20 years. I think the answer to this question is also "maybe." However, it's a much stronger maybe. IonQ still faces plenty of hurdles. However, if its trapped-ion architecture can fulfill its potential, the stock will be a huge winner -- even if it doesn't set you up for life.
Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now?
Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Keith Speights has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, International Business Machines, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Could Buying IonQ Stock Set You Up for Life?

In the fledgling field of quantum computing, IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) has emerged as one of the leading start-up investment options. It holds key contracts with top players in the quantum computing field, like the Air Force Research Lab, and offers top-notch technology.
Although it's far from a surefire bet, is this quantum computing start-up the best chance at transforming a meager investment into $1 million? After all, quantum computing has the potential to transform high-powered computing. Let's take a closer look.
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1. IonQ's error correction is among the best
Quantum computing can potentially be an absolute game changer in the high-powered computing world. It lets users tackle problems they've never been able to fully model before (like weather patterns and logistics networks), but it also could have massive implications for artificial intelligence (AI). Quantum computing could deliver huge value for whichever company can win the quantum computing arms race, but each competitor must solve a key problem first: errors.
Unlike traditional computing, quantum computing doesn't have a clear black-and-white answer. While traditional computers use bits to transmit information, which can only be in the form of a 0 or a 1, quantum computing uses qubits. While qubits collapse down to a 0 or a 1 when measured, they can exist in a state between 0 and 1 during the calculation process. This opens up many possibilities within a calculation, which is why quantum computers could perform better at workloads with thousands of possibilities.
The best way most companies have found to deal with this error issue is to let the qubits interact with each other to reduce errors. While many competitors have placed their qubits in a grid-like system to let the qubits interact with their neighbors, IonQ has taken it a step further. They use all-to-all connectivity, which lets every qubit interact with every other qubit. This leads to unparalleled 2-qubit gate fidelity, and IonQ's process already has greater than 99.9% fidelity.
This shows that IonQ has already made a fantastic start on the most critical problem with quantum computing, which is why it has several key partnerships.
2. IonQ holds several critical contracts
IonQ holds one of the largest contracts in quantum computing with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab, a facility known for testing cutting-edge technologies. This indicates that quantum computing is not just a future technology; it can be used in its current state.
To further support this option, IonQ hardware is available for use on the three major cloud computing providers: Microsoft Azure, Alphabet's Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services. With IonQ's hardware becoming more widely available, it's making key progress in this race. If it can differentiate itself from its competitors and start to capture a customer base, it could create a foothold that would be hard to disrupt.
3. There's a huge market opportunity for quantum computing
To circle back to the original question, can IonQ be a millionaire-maker stock? I'm not sure. There's a huge market for quantum computing in the future, but it's not that large right now. IonQ estimates that the market opportunity will reach $87 billion by 2035, but it's unlikely that one company will capture that complete market share.
Even if IonQ captures 50% of it and generates around $40 billion in annual revenue, that's still less than another key quantum computing competitor, IBM. IBM is about a $270 billion company -- about 27 times the size of IonQ.
So, can IonQ transform $10,000 into $1 million? Likely not. But can IonQ deliver strong stock performance if it wins the quantum computing arms race? Absolutely. However, this is far from a surefire bet, as the field is ripe with potent competition, and IonQ still has years to go before proving commercial relevancy.
Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now?
Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025
John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet and Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, International Business Machines, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Reasons IonQ Could Be a Millionaire-Maker Quantum Computing Stock

Quantum computing stocks captivated investors like few other sectors in recent months. Ever since Alphabet's Google announced its state-of-the-art quantum chip, Willow, in December, quantum computing stocks have soared. Many investors see them as the next major technology on the horizon, following in the footsteps of artificial intelligence (AI).
One of the biggest players in AI is IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a developer and seller of quantum computers. The company sells hardware, software, and services, making its quantum computers available through providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, a business model known as quantum-computing-as-a-service (QCaaS).
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IonQ differentiates itself from other publicly traded quantum computing stocks like Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing because of its trapped-ion technology, which uses atoms suspended in a vacuum and manipulated with lasers.
Right now is also an excellent time to consider buying IonQ stock, as it's down 30% from its peak late last year, and it's pulled back by nearly as much after a surge in late May, following an interview in Barron's with CEO Niccolo de Masi, who said the company aimed to be the "Nvidia of quantum computing."
With IonQ stock having cooled off a bit in June, let's take a closer look at what the stock has to offer.
Can IonQ keep climbing?
Despite a market cap over $10 billion, IonQ is still essentially a development-stage company, as it brought in just $7.6 million in revenue in the first quarter. However, that was down slightly from the year before, showing the company is not delivering the kind of growth you might expect from a high-priced stock like IonQ.
IonQ is also deeply unprofitable, with the company posting a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) operating loss of $75.7 million in the period, or 10 times what it brought in revenue.
It does expect revenue growth to accelerate over the remainder of the year, forecasting $75 million to $95 million in revenue for the full year. That forecast, which includes some small acquisitions, targets revenue roughly doubling from $43.1 million last year.
There are other signs the company is making progress. It signed a $22 million deal with EPB of Chattanooga, an energy and telecom company, and it's waiting to close on its acquisition of Lightsynq Technologies, a maker of quantum interconnects to bridge the gap to large-scale quantum computers.
IonQ also took part in Nvidia's first-ever Quantum Day, where it demonstrated quantum-accelerated computation and commercially relevant applications, further evidence that quantum computing could is progressing toward mainstream.
Additionally, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in June that the technology is at an inflection point, comments that came just months after he said that "very useful" quantum computers could be decades away.
Is IonQ a buy?
There's no question that there's a ton of uncertainty around quantum computing stocks right now. Valuations have been inflated by the attention placed on the sector following Google's announcement about Willow last December. Based on IonQ's guidance, the company still trades at a price-to-sales ratio of more than 100 using its 2025 forecast.
However, there is real momentum in the industry, and analysts expect IonQ's revenue to double both this year and next.
Given its leadership in quantum computing, business momentum, and expected revenue growth, opening a small position in the stock seems reasonable for risk-tolerant investors. Keep in mind that the risk with IonQ remains high at the current valuation, and the stock could fall a long way if its performance comes up short in the coming quarters.
Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now?
Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Down 30%, Should You Buy the Dip on IonQ?

Below is Validea's guru fundamental report for IONQ INC (IONQ). Of the 22 guru strategies we follow, IONQ rates highest using our Quantitative Momentum Investor model based on the published strategy of Wesley Gray. This momentum model looks for stocks with strong and consistent intermediate-term relative performance.
IONQ INC (IONQ) is a large-cap growth stock in the Computer Services industry. The rating using this strategy is 77% based on the firm’s underlying fundamentals and the stock’s valuation. A score of 80% or above typically indicates that the strategy has some interest in the stock and a score above 90% typically indicates strong interest.
The following table summarizes whether the stock meets each of this strategy's tests. Not all criteria in the below table receive equal weighting or are independent, but the table provides a brief overview of the strong and weak points of the security in the context of the strategy's criteria.
Detailed Analysis of IONQ INC
More Information on Wesley Gray
About Wesley Gray: Wesley Gray is the founder of Alpha Architect and the author (along with co-author Jack Vogel) of "Quantitative Momentum A Practitioner's Guide to Building a Momentum-Based Stock Selection System". He is also the author (along with co-author Tobias Carlisle) of "Quantitative Value: A Practitioner's Guide to Automating Intelligent Investment and Eliminating Behavioral Errors". He is an industry recognized expert in the application of quantitative investing strategies. Wes is also a former Marine and has his Phd from the Univerisity of Chicago, where he studied under Nobel Prize winner Eugene Fama.
Additional Research Links
About Validea: Validea is aninvestment researchservice that follows the published strategies of investment legends. Validea offers both stock analysis and model portfolios based on gurus who have outperformed the market over the long-term, including Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch and Martin Zweig. For more information about Validea, click here
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Validea Detailed Fundamental Analysis - IONQ

Investors flocked to artificial intelligence (AI) stocks last year, and they drove market gains, leading the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher. Today, these players continue to advance, and they're joined by certain stocks in the high-potential field of quantum computing.
In fact, quantum computing stocks might be following in the footsteps of AI stocks, becoming the next industry to lead market gains, and here's why.
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Why AI became so popular
First, though, it's important to understand why AI grabbed the world's attention in recent years. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way things are done -- from business to our daily lives -- by introducing more efficiency into processes. AI also can help companies develop new and better products -- from therapeutics to autonomous vehicles -- faster. So, AI can be a gamechanger, and experts have even likened the technology to the development of the steam engine, or in more recent days, the internet.
Companies powering AI, such as AI chip leader Nvidia and networking giant Broadcom have seen their shares surge -- and so have companies offering AI infrastructure, like Amazon, or those developing AI platforms and applying them to their businesses. A good example of that is Meta Platforms, which trained AI model Llama, a tool that powers its popular AI assistant.
Today, AI continues to be an interesting growth story, and there are plenty of chapters left in this exciting book. But quantum computing may be even earlier in its growth story -- and also promises to become a game changer. Investors generally like getting in on an investing theme early to fully benefit as it develops. So, what exactly is quantum computing? It's a type of computing that relies on the principles of quantum mechanics, or how subatomic particles interact.
In quantum computing, the computing is done by qubits rather than the bits used in traditional computing. Their ability to process data as a zero, a 1, or both at the same time, and the combining of many of these qubits allows for the solving of problems that have been impossible for classical computers.
D-Wave's record quarter
Several pure play companies are publicly traded and are working toward making this process useful for real world problems. In fact, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) recently launched its Advantage2 quantum computer to be used in fields such as business optimization or AI. D-Wave, thanks to sales of its Advantage system and services, in the recent quarter said revenue soared 500% to a record $15 million -- the increase in revenue shows customers are interested in such technology, and the revenue level shows there still is plenty of room for gains as this technology develops.
Though D-Wave and others such as Rigetti Computing and IonQ are generating revenue from certain systems and services, quantum computers haven't yet even come close to reaching their full potential. The good news here is that means, if research and development goes well, revenue could explode higher down the road -- making now an excellent time to get in on these players.
The big difference between AI and quantum computing today is AI is more regularly and easily applied to real world problems, while quantum has significant challenges to conquer. For example, qubits are fragile and can only hold information for a short period of time. Other challenges are error rates and difficulty scaling quantum systems. All of this makes quantum computing stocks higher risk right now than AI stocks -- but, considering the promise of quantum computing, investing in these stocks could lead to enormous returns over time if the technology is successful.
Should you invest in quantum computing stocks?
What does this mean for you as an investor? If you're an aggressive investor looking for the next big thing in technology, you may consider buying shares of some of the leading pure play companies such as the players I've mentioned above. If you're cautious but still interested in the field, you could opt for well-established tech giants such as Alphabet or Microsoft that also have quantum computing programs.
It's still too early to say how successful quantum computing will be over time, but companies have made progress recently, and potential is strong. That means quantum computing stocks could become the AI stocks of 2025 -- and help lead the overall market higher.
Should you invest $1,000 in D-Wave Quantum right now?
Before you buy stock in D-Wave Quantum, consider this:
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Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $687,731!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $945,846!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adria Cimino has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Are Quantum Computing Stocks Becoming the Next AI?

Quantum computing will change the world someday. Next-generation systems will be able to do certain kinds of advanced math and pattern-matching much faster than today's digital chips. The quantum computing era will change everything you know about encryption and data security, but will also enable incredible innovation in fields such as medical research, weather forecasting, and economics.
So the "quantum advantage" and "quantum supremacy" milestones are coming up, eventually making quantum systems incomparably more powerful for a very specific set of tasks. Problems involving large data sets and extremely precise calculations may look impossible now, but quantum computers may breeze through them quickly.
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It's a long journey, though. Investors recently got very excited about a couple of baby steps toward this future, sending a few quantum computing stocks sky-high in just a few months. As of June 23, early favorites IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) have seen price gains of 471% and 1,188% over the last year, respectively.
But I don't think these are the best bets on quantum computing in 2025. Many of the biggest names in Silicon Valley are funneling their massive resources into quantum research, and I'd much rather hitch my wagon to these innovative powerhouses instead.
Alphabet and IBM are quantum's real power players
My preferred quantum computing investments happen to be the engines behind the recent market uproar.
Google parent Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) got the ball rolling with the Willow chip in December 2024. This small quantum computing processor features advanced error correction, which is an important function in the noisy and error-prone quantum computing process. As impressive as the Willow chip's performance was, it's just the second milestone on the 6-step road to quantum supremacy. Each step so far has taken several years.
Just a couple of weeks ago, IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced the construction of a large quantum computer with its own set of powerful error correction features. Mind you, this system is more of a plan than a real-world project. IBM expects the Starling computer to be available in 2029.
Deep pockets matter in this expensive research race
Alphabet and IBM can invest billions of dollars in quantum computing research without breaking a sweat. As the largest company on the pure-play side of the quantum computing fence, IonQ has just $588 million of cash equivalents available. IonQ also burned more than $127 million of cash in 2024, and its cash pile won't last forever.
It may sound crass, but this cash advantage gives IBM and Google a huge leg up on the smaller and deeply unprofitable competition. A single dead-end research project or management misstep could be enough to put the smaller organizations out of business, or at least make them easy targets for deep-discount buyouts. The tech giants don't work under the same sink-or-swim pressure. They can rely on an established portfolio of profitable business operations to get over any quantum computing setbacks. Meanwhile, they can enjoy success in unrelated business operations, like Google's online search and advertising or IBM's consulting services.
Sleep easy with Alphabet and IBM
Investing in D-Wave and IonQ is very risky in this early stage. Sure, they could evolve into solid sector leaders in due time, but they are also vulnerable to greater risks along the way. At the same time, IBM and Alphabet happen to trade at very reasonable valuation ratios right now.
Picking these tech giants is not an act of high-wire acrobatics, but more like resting on fluffy blankets. And make no mistake -- IBM and Google are right on the leading edge of quantum computing research.
What's not to love in this blend of investor safety and long-term growth opportunity? Long story short, the pure plays can be exciting but the real smart money is on the tech giants.
Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now?
Before you buy stock in Alphabet, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Alphabet wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $689,813!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $906,556!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 809% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 175% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Anders Bylund has positions in Alphabet and International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and International Business Machines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

	Change	Change by industry	Min.	Max.	Volume
Yesterday	3.65%	16.32%	$43.22	$45.58	448.85M
Week	10.99%	17.32%	$38.97	$45.58	3.58B
Month	14.48%	15.52%	$35.93	$45.58	15.31B
3 Months	102.83%	11.19%	$18.81	$48.94	37.00B
6 Months	6.36%	7.96%	$17.88	$54.74	73.58B
Year	542.01%	33.98%	$6.22	$54.74	110.88B
3 years	946.56%	81.31%	$3.04	$54.74	139.50B
5 years	—	22.02%	—	—	—
All time	338.90%	112.01%	$3.04	$54.74	149.47B

	IONQ	By industry
Yesterday	0.35%	1.59%
Week	7.13%	2.28%
Month	22.82%	10.44%
3 Months	37.63%	17.38%
6 Months	84.19%	25.40%
Year	127.75%	32.15%
3 years	176.91%	59.22%
5 years	236.88%	79.11%
All time	—	—

IonQ, Inc.

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