Latest news with #QuantumBenchmarkingInitiative
Business Insider
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Why IONQ, RGTI and QBTS are Worth the Risk in Quantum Computing
Quantum computing stocks are high-risk, high-reward plays, where the tech still feels futuristic, but the potential upside could be transformative for your portfolio. While giants like NVIDIA (NVDA) and Alphabet (GOOGL) have stakes in the field, pure-play names like IonQ (IONQ), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) are gaining serious traction. Confident Investing Starts Here: Each is taking a distinct approach in a sector expected to grow significantly over the next decade. With quantum tech reaching what Nvidia's Jensen Huang recently called an 'inflection point,' these companies are riding a powerful wave of both investor excitement and tangible technological progress. IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) | The Trapped-Ion Powerhouse IonQ is shaping up to be the quarterback of the quantum computing world—everyone's watching, and for good reason. Their trapped-ion technology, which uses charged atoms suspended in electromagnetic fields, produces qubits with exceptional coherence times, translating to more stable and reliable calculations. They've already surpassed 100 qubits, and their systems are available across Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Google Cloud, making IonQ a top choice for developers building quantum applications. In Q1, IonQ posted $7.6 million in revenue and forecasted full-year revenue between $75–$95 million, nearly doubling last year's figure, while trimming losses to $0.14 per share from $0.19. The buzz lately? Their aggressive M&A strategy. IonQ recently acquired Lightsynq Technologies to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum systems and invested $1 billion in Oxford Ionics to boost R&D, aiming to scale up to 2 million physical qubits by 2030. They've also forged partnerships with heavyweights such as AstraZeneca and Nvidia in quantum-powered drug discovery and secured a key contract under DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Yes, a $10.4 billion market cap is steep given current revenues, but the long-term thesis hinges on IonQ's strategic partnerships, cloud integration, and early mover advantage potentially paying off for investors willing to ride out the volatility. Is IonQ a Buy, Hold, or Sell? Currently, most analysts are bullish on IONQ stock. The stock features a Strong Buy consensus rating based on four Buy and one Hold ratings assigned in the past three months. No analyst rates the stock a sell. IONQ's average stock price target of $43 implies ~11% upside over the next twelve months, despite shares having already rallied about 400% since this time last year. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) | The Superconducting Maverick Rigetti's story is a bit more turbulent, but still intriguing. Their superconducting gate-based systems are built for speed, executing operations in just 60–80 nanoseconds, far faster than ion-based platforms. That kind of performance is ideal for time-sensitive workloads, such as financial modeling and AI. As a vertically integrated company, Rigetti controls everything from chip design to cloud access, positioning itself for potential large-scale growth. Their 84-qubit Ankaa-3 system debuted in Q1, and they're targeting enterprise clients, including HSBC and Moody's. However, the financial picture is rough. Q1 revenue dropped 52% to $1.47 million, and the company reported a staggering $200.99 million net loss on just $10.79 million in revenue for 2023, highlighting a steep burn rate. Still, Rigetti isn't standing still. They landed a $35 million deal with Quanta Computer, secured a £3.5 million UK consortium lead focused on quantum error correction, and earned DARPA support—solid wins that keep them relevant. Looking ahead, analysts expect revenue to grow to $23 million in 2026 and $38 million in 2027. It's a high-risk play, but if execution improves, Rigetti could be at the start of a long-term turnaround. Is Rigetti Stock a Good Buy? On Wall Street, Rigetti stock carries a Strong Buy consensus rating based on five unanimous Buy ratings. No analyst rates the stock a hold or a sell. RGTI's average stock price target of $15 implies almost 24% upside potential over the next twelve months. D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) | The Tempered All-Star D-Wave Quantum is taking a different path—and making no apologies for it. Their quantum annealing technology, designed for optimization tasks like supply chain logistics and drug discovery, is already producing real-world results. Their Advantage2 system, with over 4,400 qubits, recently completed a magnetic simulation in minutes—something a classical supercomputer would take a million years to solve, according to a Science journal paper. In Q1, revenue hit a record $15 million, a sixfold increase year-over-year, with strong momentum expected to continue. The stock has been on a tear, skyrocketing 1,281% over the past year, far outpacing IonQ's 402% and Rigetti's 840%. Their Leap cloud platform is available in 40+ countries and serves 25 Forbes Global 2000 clients, showcasing real commercial traction for quantum. But with a $5.22 billion market cap and a price-to-sales ratio nearing 200x, the valuation is steep and heavily speculative. The key question is whether D-Wave's annealing approach can hold its edge as gate-based systems advance. It's still early days, and the verdict remains uncertain—but for now, D-Wave is proving that practical quantum solutions might not be as far off as once thought. Is D-Wave a Good Stock to Buy? D-Wave is currently covered by six Wall Street analysts, all of whom hold a bullish outlook. The stock carries a Strong Buy consensus rating with all six analysts assigning a Buy rating over the past three months. However, QBTS's average price target of $13 suggests approximately 18% downside potential over the next twelve months. Why Roll the Dice? Quantum computing stocks are far from safe bets—they come with deep losses, sky-high valuations, and intense competition from tech giants like Google and IBM. Still, IonQ's enterprise-ready systems, Rigetti's speed-focused tech, and D-Wave's real-world traction make them standout players in a field with extensive long-term commercialization capacity. While the future of their revenues and profitability remains uncertain, all three deserve a spot on investor watchlists.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SEEQC Announces Collaboration With IBM Under DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
Collaboration Boosts New York's Quantum Ecosystem to Advance U.S. Quantum Computing Leadership ELMSFORD, N.Y., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SEEQC, a leader in scalable and energy-efficient quantum technologies, today announced a strategic technical collaboration with IBM as part of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). The collaboration will explore integrating SEEQC's Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) chip-based control layer technologies with IBM's leading-edge quantum systems architecture. SEEQC envisions using its SFQ technologies to shrink and consolidate external racks of classical control hardware by transferring certain elements to a system-on-a-chip that operates adjacent to quantum chips within an ultra-cold dilution refrigerator. "SEEQC's work with IBM highlights both companies' contributions to the U.S. Government's investments into large-scale quantum computing capabilities," said John Levy, CEO and Co-Founder of SEEQC. "Our leading SFQ chip-based digital control technology improves the energy efficiency and functionality of quantum computing systems, and we're excited to build on our team's research." While SEEQC explores how SFQ control chips could enhance quantum system performance and reduce energy use in future systems, IBM will continue to progress on its IBM Quantum Development Roadmap, including its work to deliver a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer. "IBM is on track with our IBM Quantum Roadmap to realize a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029," says Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and VP, IBM Quantum. "Controlling and scaling such large-scale quantum systems is a difficult engineering problem with many unresolved research questions. We are excited to collaborate with SEEQC, investigate these questions, and accelerate the progress toward our 2029 goal." While both companies maintain a global presence, SEEQC and IBM are deeply rooted in New York State's quantum ecosystem. SEEQC designs and tests its SFQ chips at its headquarters in Elmsford, while the IBM Quantum team primarily works out of the Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights. "This collaboration between IBM and SEEQC showcases the strength of Westchester County's and New York State's ecosystem of expertise in quantum information sciences," said Deborah Novick, Director at the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and co-lead of the NY QUANTUM Consortium. "I am excited to see how the two organizations help advance quantum computing as part of DARPA's QBI." The Quantum Benchmarking Initiative reflects DARPA's broader mission to develop rigorous performance metrics and enable the design of practical, useful quantum computers for national and global challenges. The SEEQC-IBM collaboration exemplifies how New York's quantum ecosystem contributes to the entire "commercialization continuum" — from fundamental research and chip fabrication, to system integration and deployment. About SEEQCSEEQC is pioneering energy-efficient, scalable quantum computing through its proprietary Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) technology. Headquartered in Elmsford, New York, SEEQC designs and manufactures next-generation quantum control systems that integrate classical and quantum components on a single chip. Learn more at Media Contacts: SEEQCDavis Richardson, Paradox Public Relations dr@ IBMChris Nay, IBM Communications cnay@ View original content: SOURCE SEEQC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SEEQC Announces Collaboration With IBM Under DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
Collaboration Boosts New York's Quantum Ecosystem to Advance U.S. Quantum Computing Leadership ELMSFORD, N.Y., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SEEQC, a leader in scalable and energy-efficient quantum technologies, today announced a strategic technical collaboration with IBM as part of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). The collaboration will explore integrating SEEQC's Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) chip-based control layer technologies with IBM's leading-edge quantum systems architecture. SEEQC envisions using its SFQ technologies to shrink and consolidate external racks of classical control hardware by transferring certain elements to a system-on-a-chip that operates adjacent to quantum chips within an ultra-cold dilution refrigerator. "SEEQC's work with IBM highlights both companies' contributions to the U.S. Government's investments into large-scale quantum computing capabilities," said John Levy, CEO and Co-Founder of SEEQC. "Our leading SFQ chip-based digital control technology improves the energy efficiency and functionality of quantum computing systems, and we're excited to build on our team's research." While SEEQC explores how SFQ control chips could enhance quantum system performance and reduce energy use in future systems, IBM will continue to progress on its IBM Quantum Development Roadmap, including its work to deliver a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer. "IBM is on track with our IBM Quantum Roadmap to realize a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029," says Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and VP, IBM Quantum. "Controlling and scaling such large-scale quantum systems is a difficult engineering problem with many unresolved research questions. We are excited to collaborate with SEEQC, investigate these questions, and accelerate the progress toward our 2029 goal." While both companies maintain a global presence, SEEQC and IBM are deeply rooted in New York State's quantum ecosystem. SEEQC designs and tests its SFQ chips at its headquarters in Elmsford, while the IBM Quantum team primarily works out of the Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights. "This collaboration between IBM and SEEQC showcases the strength of Westchester County's and New York State's ecosystem of expertise in quantum information sciences," said Deborah Novick, Director at the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and co-lead of the NY QUANTUM Consortium. "I am excited to see how the two organizations help advance quantum computing as part of DARPA's QBI." The Quantum Benchmarking Initiative reflects DARPA's broader mission to develop rigorous performance metrics and enable the design of practical, useful quantum computers for national and global challenges. The SEEQC-IBM collaboration exemplifies how New York's quantum ecosystem contributes to the entire "commercialization continuum" — from fundamental research and chip fabrication, to system integration and deployment. About SEEQCSEEQC is pioneering energy-efficient, scalable quantum computing through its proprietary Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) technology. Headquartered in Elmsford, New York, SEEQC designs and manufactures next-generation quantum control systems that integrate classical and quantum components on a single chip. Learn more at Media Contacts: SEEQCDavis Richardson, Paradox Public Relations dr@ IBMChris Nay, IBM Communications cnay@ View original content: SOURCE SEEQC
Mint
10-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
IBM has a roadmap to a ‘fault-tolerant' Quantum computer by 2029
International Business Machines said Tuesday it has a plan for building what it calls the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer at its New York data center before the end of the decade. The computer, called IBM Quantum Starling, will be housed in its Poughkeepsie, N.Y., center and have 20,000 times the computational power of today's quantum computers, the tech giant said. 'I feel more comfortable than ever that a fault-tolerant quantum computer will exist before the end of this decade," said Jay Gambetta, IBM's vice president of quantum. 'We are putting error-correction in detail on our roadmap because we believe now we've solved all the scientific challenges." Quantum computers are susceptible to instability, requiring quantum error correction—a technique that identifies and addresses errors in computations—and more broadly, quantum fault-tolerance, the ability to operate even with errors present. Among the companies racing to build a practical quantum computer, from tech giants like Microsoft and Google to quantum companies like D-Wave, Quantinuum and IonQ, IBM isn't the only one that has promised a fault-tolerant computer by 2029. Others have recently made progress in the area of error correction, including Amazon, with its Ocelot quantum computing chip, which it said can reduce quantum errors by up to 90%. Google is also focused on error correction with its Willow chip. Quantum computers store information as quantum bits—otherwise known as qubits—which can exist as a zero and a one at the same time and so are much richer objects than the binary digits that ordinary computers use. That makes them capable of much more powerful types of computations than ordinary computers, and could mean they can help engineer materials at the molecular level, or even crack the defenses used to secure the internet. But one of quantum computing's major problems is that qubits generate errors as they tackle problems. They're fragile, and susceptible to 'noise," essentially small environmental disturbances that can force them out of their quantum state. That's made the quest to build a so-called fault-tolerant quantum computer a priority for tech giants and quantum companies alike. Gambetta said IBM's confidence in its 2029 timeline stems from two recent developments: further advances in a new approach to reducing errors called 'quantum low-density parity check" or qLDPC codes, plus a technique for identifying and correcting errors in real-time using conventional computing. Additionally, quantum computing startup SEEQC is expected to announce a collaboration with IBM this week as part of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which is aimed at evaluating quantum companies' ability to achieve utility-scale operation. As part of the partnership, the two companies will work to shrink and consolidate IBM's racks of control hardware by transferring some control and readout elements directly onto a chip. SEEQC manufactures its own quantum chips, known as integrated QPUs, in a factory in Elmsford, N.Y. IBM is releasing more detailed plans for its large-scale quantum computer at this point because it hopes to spur developers' interest in creating quantum algorithms—a key part of the software that will run on quantum computers. That's critical to achieving a return on investment for quantum computers, a metric that matters to businesses, Gambetta said. But, at this point, it's not clear how IBM's breakthroughs 'translate into tangible business value," and the transformative potential of fault-tolerant quantum computers is still speculative, said Chirag Dekate, an analyst at IT research and consulting firm Gartner. IBM's plans are also light on details about its new quantum computer's commercial availability, and specific dates for when its error-corrected systems will be released, Dekate said. In response, IBM asserted that it has the most detailed roadmap and plans for commercialization in the industry. 'This is inherently hard to do because quantum innovation has many moving parts," Dekate said. 'The reality in quantum is that we are not yet at the ChatGPT-like moment where the technology, algorithms and impact become visceral and undeniable." At the same time, the comprehensive nature of IBM's plans to build its fault-tolerant quantum computer is worthy of note, said Heather West, an analyst at International Data Corp. IBM's plans should serve as a wake-up call to businesses and the tech community to pay attention to the speed at which quantum computing is advancing, West added. 'When you hear this announcement by IBM, as well as others by other hardware vendors, you realize that this is a real technology, and it's coming to fruition as we speak," she said. Write to Belle Lin at and Isabelle Bousquette at
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
D-Wave or Rigetti: Which Quantum Hardware Stock Should You Choose?
D-Wave Quantum QBTS and Rigetti Computing RGTI, both with their "hardware-first" approach in quantum computing, have been in the spotlight in recent times. Both companies recently shared their first-quarter 2025 updates. D-Wave Quantum posted a 61% jump in first-quarter commercial revenues and demonstrated its 360-qubit Advantage2 prototype, signaling momentum in hybrid quantum-classical systems. Rigetti Computing, on the other hand, has been gaining from research and government-backed projects. The company advanced to Stage A of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, secured a $5.48M AFOSR grant to improve chip fabrication, and is part of several UK Quantum Mission awards to enhance error correction. As these two companies pursue different paths, one commercial and one research-driven, it's an ideal time for investors to take a closer look at long-term positioning in the quantum space. Growing Hardware Sales Drive Margins for QBTS: D-Wave Quantum reported first-quarter 2025 revenues of $15 million, a staggering 509% increase from $2.5 million in the year-ago period. This leap was primarily driven by the sale of the Advantage2 annealing quantum system to Julich Supercomputing Center, which contributed approximately $12.6 million to the top line. The company also demonstrated strong operational leverage. GAAP gross profit soared to $13.9 million from just $1.7 million a year earlier, while non-GAAP gross profit reached $14 million compared to $1.9 million in the prior-year quarter. These gains elevated D-Wave Quantum's GAAP gross margin to 92.5%, up from 67.3%, and non-GAAP gross margin to 93.6%, up from 76.6%. Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA Loss Significantly Narrow: D-Wave Quantum posted a first-quarter 2025 net loss of $5.4 million, or 2 cents per share, its lowest since going public in 2022 and a sharp improvement from a loss of $17.3 million (11 cents per share) in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed by 53% year over year to $6.1 million in the last-reported quarter. These improvements reflect greater operational efficiency and position D-Wave on a clear path toward profitability with less capital than many of its quantum computing peers. Robust Cash Position With No Short-term Debt: At the end of March 2025, D-Wave had $304.3 million in cash and also repaid its secured term loan in the first quarter of 2024. The company's debt-to-capital ratio dropped to 12.9%, down from 32.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, highlighting a significantly improved capital structure. The company also raised $146.2 million through equity in the first quarter and retained $37.8 million in issuance capacity under its equity line of credit. This strong liquidity position provides strategic flexibility and supports ongoing investments in R&D and go-to-market initiatives. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Selection for DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative: Rigetti was selected for Phase A of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, standing out among over 100 applicants as one of only three superconducting quantum companies chosen, alongside International Business Machines IBM and Hewlett Packard HPE. The six-month, $1 million award will support Rigetti's work on a scalable quantum computing concept that combines its multi-chip architecture with error correction codes. Success in this phase could lead to larger future funding and greater industry recognition, reinforcing Rigetti's role in building next-generation, fault-tolerant quantum systems.$5.48M AFOSR Award to Advance Chip Fabrication: Rigetti secured a $5.48 million award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) to develop its Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA) chip fabrication technology. Leading a consortium with top universities and labs, Rigetti aims to reduce defects in superconducting qubits and improve chip performance. This work is key to building more reliable and scalable quantum processors, strengthening Rigetti's position in next-generation quantum hardware.$35M Strategic Investment by Quanta Computer Boosts Liquidity: Quanta Computer's $35 million equity investment at $11.59 per share boosts Rigetti's cash position to $237.7 million as of April 30, 2025. This funding strengthens Rigetti's balance sheet, extends its operating runway, and enables accelerated R&D without near-term dilution. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Year to date, shares of D-Wave Quantum have surged 123.8%, handily outperforming the broader Internet Software industry's 4.9% gain and the S&P 500's 1.3% dip. Contrastingly, Rigetti Computing underperformed all three with an 8.2% decline in its stock price during the same period. Rigetti has underperformed year to date due to a steep 51% year-over-year decline in first-quarter revenues, which were also below expectations, highlighting weak demand for its quantum solutions despite a headline profit. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research D-Wave Quantum, a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, presents a stronger investment case at this moment than Rigetti Computing, a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock. D-Wave recorded a 56% year-over-year revenue jump in the first quarter, record bookings and rising enterprise adoption, driven by its hybrid solver services and momentum toward breakeven. In contrast, Rigetti reported a 51% year-over-year revenue decline and projected flat-to-lower revenues for the full year, reflecting ongoing customer transition and slower-than-expected uptake of its quantum hardware. While RGTI has secured significant government and strategic funding, including DARPA and AFOSR grants and a $35M investment from Quanta Computer, its current financial performance lags materially. As such, QBTS' superior growth trajectory, commercialization pace and strong customer adoption position it as the better buy right now. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI) : Free Stock Analysis Report D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
