Quantum Computing Sector Overview - The quantum computing sector experienced significant developments this week, with notable advancements from Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum, as well as commercial activity from Quantum Computing, Inc. and IonQ [1] Rigetti Computing – RGTI - Rigetti Computing achieved a performance breakthrough, reporting a 99.5% median fidelity rate for two-qubit gates on its 36-qubit modular system, leading to a 40% increase in its stock price over the week [2] - The CEO of Rigetti, Subodh Kulkarni, indicated that the company is approximately four years away from achieving quantum advantage, which is expected to drive commercial interest [3] D-Wave Quantum – QBTS - D-Wave Quantum saw its shares rise nearly 30% this week, driven by retail investor interest and a recommendation from CNBC's Jim Cramer to "own" the stock [4] Quantum Computing, Inc. – QUBT - Quantum Computing, Inc. reported an 11% increase in its stock price over the past week, following the announcement of its first commercial sale of quantum security technologies to a top-five U.S. bank, valued at approximately $332,000 [5] IonQ – IONQ - IonQ completed the acquisition of Capella Space and plans to develop a space-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network by integrating Capella's satellite infrastructure with its quantum technology, aiming to enhance secure communications [6] - IonQ is set to report its second-quarter financial results on August 6, with analysts predicting a loss of 27 cents per share and revenue of $17.23 million [7]

Core Insights - Investor interest in D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) surged after Jim Cramer highlighted the company on Mad Money, suggesting it as a strong buy in the quantum computing sector [1][8] - Following the endorsement, QBTS shares rose nearly 14% and have increased 31.4% in July [2][8] Financial Performance - D-Wave Quantum reported a remarkable 509% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2025, driven by a $12.6 million sale of its Advantage2 system to Germany's Julich Supercomputing Center [4][8] - The company achieved a GAAP gross margin of 92.5% and recorded its lowest net loss since going public, with a 53% reduction in adjusted EBITDA loss year-over-year [5][8] Capital and Growth Initiatives - In June, D-Wave raised $400 million through an equity offering at a 149% premium, increasing cash reserves to $815 million, which management claims is the strongest balance sheet in the quantum sector [6][8] - This financial strength positions D-Wave for potential acquisitions, research and development, and cloud expansion [6] Earnings Estimates - Earnings estimates for D-Wave Quantum have improved from a loss of $0.25 per share to a loss of $0.19 for 2025 over the past 90 days [10]

Core Insights - Quantum computing is experiencing significant interest and investment, with potential for substantial returns as technology matures [1] - D-WAVE QUANTUM (QBTS), IonQ (IONQ), and Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) are leading companies in the sector, showing promising technical setups for potential breakouts [2][3] Group 1: D-WAVE QUANTUM (QBTS) - D-WAVE QUANTUM focuses on commercializing quantum annealing technology, making strides in practical quantum solutions for optimization problems [4] - The stock has recently broken out from a descending channel, indicating a shift in trend with increased trading volume and bullish sentiment [5][6] - The breakout suggests potential for the stock to exceed all-time highs, signaling a possible new bull run in the quantum sector [6] Group 2: IonQ (IONQ) - IonQ is recognized for its advanced trapped-ion quantum hardware and has established partnerships with major cloud providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft [9] - The stock has been consolidating in a bullish pattern, with support at $39.25 and resistance at $46.75, indicating potential for a breakout [10][11] - A breakout above $46.75 could lead to significant momentum buying, while a drop below $39.25 may indicate fading bullish momentum [11] Group 3: Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) - Quantum Computing Inc. is focused on developing accessible quantum solutions and has gained attention due to its growth strategy and visibility among retail investors [14] - QUBT shows strong three-month price momentum and has formed a bull flag pattern, with support at $18.00 and resistance at $20.80 [15][16] - A confirmed breakout above $20.80 could lead to a new upward movement, while failure to hold above $18.00 may signal a stall in momentum [16][17] Group 4: Investment Considerations - All three companies represent opportunities in the speculative quantum computing sector, with recent price momentum and breakout patterns suggesting a potential new bull phase [18] - Investors should be aware of the high volatility and large price swings associated with these stocks, and should monitor technical levels closely [19]

Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) stock has increased by 151.6% over the past three months, significantly outperforming broader markets and the S&P 500, driven by investor confidence in its unique approach and recent achievements [1][7] - The company is positioned as the only pure-play quantum company converting scientific milestones into commercial success, with expectations of reaching profitability faster than competitors [1][5] Financial Performance - D-Wave reported record revenues exceeding $15 million in Q1 2025, marking a 509% year-over-year increase, primarily from the sale of its Advantage system and growth in quantum computing-as-a-service (QCaaS) [4][6] - The net loss narrowed to $5.4 million, the lowest since going public, indicating improved cost management and operational efficiency [5] - As of March 31, 2025, D-Wave had $304 million in cash, which is expected to support its path to profitability without significant dilution [6] Product Developments - The official launch of the Advantage2 annealing quantum system represents a significant technical and commercial milestone, featuring over 4,400 qubits and enhanced performance metrics [7][8] - D-Wave achieved a breakthrough in quantum supremacy by solving a material science problem in minutes, a task that would take a classical supercomputer around 1 million years [9] Future Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate anticipates a 30% increase in Q2 earnings and a 15.7% rise in revenues compared to the previous year [10] - Year-over-year growth estimates for the current year project a 183.37% increase in revenues [11] Competitive Landscape - D-Wave faces competition from major players like IBM and Google, which are advancing in gate-based quantum computing, potentially impacting D-Wave's market position [13][14] - The absence of one-time hardware sales and extended enterprise sales cycles may lead to revenue softness in the near term [13]

Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum Inc. has experienced over 1,000% stock growth in the past year, driven by rising interest in quantum computing [2] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the transition from research to commercial applications in quantum computing [10] Group 1: Growth Catalysts - The quantum computing industry is moving towards commercial applications, with D-Wave's quantum annealing technology effective in sectors like logistics, finance, drug discovery, and AI [3] - D-Wave's cloud-based quantum computing services present a significant revenue opportunity, allowing customers to access quantum capabilities without heavy capital investments [4] - Government investments in quantum research and development create opportunities for D-Wave to secure long-term contracts, ensuring consistent revenue streams [4] Group 2: Technological Advancements - D-Wave's latest 4,400-qubit processor marks a significant technological advancement, reinforcing its leadership in quantum annealing technology [5] - The Advantage2 quantum system, designed for complex optimization and AI tasks, showcases improvements in qubit connectivity, coherence, and energy efficiency [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - D-Wave's first-mover advantage in commercial quantum computing has led to stronger client relationships and advanced technology infrastructures [13] - The scalability of D-Wave's technology is evident, with successive generations showing significant improvements in qubit performance [13] Group 4: Market Context - The current environment, characterized by rising computational demands and substantial government spending, mirrors the early phases of the internet and AI revolutions [11] - D-Wave's established technology positions it to capture significant value as the quantum computing market evolves [11]

Group 1: Hong Kong Stock Market Highlights - Yunfeng Financial (00376) surged over 21% as the company plans to strategically invest in digital currency and AI sectors [1] - China Merchants Securities (06099) opened nearly 15% higher and is currently up over 4% after receiving approval for a virtual asset license [1] - GDS Holdings (09698) rose over 7% as its Southern GDS data center REIT concluded public investor fundraising ahead of schedule [1] - Hillstone Technology (01478) increased nearly 6% with positive earnings expectations, and Citigroup anticipates a favorable market reaction [1] - Sunny Optical Technology (02382) briefly rose over 3% and is currently up over 1% as its lithography equipment successfully entered Shanghai, indicating a shift to mass production [1] - Kintor Pharmaceutical (02171) saw an early gain of over 3% after achieving positive results in the European patent opposition process [1] - Bilibili (09626) rose over 5% as HSBC expressed optimism about its gaming and advertising business, with new games planned for 2025 [1] - Solar stocks experienced a decline, with institutions citing electricity prices affecting the stable profitability of new energy projects [1] Group 2: U.S. Stock Market Highlights - The U.S. nuclear sector saw gains, with NuScale Power (SMR.US) up 12.38% and Oklo Inc (OKLO.US) up 11.29%, following comments from the U.S. Energy Secretary about a nuclear revival [3] - Autodesk (ADSK.US) rebounded 5.05% after a period of decline, expressing confidence in its cloud and AI business strategies [3] - Sonnet BioTherapeutics (SONN.US) surged 86.46% due to a merger announcement, forming a cryptocurrency financial company valued at $888 million [3] - Quantum stocks rose, with D-Wave Quantum (QBTS.US) up 6.89% and Quantum Computing (QUBT.US) up 8.66% [3] - Hims & Hers Health (HIMS.US) increased 8.64% as it plans to enter the Canadian market with a generic drug following the expiration of a patent [4] - Rocket Lab (RKLB.US) rose 10.71% after Citigroup raised its target price, noting a significant increase in global space technology investments [4] - Nvidia-related stocks mostly strengthened as Jensen Huang made his third visit to China this year [5] - Cryptocurrency stocks collectively rose, with Bitcoin surpassing $120,000, driven by upcoming legislative reviews in the U.S. [5] - Tesla (TSLA.US) gained 1.08% amid investor speculation regarding a stake in xAI [5] - Netflix (NFLX.US) rose 1.35% ahead of its upcoming earnings report, with analysts projecting significant revenue growth [6]

Core Insights - Quantum computers have the potential to revolutionize industries by performing complex calculations much faster than current supercomputers [1] - D-Wave Quantum and IonQ are two companies in the quantum computing sector that present intriguing investment opportunities, but their performance and strategies differ significantly [2] D-Wave Quantum - D-Wave's stock has increased over 90% in 2025, reaching a 52-week high of $19.77 in May, driven by a 509% year-over-year increase in Q1 revenue to $15 million, surpassing its total sales of $8.8 million for all of 2024 [4][5] - The revenue surge was attributed to the first sale of its proprietary Advantage quantum machine, shifting from a previous reliance on quantum computing as a service (QCaaS) [5] - D-Wave's Q1 operating loss improved to $11.3 million from $17.5 million in 2024, with total assets of $325.6 million, including $304.3 million in cash, and liabilities of $118.2 million [6] - The company has sufficient cash reserves, approximately $815 million after an equity offering, to sustain operations until profitability, with some funds allocated for acquisitions [7] IonQ - IonQ's stock performance has been less impressive, with a 9% increase through July 9, attributed to disappointing Q1 results [8] - Q1 revenue was flat at $7.6 million compared to 2024, while operating losses increased to $75.7 million from $52.9 million the previous year [9] - IonQ maintains a strong balance sheet with total Q1 assets of $850.1 million and liabilities of $85 million, and announced a $1 billion equity offering to bolster finances [10] - The company is focused on building a quantum computing network, which is costly and requires acquiring various capabilities, such as the recent acquisition of Lightsynq Technologies [11] Comparative Analysis - D-Wave claims to be the sole provider of both quantum gate technology and quantum annealing, while IonQ is pursuing a network-building strategy [12] - The long-term success of either company remains uncertain, with potential competition from larger players like Microsoft [13] - D-Wave's impressive Q1 results may not be sustainable, as they represent a shift from its traditional revenue model [14] - IonQ, despite a slow start in 2025, reported a 95% year-over-year revenue growth to $43.1 million by the end of 2024 and projects sales between $75 million and $95 million for 2025 [15] - Valuation metrics indicate that both D-Wave and IonQ have higher price-to-sales (P/S) ratios compared to Microsoft, suggesting potential overvaluation [16] Investment Strategy - Given the high valuations and uncertainty in the quantum computing sector, it may be prudent to wait for Q2 earnings reports to assess the sustainability of D-Wave's Q1 results and IonQ's recovery potential [18]

Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) shares have experienced a 0.9% decline over the past 30 days, indicating growing competitive pressures from major tech companies IBM and Alphabet (Google) as they enhance their quantum computing capabilities [1][8] Financial Performance - D-Wave reported a remarkable 509% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1 2025, driven by the sale of its Advantage2 system and real-world applications [2] - Despite this revenue surge, QBTS is trading over 20% below its all-time high reached on May 23, 2025 [2] Competitive Landscape - Investor caution is rising as IBM introduced its "Starling" roadmap, aiming for fault-tolerant quantum systems by 2029, while Google presented its "Willow" chip, which significantly reduces error rates [3][9] - D-Wave's annealing-based architecture may face limitations compared to gate-based systems from IBM and Google, which are targeting broader applications in cryptography, quantum chemistry, and advanced machine learning [3][4] Market Position and Valuation - D-Wave maintains a strong cash position of over $300 million and is seeing early adoption through initiatives like the Leap Launchpad [4] - However, analysts express concerns about D-Wave's scalability in the face of IBM and Google's aggressive market strategies, questioning whether D-Wave can remain relevant or become a niche player [4] - Currently, QBTS is trading at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 144.4X, significantly higher than its one-year median of 77.54X, indicating potential overvaluation [12]

Core Viewpoint - D-Wave Quantum, QuantumScape, and Plug Power are highlighted as companies with potential upside in the quantum computing and clean energy sectors, despite varying challenges and market conditions. D-Wave Quantum - D-Wave's stock has experienced significant volatility, trading as low as $0.41 in May 2023 and currently around $16, with a market cap of $5.3 billion [1][2] - The company launched a new processor, contributing to its stock rebound, while the quantum computing market is gaining traction and interest rates are declining [2] - D-Wave trades at 140 times next year's projected sales of $38 million and is expected to remain unprofitable for the foreseeable future [2] - The company has over 100 customers and offers quantum annealing tools that optimize workflows and supply chains, running processes to identify the most efficient ones [4][5] - Analysts project D-Wave will generate $74 million in revenue by 2027, but it currently trades at 72 times that estimate, suggesting a high valuation [5] QuantumScape - QuantumScape develops solid-state lithium metal batteries, which offer higher charging speeds, capacities, and thermal resistance compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries [6] - The QSE-5 battery has an energy density of over 800 Wh/L and can be fast-charged from 10% to 80% in under 15 minutes, outperforming current lithium-ion batteries [7] - The company has not yet generated significant revenue but is backed by Volkswagen and plans to commercialize its first battery designs by late 2026 [8] - QuantumScape intends to license its battery designs to other manufacturers, aiming for high-margin revenue from royalties [9] - Analysts expect revenue to grow from $5 million in 2026 to $60 million in 2027, with a potential market cap increase to $6 billion if it meets expectations [10] Plug Power - Plug Power initially aimed to develop hydrogen-powered residential systems but shifted focus to hydrogen fuel cells for warehouse forklifts, attracting major customers like Amazon and Walmart [11] - The company faced a slowdown in 2024 due to sluggish market demand but remains the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen, with over 70,000 fuel cell systems deployed [12] - Plug Power secured a $1.66 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund six green hydrogen manufacturing plants and aims to narrow losses through a cost-cutting initiative [13] - Analysts predict revenue growth from $629 million in 2024 to $1.4 billion in 2027, with a current market cap of $1.7 billion, suggesting significant upside potential if it meets growth expectations [14]

Earnings Season Overview - The report previews the second quarter earnings season, focusing on hot stocks and their potential to maintain momentum [1][2] - Zacks Investment Research will provide ongoing coverage of earnings season through YouTube videos, podcasts, and social media updates [22][23][24] Featured Stocks and Analysis - **Costco:** Exhibits steady growth with mostly double-digit earnings increases year after year, but shares are struggling to break out; valuation is high at 54 times earnings [3][4][5] - **Palo Alto Networks:** Demonstrates consistent earnings growth with no misses in the last five years; shares are attempting to break out to new highs, up 103% year-to-date [6][7][8] - **Microsoft:** Shows a strong earnings surprise track record with only one miss; shares are up 182% year-to-date, reaching new all-time highs; earnings growth is expected through 2027; trading at 33 times earnings [9][10][11][12] - **Royal Caribbean:** Has a perfect earnings track record since 2022, with shares up 442% year-to-date; strong bookings for 2025 and 2026 are driving growth; trading at 22 times earnings [13][14][15][16][17][18] - **D-Wave Quantum:** Shares are up 92% year-to-date with a 60% beat last quarter; guidance is a key factor; earnings are not yet positive [18][19][20] Key Themes - Consistent earnings growth and positive earnings surprises are common features among the highlighted hot stocks [8] - Consumer spending remains strong, particularly in the travel sector, despite tariff concerns [13][15] - The performance of the stock market influences consumer confidence and spending habits, impacting sectors like cruise lines [15]