Rigetti vs D-Wave: Which Quantum Computing Stock Holds More Promise?

Core Insights - Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving technology with the potential to transform various industries, presenting unique investment opportunities in companies like Rigetti Computing (RGTI) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) aiming to establish a trillion-dollar market [1] Company Strategies - Rigetti is focused on superconducting qubits and a modular chiplet architecture, striving for universal, gate-based quantum machines, while D-Wave specializes in quantum annealing, targeting optimization problems for enterprise clients [2][7] - Rigetti's recent advancements include the Cepheus-1-36Q system, which has improved two-qubit error rates and achieved a median gate fidelity of approximately 99.5% [5][6] - D-Wave's Advantage2 system emphasizes higher qubit counts and improved performance, with a focus on immediate enterprise adoption and practical applications [8][12] Financial Performance - RGTI shares have increased by 110.3% year-to-date, while QBTS shares have surged by 213.5% [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RGTI's 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year decline of 19.65%, with a projected loss per share of 9 cents [14] - Conversely, QBTS is expected to see a year-over-year sales growth of 181.5% for 2025, with a projected loss per share of 24 cents [17] Market Positioning - Rigetti relies heavily on government contracts for revenue, recently securing a $5.8 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory [9] - D-Wave focuses on enterprise adoption, implementing pilot programs across various industries, which provides more immediate revenue visibility [10] - Rigetti's roadmap includes plans for a 100+ qubit system by the end of 2025 and a $250 million partnership with Quanta Computer to scale production [11] Investment Considerations - Rigetti holds a stronger growth and momentum profile, with a Growth Score of 'C' and a Momentum Score of 'A', while D-Wave has a Growth Score of 'F' and a Momentum Score of 'D' [21] - Both companies currently carry a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating that investors may want to wait for clearer catalysts before making investment decisions [21][22]