Quantum Computing: 3 Stocks to Consider in 2026

Core Insights - IBM's quantum computing roadmap indicates the first fault-tolerant quantum computer may arrive in 2029, potentially marking the sector's growth [1] - Quantum error correction (QEC) is crucial for transforming fragile physical qubits into reliable logical qubits, enabling quantum advantage over classical computing [2] Company Summaries Honeywell International Inc. - Honeywell is not typically viewed as a quantum computing company but has significant advantages, including its role in the military industrial complex and aerospace systems [2] - The Aerospace Technologies division accounted for approximately 42% of Honeywell's total revenue in Q3 2025, generating $4.5 billion, a 15% year-over-year increase, from a total revenue of $10.4 billion [3] - Honeywell holds a majority stake in Quantinuum, valued at $10 billion after a $600 million fundraising round, with Quantinuum's Helios being touted as the most accurate quantum computer [4] - Helios achieved a single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.9975% using 98 physical qubits, providing 94 logical qubits for operations [5] - Honeywell's stock (HON) is down 5.5% year-to-date, with a current price of $199.32 and a consensus target of $235.95 per share, indicating potential for optimal exposure entry [7] D-Wave Quantum - D-Wave offers an alternative quantum approach using quantum annealers for optimization solutions, contrasting with companies pursuing universal quantum computers [8] - The quantum annealing process finds the global minimum energy state of a problem, which corresponds to the optimal solution for combinatorial optimization challenges [9] - D-Wave's cash position increased significantly to $836.2 million in Q3 2025 from $29.3 million a year prior, supporting its hybrid approach to quantum computing [12] - The current price of QBTS shares is $24.38, below the bottom price target of $35, with an average price target of $39.64 per share [13] IonQ Inc. - IonQ focuses on trapped-ion qubits, which have higher coherence times and lower error rates, similar to Honeywell's Quantinuum [14] - IonQ has developed a commercial portfolio, progressing from the Aria system with 25 algorithmic qubits to the Tempo system targeting 100 qubits with 99.9% fidelity [15] - IonQ has secured partnerships with notable organizations such as Hyundai and AstraZeneca, and is involved in DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative [16] - With $3.5 billion in net cash as of Q3, IonQ is the most funded among quantum-focused companies, with analysts bullish on its stock, currently priced at $47.12, close to its bottom target of $47 and an average target of $75.50 per share [17]