Will Rigetti Computing Make a Comeback in 2026?

Core Viewpoint - Rigetti Computing has experienced significant volatility in 2025, with a notable decline of around 60% from its October high, despite being up approximately 50% year-to-date [1][2]. Company Performance - Rigetti Computing's stock price is currently at $24.50, with a market capitalization of $8.1 billion [6]. - The stock has a 52-week range of $5.95 to $58.15, indicating substantial fluctuations in value [6]. - The company has a gross margin of -6849.48%, highlighting financial challenges [6]. Industry Context - The quantum computing industry is still in its early stages, with significant potential for growth, projected to exceed $100 billion by 2035 according to McKinsey & Company [7]. - The market is crowded with various players, including private companies and established tech giants like Alphabet and Microsoft [4]. Funding and Contracts - Rigetti relies heavily on external funding and must secure research contracts to maintain operations, as it lacks a legacy business to support its financial needs [8]. - A critical contract opportunity is with DARPA, which Rigetti did not advance in, unlike competitors such as IonQ and IBM [9][10]. Future Outlook - The potential for Rigetti's stock to rebound in 2026 is contingent on the broader market's risk appetite and the company's ability to secure significant contracts [12]. - Investors are advised to focus on the best-performing quantum computing startups, as the complexities of the industry make it challenging to identify winners without expert guidance [11].