ZACKS·2026-01-16 21:00Core Insights - The upcoming fourth-quarter 2025 earnings season is critical for three quantum computing companies: D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti, and IonQ, as it will reveal their ability to convert quantum technology into revenue [1][11] Group 1: Company Performance - IonQ's third-quarter revenues increased by 222% year over year, with expectations for fourth-quarter revenues to surpass the third quarter [2][18] - D-Wave reported nearly doubled revenues of $3.7 million in the third quarter, with record bookings of $2.4 million and a strong pipeline, including a €10 million contract [8][11] - Rigetti's third-quarter revenues were $1.9 million, down year over year, but recent orders and contracts are expected to improve fourth-quarter revenues [14][15] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Stock Performance - During the fourth quarter of 2025, D-Wave's stock gained 2%, while Rigetti and IonQ saw declines of 25.8% and 28.9%, respectively, due to investor skepticism about high valuations and broader tech sentiment [4][5] - The overall market sentiment weakened in late 2025, leading to significant stock corrections for these companies [5] Group 3: Financial Outlook - D-Wave's fourth-quarter revenue growth is expected to be gradual due to deferred revenue recognition from multi-year contracts, despite strong bookings exceeding $12 million [9][12] - Rigetti is projected to report fourth-quarter earnings growth of 37.5% on revenue growth of 17.7%, with no formal guidance for 2025 [16][17] - IonQ is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings growth of 48.4% on revenue growth of 244.2%, supported by strong commercial interest and a robust cash position of about $3.5 billion [20][19] Group 4: Investor Strategy - Investors are advised to adopt a long-term allocation strategy in this emerging sector, given the volatility and valuation sensitivity of these quantum computing stocks [21]