Rigetti vs. D-Wave: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is the Better Pick?

Core Insights - Quantum computing is gaining investor interest as a transformative technology, with practical applications emerging in various fields such as optimization and logistics, despite the industry's early stage and uncertain timelines [1] Group 1: Company Approaches - Rigetti Computing focuses on gate-based superconducting quantum processors, aiming for fault-tolerant quantum computing through improvements in chip design and architecture [2][5] - D-Wave Quantum adopts a commercially oriented strategy with quantum annealing systems, emphasizing immediate customer adoption and recurring revenue [2][7] Group 2: Price Performance - Rigetti's shares have increased by 47.2%, while D-Wave's stock has risen by 41.6% over the past six months, indicating strong investor interest in both companies [3][6] Group 3: Technology Strategy - Rigetti is committed to a chiplet-based architecture to enhance manufacturing efficiency and scalability, focusing on long-term fault tolerance [5][10] - D-Wave's annealing systems are designed for specific optimization tasks, allowing for practical applications and generating recurring revenue through cloud services [7][9] Group 4: Business Models - Rigetti's revenue primarily comes from government contracts and research collaborations, leading to unpredictable revenue streams [8] - D-Wave's business model is centered around quantum computing as a service, with a focus on subscriptions and long-term customer relationships, providing clearer visibility into revenue trends [9] Group 5: Growth Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects Rigetti's 2026 sales to grow by 197.6%, with a loss per share of 18 cents [13] - D-Wave's 2026 sales are estimated to grow by 61.1%, with a projected loss per share of 19 cents [16] Group 6: Investment Profiles - Both Rigetti and D-Wave currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating that neither stock is seen as a value play at this time [18] - Rigetti has a Growth Score of C and a Momentum Score of F, while D-Wave has a Growth Score of F and a Momentum Score of B, reflecting differing investor sentiments [19] Group 7: Investor Considerations - Investors seeking near-term momentum may prefer D-Wave due to its clearer commercialization narrative, while those with a long-term perspective may favor Rigetti for its focus on technological execution [20]