Core Insights - Rigetti Computing Inc. reported a mixed third-quarter earnings report, leading to a decline in its stock price [1] Financial Performance - The company reported quarterly losses of three cents per share, which was better than the analyst estimate of four cents [2] - Quarterly revenue was $1.94 million, missing the Street estimate of $2.17 million and down from $2.37 million in the same period last year [2] Technology Roadmap - Rigetti's CEO, Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, noted strong momentum in demand for on-premises quantum computers and collaborations to advance R&D and the quantum ecosystem [3] - The company is on track to deliver a 100+ qubit chiplet-based quantum system with an anticipated 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity by the end of 2025 [4] - Rigetti expects to deploy a 150+ qubit system by the end of 2026 with an anticipated 99.7% median two-qubit gate fidelity, and a 1,000+ qubit system by the end of 2027 with an anticipated 99.8% median two-qubit gate fidelity [5]

Core Insights - Rigetti Computing, Inc. reported strong momentum in demand for its quantum computers and collaborations to enhance R&D and the quantum ecosystem [3][5] - The company is on track to deliver a 100+ qubit chiplet-based quantum system by the end of 2025, with a median two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.5% [5][6] - Rigetti secured purchase orders totaling approximately $5.7 million for two 9-qubit Novera™ quantum computing systems, expected to be delivered in the first half of 2026 [7][8] Financial Highlights - Total revenues for Q3 2025 were $1.9 million, with an operating loss of $20.5 million [9] - GAAP net loss for the quarter was $201.0 million, translating to a net loss per share of $(0.62) [9][28] - As of September 30, 2025, cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments totaled $558.9 million, increasing to approximately $600.0 million by November 6, 2025 [9] Technology and Development - The company plans to deploy a 150+ qubit system by the end of 2026 and a 1,000+ qubit system by the end of 2027, with anticipated median two-qubit gate fidelities of 99.7% and 99.8%, respectively [6] - Rigetti is collaborating with QphoX on a $5.8 million AFRL contract to advance superconducting quantum networking [11] - The company is also engaged with DARPA on the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, with ongoing discussions for future participation [12] Partnerships and Collaborations - New collaborations with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Montana State University (MSU) aim to advance quantum computing capabilities in academic and government sectors [5][14][16] - Rigetti supports NVIDIA's NVQLink platform for AI supercomputer-quantum integration, which is expected to enhance hybrid computation development [13] - The company plans to open an Italian subsidiary to pursue business opportunities and talent in the region [10]

Core Insights - Rigetti Computing (RGTI) is transitioning from research and development to commercial execution, highlighted by $5.7 million in purchase orders for its Novera 9-qubit quantum systems and a partnership with India's C-DAC for hybrid quantum-classical systems [1][7] - The upcoming third-quarter results will be critical in assessing Rigetti's ability to convert these developments into revenue growth and technology scalability [1][7] Company Developments - Rigetti announced purchase orders totaling approximately $5.7 million for two Novera 9-qubit systems, one for an Asian technology manufacturer and the other for a California-based AI startup [1][7] - A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with India's C-DAC to co-develop hybrid quantum-classical systems under the ChipIN initiative, indicating a strategic move into a government-backed market [1][7] Financial Performance - Rigetti's shares have increased by 121.3% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 7.9% [6] - The company has a price-to-book ratio of 19.79, which is above the industry average, and carries a Value Score of F [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigetti's 2025 earnings suggests a substantial 75% increase compared to the previous year [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for Rigetti's upcoming quarters indicate a projected loss per share of -$0.05 for the current quarter and -$0.04 for the next quarter, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 37.5% for the current quarter [11]

Group 1: Quantum Computing Consortium - Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is forming a quantum computing consortium called the Quantum Scaling Alliance, which includes members like Applied Materials, Qolab, Quantum Machines, Riverlane, Synopsys, the University of Wisconsin, and 1QBit. The goal is to design and develop a practically useful and cost-effective quantum supercomputer [2][5]. - HPE's High Performance Computing (HPC) division, which includes supercomputer maker Cray Research, will play a significant role in this initiative [2]. Group 2: Market Performance and Projections - HPE stock rose more than 2% to $23.94, with an 11% gain in 2025 [5]. - The company has projected fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings per share between $2.20 and $2.40 [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - HPE faces competition in AI server revenue growth from Dell Technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence-related server sales in its data center business [6]. - HPE completed a $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks earlier this year, enhancing its competitive position [6]. Group 4: Technical Ratings - HPE stock has an IBD Composite Rating of 83 out of a best-possible 99, indicating strong performance relative to peers [6]. - The stock holds an Accumulation/Distribution Rating of B, suggesting moderate institutional buying activity [7].

Core Viewpoint - IonQ shares have experienced a 24% decline over the past month, currently priced at $59.27, with a pessimistic outlook suggesting a potential valuation of $42, indicating the stock is unattractive due to its very high valuation despite moderate operational performance and financial health [2][4]. Valuation - IonQ's valuation appears very high compared to the broader market, leading to a recommendation to sell shares [5]. Growth - IonQ has demonstrated strong growth, with an average revenue increase of 107.6% over the past three years, and a 113% rise in revenues from $37 million to $80 million in the last 12 months. Quarterly revenues surged by 221.5% to $40 million compared to $12 million a year prior [5]. Profitability - Profitability metrics for IonQ are very weak, with an operating income of -$483 million and an operating margin of -604.5%. The company also reported a net income of approximately -$1.5 billion, reflecting a net margin of -1836.3% [9]. Financial Stability - IonQ's financial stability appears very strong, with a debt of $29 million against a market cap of $17 billion, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2%. The company holds $1.1 billion in cash out of total assets of $4.3 billion, leading to a cash-to-assets ratio of 25.0% [9]. Downturn Resilience - IonQ has shown very weak performance during economic downturns, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 index in terms of stock decline and recovery speed [6][10].

Core Viewpoint - IonQ has entered a strategic partnership with the University of Chicago to establish the IonQ Center for Engineering and Science, marking a significant step in advancing quantum research and commercialization through the deployment of a next-generation quantum computer and entanglement distribution quantum network on campus [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership allows IonQ to collaborate with a leading research institution to identify and develop real-world quantum use cases, providing access to IonQ's advanced quantum hardware and software tools for researchers [2][3] - IonQ will contribute to the construction of a new building on campus, which will house the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and other research areas [3][4] Group 2: Research Focus - Research areas will include quantum hardware for computing, networking, sensing, and security, as well as applications in chemistry, materials science, optimization, security, and advanced communication protocols, aligning with IonQ's technology roadmap [5][6] - The collaboration aims to generate intellectual property that will drive new products and capabilities for IonQ, supporting long-term commercial growth [2][3] Group 3: Strategic Importance - This agreement is seen as a foundational step for IonQ to enhance its innovation capabilities and strengthen its competitive advantage in enterprise and government markets [3][4] - IonQ is expected to become a core partner of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, contributing to a multi-institutional research consortium that includes notable national laboratories and universities [4]

Core Viewpoint - IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) is considered a long-term investment opportunity despite concerns regarding its valuation and share price volatility, emphasizing that significant returns often require taking substantial risks [1]. Company Analysis - IonQ is positioned in the quantum computing sector, which is expected to grow significantly, making it a potentially valuable asset for long-term investors [1]. - The company currently has a negative earnings per share (EPS), which may deter some investors but is common in high-growth sectors [1]. Market Trends - The volatility in IonQ's share price reflects broader market trends in technology and emerging industries, where investor sentiment can fluctuate based on news and performance metrics [1]. - The quantum computing industry is still in its early stages, suggesting that companies like IonQ may experience rapid growth as the technology matures and becomes more widely adopted [1].

Group 1 - Rigetti Computing is a leading pure-play company in quantum computing, presenting significant investment opportunities but also high risks due to the lack of a backup business model [1] - The company recently sold two Novera quantum computing systems for a total of $5.7 million, indicating a viable product and leadership in the market [4] - Rigetti's systems are compatible with Nvidia's NVQLink, which enhances its position in the quantum computing landscape [5][8] Group 2 - The launch of Nvidia's NVQLink suggests that quantum computing integration into existing infrastructure may happen sooner than expected, making Rigetti an attractive investment [6] - Investors are encouraged to adopt a long-term perspective regarding Rigetti's stock, as useful quantum computing is still a few years away [7]

Core Insights - IonQ's impressive sales growth of 222% year-over-year in Q3 highlights a significant flaw in the quantum computing investment thesis, suggesting that current valuations may not be sustainable [6][10][20] Company Performance - IonQ reported $39.9 million in revenue for the third quarter, exceeding its own guidance by 37% and Wall Street's expectations by nearly $13 million [6][10] - The company raised its full-year sales guidance to a range of $106 million to $110 million, which is approximately $17 million higher than the consensus estimate from analysts [6] - IonQ's operating loss increased to $168.8 million, more than tripling from the previous year, indicating challenges in profitability despite revenue growth [9][10] Market Context - Quantum computing stocks have seen significant price increases, with trailing-12-month gains for companies like IonQ ranging from 274% to 2,970% as of November 6 [2] - The price-to-sales (P/S) ratios for quantum computing companies are concerning, with IonQ's P/S ratio at 250, Rigetti Computing at 1,102, D-Wave Quantum at 326, and Quantum Computing Inc. at 6,190, suggesting that current valuations are unsustainable [15][17] Industry Outlook - Quantum computing is still in the early stages of commercialization, with many companies yet to optimize the technology or achieve a positive return on investment [20] - Historical trends indicate that early-stage technologies often experience a bubble-bursting event, raising concerns about the longevity of the current hype surrounding quantum computing stocks [19][20]

Core Viewpoint - Rigetti Computing is preparing to release its third-quarter 2025 results, with expectations of a loss per share of 5 cents and revenues of $2.39 million, indicating a year-over-year growth of 37.5% in earnings but only a modest revenue growth of 0.4% [2][3]. Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for 2025 revenues is $8.7 million, reflecting a decline of 19.7% year over year, while the loss per share is expected to be 9 cents, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 75% [4]. - Rigetti has had mixed performance in the past four quarters, surpassing the consensus estimate once, missing once, and meeting expectations twice, resulting in an average earnings surprise of negative 10.8% [4]. Earnings Analysis - Rigetti has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, indicating no expected earnings surprise for the upcoming report [5]. - The company currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a neutral outlook [6]. Market and Operational Factors - The third-quarter performance is likely to be influenced by uncertainties in U.S. public-sector funding, particularly due to the expiration of the National Quantum Initiative [7]. - Rigetti's rollout of the Cepheus-1-36Q quantum system is expected to provide early benefits, with strong technical gains and increased experimentation among customers [8]. Cash Position and Valuation - Rigetti has over $570 million in cash and no debt, positioning it well for continued system development and stable margin execution [9]. - Year-to-date, Rigetti's shares have gained 125.1%, outperforming the broader Internet Software industry, which advanced 10.2% [12]. Long-Term Strategy - Rigetti aims to deliver a 100+ qubit chiplet-based system with approximately 99.5% fidelity by the end of 2025, with a long-term goal of achieving a 1,000-qubit system [13]. - The company is focusing on building an ecosystem through partnerships, such as the collaboration with Quanta Computer Inc., which includes significant financial commitments from both parties [17][18]. Commercial Developments - Recent orders for the Novera QPU systems indicate growing demand for quantum systems beyond government labs, with potential for broader enterprise adoption in the future [15][16]. - The integration of Novera with NVIDIA's DGX Quantum platform highlights Rigetti's efforts in hybrid quantum-classical workflows [18]. Investment Outlook - The upcoming third-quarter results are expected to reflect steady progress rather than a major financial turning point, supporting a hold view for investors [19]. - While Rigetti's balance sheet allows for continued investment, visibility into larger commercial demand remains limited, suggesting a cautious approach for prospective investors [21].