Core Insights - IBM has demonstrated strong performance in 2025, with shares up 38.51%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained approximately 15.03% [1] - The company's market capitalization is around $284 billion, and it recently reached a 52-week high of $324.90 [1] Company Overview - Founded in 1911, IBM is a leader in hybrid cloud, AI, and business services, serving clients in over 175 countries [2] - IBM's technology aids organizations in data utilization, operational efficiency, cost reduction, and competitiveness [2] Financial Performance - IBM's Q3 2025 earnings report showed revenue of approximately $16.3 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectations [9] - The company reported a net income of $1.74 billion, or $1.84 per share, a significant recovery from a loss of $330 million a year prior [10] - Software revenue reached about $7.2 billion, up roughly 10%, while infrastructure revenue increased 17% year-over-year to $3.6 billion [11] Cash Flow and Dividends - IBM generated $3.1 billion in net cash from operating activities, with free cash flow rising to $2.4 billion [12] - The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.68 per share, resulting in a forward annualized payout of $6.72 per share, yielding 2.26% [8] Growth Prospects - IBM's AI business has grown to exceed $9.5 billion, up from $7.5 billion in the previous quarter, indicating strong customer adoption [13] - The company raised its full-year 2025 revenue growth guidance to over 5% and expects free cash flow to reach $14 billion [14] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street maintains a positive outlook on IBM, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts [15] - Oppenheimer has set a price target of $360, suggesting an 18.23% potential upside from current levels [16]

Investors are throwing money at quantum startups. Maybe they should be looking at a more venerable player that has a lot of practice building things. Read the full story: https://t.co/LzegwQanbC📸: Guerin Blask for Forbes https://t.co/APXCTIb6xj ...

Core Insights - Xeriant is enhancing its identity as a technology accelerator with the appointment of Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Blaine D. Holt as president of the Factor X Research Group, aimed at fostering innovation similar to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works [1][4] - Factor X's mission is to compress development cycles and drive disruptive technologies across sectors like aerospace, defense, advanced materials, and AI-enabled platforms [2][3] Company Strategy - The company has expanded Holt's role to identify acquisition candidates and high-impact technologies, particularly in AI, quantum computing, and data science [3] - Factor X is designed to replace fragmented R&D with cross-functional collaboration to address complex industrial and national-security challenges [3][5] Leadership and Vision - CEO Keith Duffy emphasizes Holt's strategic clarity and leadership as essential for fast-tracking disruptive concepts into market-ready products, citing innovations like NEXBOARD™ as part of Xeriant's commercial pipeline [4] - Holt envisions Factor X as the epicenter of cross-disciplinary innovation, focusing on sustainable and scalable solutions that can transform industries [4][7] Innovation Framework - Factor X's structure is inspired by Skunk Works, promoting small, autonomous teams and rapid prototyping to advance technologies from TRL 1 to 9 [5] - The company aims to apply these principles to develop technologies that can reshape national defense and industrial sectors [5][6] Industry Context - Xeriant is part of a broader trend where companies are establishing internal "micro-Skunk Works" to accelerate the transition from concept to commercialization, similar to initiatives by Palantir Technologies and Rocket Lab USA [6]

Core Viewpoint - Quantum computing stocks, particularly IonQ, have seen significant declines, with IonQ down 40% from its all-time high, raising questions about whether it is a good time to buy the dip or wait for further declines [1][2]. Company Overview - IonQ is recognized as a leader in the quantum computing space, boasting the industry's most accurate solution with a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.99%, significantly better than the industry average of 99.9% [3][4]. - The current market capitalization of IonQ is $17 billion, with a current stock price of $47.06 [5][6]. Technology and Competitive Landscape - IonQ utilizes a trapped ion approach, which allows for operation at room temperature, contrasting with the superconducting technique used by most competitors that requires extreme cooling [6]. - The primary disadvantage of IonQ's technology is its processing speed, as superconducting computers are generally faster. If a competitor develops a superconducting platform that matches IonQ's accuracy, it could diminish IonQ's market attractiveness [7]. Market Outlook - The timeline for commercially viable quantum computing is projected around 2030, leaving ample time for competitors to catch up to IonQ, despite IonQ's current technological lead [8][9]. - The market is currently risk-averse, and there is uncertainty regarding job markets and inflation, which may prolong the sell-off of high-risk stocks like IonQ [10]. Investment Strategy - Investors are advised to remain patient, as multiple sell-offs are expected before 2030, providing further opportunities to purchase IonQ at a discount [11].

Core Insights - Nvidia's stock has increased by 22,660% over the past decade, primarily due to its data center GPUs for AI tasks, making it the world's most valuable company with a market cap of $4.3 trillion [1] - Investors are encouraged to explore the emerging quantum computing market, particularly IonQ, as a potential investment opportunity [2] Company Overview - IonQ distinguishes itself in the quantum computing sector by utilizing trapped ions for data processing, which allows for operation at room temperature, making it more scalable compared to traditional electron-based systems [7] - The company has launched three trapped-ion quantum systems: Aria, Forte, and Forte Enterprise, with plans for a fourth system, Tempo, and offers its quantum computing capabilities as a cloud service [8] Industry Context - Quantum computers are currently used mainly for niche research due to their size, cost, and energy inefficiency, but advancements could lead to smaller, more resilient, and power-efficient systems in the coming years [5] - The quantum computing market is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, with IonQ having an early mover advantage [9]

Core Insights - Xeriant Inc. has appointed Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Blaine D. Holt as president of Factor X, its advanced research and innovation hub, aimed at creating a dynamic tech ecosystem [1][3] - Factor X will focus on identifying acquisition opportunities and targeting disruptive technologies, particularly in AI, quantum computing, and data science [3][4] - The division aims to integrate systems that outperform traditional research models, streamline development, and reduce technology risk across high-growth sectors such as construction materials, aerospace and defense, and critical infrastructure [4][5] Company Overview - Xeriant is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative technologies, including advanced materials marketed under the DUREVER™ brand [9] - The company has developed NEXBOARD™, an eco-friendly composite construction panel designed to replace traditional materials like drywall and plywood [9] Leadership and Vision - Blaine Holt's leadership is expected to fast-track disruptive ideas into revenue-generating products, leveraging his extensive experience in multinational operations and technology-driven enterprises [7][8] - Holt envisions Factor X as the epicenter of cross-disciplinary collaboration, aiming to engineer sustainable solutions that transform industries and enhance global security [8]

Core Insights - Xeriant Inc. has appointed Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Blaine D. Holt as president of Factor X, its advanced research and innovation hub, aimed at developing transformative technologies [1][3] - Factor X will focus on identifying acquisition opportunities and targeting disruptive technologies in fields such as AI, quantum computing, and data science [3][4] - The division aims to integrate systems that outperform traditional research models, streamline development, and reduce technology risk across high-growth sectors like construction materials, aerospace, and defense [4][5] Company Overview - Xeriant is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative technologies, including advanced materials marketed under the DUREVER™ brand [9] - The company has developed NEXBOARD™, an eco-friendly composite construction panel designed to replace traditional materials [9] Leadership and Vision - Blaine Holt's leadership is expected to fast-track disruptive ideas into revenue-generating products, leveraging his extensive experience in multinational operations and technology-driven enterprises [7][8] - Holt envisions Factor X as the epicenter of cross-disciplinary collaboration, aiming to engineer sustainable solutions that transform industries and enhance global security [8]

Core Viewpoint - Jim Cramer has expressed strong support for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), highlighting its potential in the technology sector, particularly in quantum computing [2][3]. Group 1: Jim Cramer's Insights - Cramer considers IBM one of his favorite stocks in the technology space and has defended it against selling pressures, suggesting that the shares could gradually increase in value [2]. - In March, Cramer labeled IBM as a "pure" buy and has increasingly pointed to it as a solid investment in quantum computing as the year progressed [2]. - On September 25th, Cramer emphasized IBM's advancements in quantum computing, noting its collaboration with HSBC to enhance trading efficiency, and stated that IBM has real quantum capabilities that could potentially transform finance [3]. Group 2: Comparison with Other Investments - While acknowledging IBM's potential, there is a belief that certain AI stocks may offer higher returns with limited downside risk compared to IBM [3].

Core Insights - The quantum computing industry presents significant investment opportunities, attracting considerable interest from investors [1][2] - Early-stage quantum computing companies like IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum are seen as riskier investments due to their lack of established business models [2] - Safer investment options include established tech companies with exposure to quantum computing, which can mitigate risks while still offering growth potential [2] Company Summaries Nvidia - Nvidia is a leading semiconductor design company known for its GPUs, which are essential for AI data centers [4][6] - The company has integrated quantum computing hardware with its GPUs and developed CUDA-Q, a platform for quantum computing applications [6][7] - Nvidia's strategy allows it to benefit from the growth of quantum computing while maintaining its position as a top supplier of AI chips [7] Microsoft - Microsoft is a diversified tech conglomerate with interests in software, cloud computing, AI, and gaming, making it a natural player in quantum computing [8][10] - The company's Azure platform is the second-largest cloud services provider, and it has been actively developing quantum technologies, including the Majorana 1 quantum chip [10][11] - While Microsoft may not offer the highest upside, it provides a stable investment in speculative technology [11] Alphabet - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has shifted from being seen as vulnerable to AI to becoming a leading player in the AI market [12][14] - The company is actively innovating in quantum computing through its Google Quantum segment and has developed a quantum chip [12][14] - Alphabet's strong financial position and track record of innovation position it well to capitalize on the potential of quantum computing [15]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant gains in quantum computing stocks, with companies like IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. experiencing increases of up to 1,490% over the trailing year, yet billionaire investors are favoring Alphabet as a more stable investment in this sector [4][5][22]. Quantum Computing Industry - Quantum computing is described as a transformative technology capable of solving complex problems that classical computers cannot, with potential applications in drug development, weather forecasting, and cybersecurity [6]. - Boston Consulting Group estimates that quantum computing could generate between $450 billion to $850 billion in global economic value over the next 15 years [7]. Investment Trends - Despite the impressive performance of quantum computing stocks, billionaire investors have largely avoided these companies, preferring to invest in Alphabet, a member of the "Magnificent Seven" [5][14]. - Historical trends indicate that early-stage innovations often experience bubble bursts, as seen with the internet boom, leading to cautious investment strategies among billionaires [10][12]. Financial Metrics - The trailing-12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratios for IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. range from 130 to 2,661, indicating potential overvaluation compared to historical standards [13]. - Alphabet, on the other hand, is seen as a safer investment due to its established and profitable operating segments, including Google and YouTube, which provide substantial cash flow [15][20]. Alphabet's Position - Alphabet has a market capitalization of approximately $3,903 billion and maintains a strong position in the internet search market with a share of 89% to 93% [16][18]. - The company also has a significant presence in cloud services, with Google Cloud generating over $60 billion in annual run rate sales [19]. - With $98.5 billion in cash and equivalents, Alphabet is well-positioned to invest in quantum computing without jeopardizing its existing operations [20].