International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM), better known by its initials IBM, is proof that an old dog can always learn new tricks. IBM was founded back in 1911, and, despite being about a century older than most other tech companies, it's remained a highly adaptable company that often leads the pack in terms of innovation. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks » And the comp ...

Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) has achieved significant milestones in national defense and academic partnerships, showcasing its advancements in quantum computing technology [2][3]. Group 1: Defense and Enterprise Milestones - D-Wave Quantum, in collaboration with Anduril Industries and Davidson Technologies, tested its Stride hybrid solver, achieving at least 10x faster time-to-solution for U.S. air and missile defense scenarios, improving threat mitigation by 9-12% and enabling interception of an additional 45-60 missiles in a 500-missile simulation [3]. - The company aims to expand its applications into logistics, cyber defense, and distributed manufacturing through these partnerships [3]. Group 2: Academic and Commercial Agreements - D-Wave Quantum has entered into a $20 million agreement with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the installation of an Advantage2 annealing quantum system, positioning FAU as a leader in quantum research and education in Florida [4]. - Additionally, the company secured a $10 million, two-year Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) contract with a Fortune 100 enterprise, indicating a growing commercial adoption of its quantum annealing technology [5].

Many investors are excited about the prospects of quantum computing. The technology is touted as having the potential to lead to new drug discoveries, improved artificial intelligence (AI) models, advancements in materials science, and more. And one company that has benefited immensely from the surge in quantum computing interest is D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS). Its share price is up by about 1,600% over the past three years. But as impressive as that stock surge has been, as of the close of trading Frida ...

BIG IDEAS 2026 RESEARCH REPORT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY ARK Investment Management LLC This is not a recommendation in relation to any named particular securities/cryptocurrencies and no warranty or guarantee is provided. Any references to particular securities/cryptocurrencies are for illustrative purposes only. There is no assurance that the Adviser will make any investments with the same or similar characteristics as any investment presented. The reader should not assume that an investment identifi ...

Core Insights - IBM has reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with shares climbing approximately 35% over the past year [1] - The company's growth is significantly driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing initiatives [2] Financial Performance - IBM's revenue grew by 12%, or 9% in constant currencies, reaching $19.69 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $19.23 billion [3] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 15% to $4.52, exceeding analyst expectations of $4.32 [3] Revenue Breakdown - Infrastructure revenue led growth with a 21% increase to $5.1 billion, attributed to the Z17 platform processing 50% more inference operations than the Z16 platform [5] - Software revenue rose by 14% to $9 billion, while consulting revenue increased by 3% to $5.3 billion [6] - The company anticipates software revenue growth of 10% this year, with Red Hat OpenShift expected to grow around 30% [6] Cash Flow and Acquisitions - IBM generated free cash flow of $14.7 billion, with expectations to increase this by about $1 billion by 2026 [7] - The company is actively using its cash flow for acquisitions, currently integrating HashiCorp and planning to close the acquisition of Confluent [8] Quantum Computing Progress - IBM introduced its 120-qubit Nighthawk system and is on track to launch a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029 [9] - The company projects revenue growth of more than 5% in constant currencies for 2026, slightly above analyst expectations [9] Valuation - IBM's stock is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 25 times 2026 analyst estimates, indicating reasonable valuation [10] - The company is positioned as a leader in AI and quantum computing, making its stock a solid investment at current levels [10]

Core Viewpoint - The market is experiencing mixed actions despite strong earnings from major companies, with a focus on AI's future profitability and growth potential [2][5]. Company Earnings - Meta reported strong earnings, with significant capital expenditure (capex) spending of $115 to $135 billion, which is starting to pay off in terms of advertising revenue [12][13]. - Boeing's earnings showed a 57% increase in sales, with a record backlog of $682 billion, indicating a successful turnaround and positive cash flow [17][18]. AI and Market Outlook - Companies are heavily investing in AI, with Meta and others doubling down on their AI strategies, leading to optimism about future profits [3][12]. - The current stage of AI development is likened to being in the second to third inning, suggesting substantial growth potential ahead [7]. Investment Opportunities - Major companies like IBM and Meta are expected to perform well, with IBM transforming into a significant player in the AI space and offering a reliable dividend of 2.2% [9][11]. - There is potential in "quantum stocks" and other emerging companies that may benefit from the AI boom [8].

Industry Overview - Quantum computing is emerging as a potential tech megatrend, with optimistic projections suggesting it could start delivering significant advancements within the next five years [1] - The technology utilizes qubits, which can exist in superposition, allowing for complex calculations that conventional computers cannot perform efficiently [2] Company Insights - D-Wave Quantum is a publicly traded company specializing in quantum computing, currently facing competition from larger firms like IBM and Alphabet [2][7] - D-Wave is focusing on quantum annealing technology, which aims to find near-optimal solutions for complex problems, making it suitable for logistics, manufacturing, machine learning, and finance [8] Market Potential - Potential applications for quantum computing include pharmaceutical drug discovery, materials science, logistics, and cybersecurity, with more applications likely to emerge as the technology matures [3] - D-Wave has made early sales of its quantum annealing devices, including a $20 million contract with Florida Atlantic University for an Advantage2 quantum annealing computer [9] Financial Performance - D-Wave's revenue surged 100% year over year in the third quarter, reaching $3.7 million, although this is small relative to its market cap of $7.9 billion [10] - The company's shares are trading at a high price-to-sales ratio of 286, compared to the S&P 500's average of 3.5, indicating a speculative valuation [10]

Core Viewpoint - International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is recognized as a significant player in the enterprise computing sector, with a notable increase in share price over the past year and year-to-date [2]. Group 1: Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - IBM's shares have increased by 19.9% over the past year and by 5.2% year-to-date [2]. - Bernstein has raised IBM's share price target to $330 from $280 while maintaining a Market Perform rating [2]. - The firm indicated potential challenges for IBM related to AI devaluation, suggesting that the strength in quantum computing may already be reflected in the stock price [2]. Group 2: Quantum Computing and Market Perception - Jim Cramer has highlighted IBM's advancements in quantum computing, suggesting it is one of the few stocks in this space worth investing in alongside Google [2][3]. - Cramer praised IBM's CEO Arvind Krishna for his leadership and the company's ongoing relevance in the market, particularly among traditional enterprises like large banks [3]. - Cramer believes that if quantum computing becomes widespread, it could lead to significant energy savings and operational efficiencies [3].

Core Insights - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is identified as one of the 12 most profitable NASDAQ stocks to buy, with a strong buy rating from 30 analysts and a one-year average share price target of $351.37, indicating a 4% upside potential as of January 30 [1] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating for Alphabet Inc. on January 27, raising its price target to $365 from $310 ahead of the Q4 FY25 earnings call scheduled for February 4, with expectations that the company will exceed consensus estimates [2] - KeyBanc also increased its price target for Alphabet Inc. to $360 from $330 while maintaining an overweight rating, citing potential gains from the AI product cycle in 2026 [4] Upcoming Opportunities - Roth Capital highlighted several upcoming opportunities for Alphabet Inc. in the first half of 2026, including TPU partnerships, Waymo launches, user growth for the Gemini App, and potential news related to Gemini 4.0 [3] Legal Settlement - Alphabet Inc. agreed to a $68 million settlement regarding a lawsuit that accused it of recording private conversations through Google Assistant, with the settlement filed in a federal court in California on January 23 [5] Company Overview - Alphabet Inc. owns several major platforms, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, and YouTube, and is recognized for its pioneering work in cloud computing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence [6]

Technology stocks are likely to continue leading the broader market higher in 2026, fueled by the artificial intelligence boom.The benchmark S&P 500 index returned 16.4% during 2025, far outpacing its average annual gain of 10.6% dating back to its inception in 1957. However, had investors bought the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT 1.69%) at the start of last year instead, they would have earned a much higher return of 21.2%. This Vanguard exchange-traded fund (ETF) exclusively invests in companies ...