IonQ (IONQ) has once again stepped into the spotlight, and this time the buzz carries weight. At the New York Stock Exchange, during its 2025 Analyst Day, the company drew close attention from Wall Street. Needham analyst Quinn Bolton walked away with stronger conviction, lifting his price target on IONQ stock while holding firm on a “Buy” rating. To Bolton, IonQ is not only well-positioned but on course to emerge as a frontrunner in quantum computing. The analyst highlighted three pillars supporting this ...

Group 1 - The SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) has reached a 52-week high, increasing by 105.9% from its 52-week low of $156.78 per share [1] - The ETF includes companies such as Astera Labs (5.13%), Credo Technology (4.42%), IMPINJ Inc (3.69%), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Rigetti Computing, with a fee of 35 basis points [1] - The semiconductor sector is experiencing growth due to significant investments in AI, quantum computing, and nuclear technologies, with over $40 billion planned by tech giants like Microsoft and NVIDIA in the UK [2] Group 2 - Rigetti Computing secured a $5.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to enhance superconducting quantum networking, while NVIDIA announced a $5 billion investment in Intel [3] - The ETF XSD shows a positive weighted alpha of 46.62, indicating potential for continued strength and gains for investors [4]

Core Insights - Retail investors showed significant interest in five stocks: Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN), IonQ Inc. (IONQ), CoreWeave Inc. (CRWV), Nvidia Corp. (NVDA), and Tesla Inc. (TSLA) during the week of September 15 to 19, driven by market enthusiasm around AI and Federal Reserve rate cuts [1] Opendoor Technologies Inc. (OPEN) - OPEN was highlighted as a top performer in retail sentiment, with potential benefits from lower mortgage rates improving housing affordability following the rate cut [6] - The stock experienced a 52-week range of $0.51 to $10.87, trading around $10 per share, and was up 525.16% year-to-date and 353.88% over the year [7] - Despite optimism, negative sentiment emerged as Martin Shkreli and Citron Research initiated short positions on OPEN [6] IonQ Inc. (IONQ) - IONQ gained attention in quantum computing discussions, particularly after the approval of its acquisition of Oxford Ionics [7] - The stock had a 52-week range of $7.50 to $70.43, trading around $64 to $66 per share, and was up 55.01% year-to-date and 765.41% over the year [8] - Retail investors viewed IONQ as a "high-risk, high-reward" investment, emphasizing the importance of diversification [7] CoreWeave Inc. (CRWV) - CRWV gained traction due to an expanded deal with NVDA valued at an initial $6.3 billion, although it faced shorting from Kerrisdale Capital [12] - The stock had a 52-week range of $33.52 to $187.00, trading around $120 to $122 per share, and was up 203.48% since its listing in March [13] Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) - NVDA remained a focal point due to its dominance in AI and quantum computing, recently investing in Intel Corp. (INTC) [12] - The stock had a 52-week range of $86.62 to $184.48, trading around $175 to $177 per share, and was up 27.42% year-to-date and 49.52% over the year [14] Tesla Inc. (TSLA) - TSLA was influenced by discussions around Elon Musk's purchase of over 2.57 million shares totaling $1 billion and the benefits of rate cuts for EV financing [14] - The stock had a 52-week range of $212.11 to $488.54, trading around $416 to $422 per share, and was up 9.91% year-to-date and 70.90% over the year [16]

Group 1: Economic Impact and Investment - The US is the largest trading partner of the UK, with significant employment contributions from companies like BP, GSK, Rolls-Royce, and AstraZeneca in the US, and American firms like Microsoft and Amazon in the UK, supporting over 2.5 million jobs across both economies [2] - A record-breaking investment package of £250 billion is being announced, marking the largest investment in British history, expected to create 15,000 jobs across various UK cities [4][5] - The partnership is expected to generate substantial economic value, with investments from major tech firms like Nvidia, OpenAI, and Google, which will support British jobs for years to come [11] Group 2: Trade Agreements and Economic Policies - The UK and US have established the lowest tariffs in vital sectors, facilitating trade and benefiting both economies [8] - A historic trade deal was made in May, marking the first trade agreement during the current US administration, aimed at reducing trade barriers and enhancing access to the UK's aerospace supply chain [18][19] - The new technology partnership, termed the tech prosperity deal, aims to foster cooperation in areas such as AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear energy, with a projected wave of private sector deals worth over $350 billion [10][22] Group 3: Job Creation and Sectoral Growth - The deployment of modular nuclear reactors across the UK is expected to generate over $50 billion in economic value, creating up to 2,500 jobs and powering 1.5 million homes [24] - The partnership is designed to enhance the industrial capacity of both countries, crucial for defense and economic growth [20] - The agreement is anticipated to create billions of dollars in opportunities for American farmers and improve access for US manufacturers to the UK's aerospace sector [18][19]

Core Insights - Quantum computing is emerging as a significant investment trend, expected to gain momentum by 2030, making early investments crucial to avoid missing out on substantial returns [2][3] Group 1: Investment Opportunities - Companies like IonQ and D-Wave Quantum are identified as pure-play investments focused solely on developing quantum computing technologies, with market caps of $16.5 billion and $6.1 billion respectively, indicating potential for significant growth [5][6] - IonQ utilizes a trapped ion approach, which allows for cost-effective and accurate quantum computing without the need for extreme cooling, positioning it favorably in the market [8] - D-Wave is developing a quantum annealing platform, which excels in optimization problems, making it suitable for various applications like logistics and statistical modeling [9] Group 2: Established Players - Legacy tech companies such as Microsoft and Alphabet are investing in quantum computing for their cloud divisions, aiming to reduce costs by developing in-house solutions rather than relying on third-party suppliers [11][12] - Both Microsoft and Alphabet have announced significant breakthroughs in quantum computing, leveraging their vast resources to potentially outpace smaller competitors like IonQ and D-Wave [12] Group 3: Balanced Investment Strategy - A diversified investment approach that includes both pure-play companies and established tech giants is recommended, as it allows investors to benefit from the growth potential of startups while also capitalizing on the stability of larger firms [14]

Company Highlights - Intel announced a new deal with Nvidia to co-develop chips for PCs and data centers, resulting in a 23% increase in Intel's stock price, making it the top performer on the S&P for the day [2] - The government's investment in Intel has increased, with a 10% stake now valued at approximately $14 billion due to the stock price surge [3] - Synopsis, a long-term partner of Intel, also saw its stock rise following the announcement of the collaboration with Nvidia [2] Quantum Computing Developments - Palantir plans to invest £1.5 billion in the UK, having secured a deal with the UK Ministry of Defense to expand its AI software usage, which will create hundreds of new jobs [3] - IonQ signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Department of Energy to advance quantum technologies in space, exploring applications for quantum secure communications [4] - Regetti Computing's shares jumped 17% after securing a nearly $6 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory, increasing its market cap by about $250 million [5] Market Trends - Small-cap stocks, particularly the Russell 2000, outperformed due to favorable conditions from anticipated rate cuts, achieving a record close [6] - Jobless claims reported at 231,000, indicating improvement in the labor market, alongside a significant increase in the Philly Fed manufacturing index [8] - The 10-year yield rose, reflecting market reactions to recent economic data and Fed decisions [9] Upcoming Events - San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly's upcoming speech is anticipated to provide insights into the Fed's rate cut decision and inflation perspectives [10][11] - FedEx reported a strong quarter, with market reactions expected to gauge consumer health and global shipping trends [12] - LAR's report is awaited, with investors looking for direction amid challenges in the housing market [13]

Core Insights - D-Wave Quantum Inc. has seen a significant year-to-date stock increase of 94%, but its momentum appears to be waning, with a trailing 12-month return of 1,800% not translating into sustained performance in 2025 [1][2] - The company faces increasing competition from major tech players like NVIDIA, and its recent mixed earnings report has contributed to a decline in stock price [2] - D-Wave's Advantage2 quantum system, released in May, is a strong product that may provide a competitive edge in the commercialization of quantum technology [3][4] Product and Technology - Advantage2 is designed for complex optimization problems, positioning D-Wave favorably in various applications [4] - Despite criticisms of annealing technology, D-Wave has shown that it can benefit multiple sectors, including logistics, manufacturing, and operations management [5][6] - The Advantage2 system boasts over 4,400 qubits, double coherence time, and a 40% increase in energy scale, enhancing its problem-solving capabilities [7] Financial Performance - D-Wave reported over 40% year-over-year revenue growth in its second-quarter earnings, driven by the popularity of the Advantage2 system, despite wider-than-expected losses per share [8] - Bookings nearly doubled during this period, indicating strong demand for the Advantage2 system [9] Market Position and Future Outlook - The current stock price forecast for D-Wave is $19.27, indicating a potential downside of 21.34% from the current price of $24.50, with a high forecast of $30.00 and a low of $9.00 [9] - A significant hurdle for D-Wave is the high cost of the Advantage2 system, which limits its appeal primarily to large businesses and governments [10] - The company is working on introducing additional products with lower costs and broader appeal to sustain revenue growth and profitability [11] Strategic Initiatives - D-Wave is focusing on balancing its core Advantage2 business with a diverse range of additional offerings to attract a wider customer base [11] - Investors are advised to monitor D-Wave's revenue growth in the upcoming third-quarter report for signs of breaking out of its current price plateau [12] Competitive Landscape - The rapid development in the quantum industry necessitates that D-Wave continues to innovate and launch more powerful products to maintain its competitive edge [13] - While D-Wave has thrived on investor optimism and hype, the sustainability of its business will depend on the continued success of the Advantage2 product [14]

Key Points D-Wave Quantum stock soared 8% this afternoon on news of a trade conference in Japan. D-Wave also noted that its bookings numbers are picking up. 10 stocks we like better than D-Wave Quantum › Shares of quantum computing company D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) soared 7.8% in afternoon trading Thursday as of 3:35 p.m. ET. Why? Probably because of a press release D-Wave put out yesterday afternoon, saying it's holding "its first-ever Qubits Japan 2025 quantum computing user conference in Toky ...

Welcome back to NextGen Investing. It's time to discuss the latest under 30 name. Today being Regetti Computing, which is having a pretty nice session alongside a lot of the strength we're seeing in quantum, but with its own specific story today.So joining us now is George Telus, senior markets correspondent for the network. So George, walk us through this deal because the Air Force Research Laboratory is where we're seeing the the strength today, but also again broader quantum strength across the board. Ye ...

Core Insights - The quantum computing sector is rapidly moving towards commercialization, driven by major breakthroughs and increasing government support, although it remains small compared to the broader market [2][10] - Recent developments from leading companies in the quantum space, such as IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti Computing, highlight both growth and speculative nature of the sector [4][5][6] Company Developments - IonQ completed the acquisition of Oxford Ionics, enhancing its technological roadmap and expanding its international presence [4] - D-Wave Quantum reported over 80% year-over-year growth in bookings following its Qubits Japan 2025 conference, indicating strong global demand for its systems [5] - Rigetti Computing secured a $5.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to advance superconducting quantum networking, showcasing government investment in quantum infrastructure [6] Market Perspective - The combined market capitalization of publicly traded quantum computing companies is approximately $35–40 billion, significantly smaller than the non-Tesla EV sector, which is valued at about $70–80 billion [9] - Historical context shows that at the peak of the EV hype cycle, companies like Rivian and Lucid had valuations exceeding the entire quantum sector, indicating that quantum is still in its early lifecycle with potential for growth [10] Technical Analysis - The recent rallies in quantum stocks have been remarkable, with the sector becoming a favorite among retail investors [11] - A prudent strategy for new investors may involve waiting for a pullback or consolidation phase before entering the market, while current holders can enjoy the momentum [12]