A new federal contract is driving this quantum stock higher.Shares of Rigetti Computing (RGTI 15.40%) are rising on Friday, up 15.4% as of 2:59 p.m. ET. The jump comes as the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively.The quantum computing stock continues to ride momentum from a federal contract win announced yesterday.Rigetti secures $5.8 million Air Force dealThe company announced that it has secured a $5.8 million, three-year contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory, focus ...

Group 1 - Quantum Computing (NASDAQ: QUBT) stock is experiencing a significant surge, with a 25.4% increase in share price as of 1:15 p.m. ET, driven by news of increased U.S. Air Force research in quantum computing and potential executive orders from the Trump administration to accelerate quantum technology development [1][5] - The stock has gained approximately 41% year-to-date and 168% over the past six months, indicating strong performance despite high speculation in the quantum computing sector [3] - Lake Street initiated coverage on Quantum Computing with a buy rating and a one-year price target of $24 per share, suggesting an additional upside of roughly 4% from current levels [2] Group 2 - Quantum Computing is currently valued at over 8,960 times this year's expected sales, highlighting a high-risk valuation profile despite potential explosive sales growth linked to artificial intelligence and cryptography [4] - The recent bullish analyst coverage and government interest in quantum technologies may provide a sustained boost to Quantum Computing stock, making it an attractive option for high-risk investors [5][4]

Market Overview - US stocks are experiencing a positive reaction following the Federal Reserve's first interest rate cut of the year, with major indexes reaching all-time highs. The S&P 500 is up 0.72%, the Dow is up 0.67%, and the Nasdaq has increased by 1.49% this week [1][2]. Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve's recent 25-basis point cut was the first since December of the previous year, with only one dissenting vote for a larger cut. Fed Chair Jerome Powell described this as a "risk management cut" in response to labor market softness, indicating potential for two more cuts this year [2][3]. Historical Context - Historically, the S&P 500 tends to rally after rate cuts following a long pause, with an average gain of about 15% over 12 months based on data since 1976. The current easing cycle began after the last rate hike in July 2023 [4]. Small-Cap Performance - Small-cap stocks are showing strong performance, with the Russell 2000 index recently hitting a new all-time high after a period of stagnation since November 2021. The forward P/E ratio of small-caps is at its lowest relative to large-caps since 1999, indicating potential for further growth [5][6]. Stocks to Watch - Credo Technology Group (CRDO) has seen a significant increase in its stock price, surging over 150% in 2025, and recently reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of 52 cents per share, exceeding estimates by 48.6% [8][9]. - IonQ (IONQ), a quantum computing company, has also experienced stock growth after acquiring Oxford Ionics, with expected revenue growth of 115% to $92.7 million this year, despite operating at a net loss [12][13]. Market Sentiment - The current market trend remains strong, with bullish sentiment not yet reaching cautionary levels, suggesting potential for further upside. Many individual stocks are outperforming, indicating a healthy market environment [15].

Group 1: Regetti Computing - Regetti Computing has experienced a significant bullish technical breakout following a deal with the Air Force Research Laboratory, leading to a notable increase in stock price [2][4] - The stock has surged approximately 3,200% over the past year, indicating explosive growth [4][6] - Following the recent news, the market capitalization of Regetti Computing increased by about $250 million, showcasing its strong market response [9] Group 2: Oaklo - Oaklo is positioned to benefit from the growing interest in nuclear energy, driven by new executive orders and a push for uranium [10][11] - The stock has seen a substantial increase, with shares up approximately 20% recently, indicating strong market momentum [13][14] - The technical analysis suggests potential for further consolidation before the next upward movement, making it a stock to watch [12][14] Group 3: Palantir - Palantir has shown steady upward movement over the past month, with a current trading price around $180, reflecting strong investor interest [20][22] - The stock has been identified as a strong buy opportunity, particularly after a dip in August 2021, which was seen as a buying opportunity [22][24] - Technical indicators suggest that if Palantir can break through resistance levels, it could potentially reach $200 or higher [24][30]

Group 1 - IonQ's shares have increased over 600% in the past year, driven by the acquisition of Oxford Ionics and positive analyst sentiment [1][5] - The acquisition of Oxford Ionics is significant as it holds the world record for fidelity, which is crucial for improving the accuracy of quantum computing [3] - IonQ's current price-to-sales (P/S) ratio indicates that the stock is overvalued, suggesting that it may not be the right time to invest [4][6] Group 2 - The stock's high volatility is evidenced by a beta value exceeding 2.5, indicating potential for significant price swings [5][7] - Analysts recommend waiting for a price drop before considering an investment in IonQ, as the stock is prone to fluctuations [6][7] - IonQ was not included in a recent list of top investment recommendations, which highlights the preference for other stocks with potentially higher returns [8]

Core Viewpoint - The quantum computing sector in the US stock market experienced a significant rally, driven by the announcement of a joint US-UK benchmarking working group aimed at accelerating advancements in quantum computing standards [1] Group 1: Market Reaction - Quantum computing stocks surged, with Quantum Computing (QUBT.US) rising by 21%, Rigetti Computing (RGTI.US) increasing by over 9%, and IonQ Inc gaining more than 4% [1] - The most notable increase was seen in Quantum Machines (QMCO.US), which jumped over 34% [1] Group 2: Strategic Developments - The US and UK announced the formation of a benchmarking working group on September 18, focusing on hardware, software, and algorithm testing in quantum computing [1] - This initiative is viewed as a crucial step towards the practical application of quantum computing and aims to enhance collaboration in technology standard-setting between the two nations [1]

Group 1: Quantum Computing Overview - Quantum computers represent the next innovation in computing, utilizing qubits instead of traditional bits to process data more efficiently and solve complex calculations [2][6] - The potential applications of quantum computing include the development of more effective drug treatments and new sources of clean energy [3] Group 2: Market Performance and Investment Potential - A small group of quantum computing stocks has seen significant market success, with some stocks, like Rigetti Computing, achieving returns over 20 times their initial investment in the past year [5][6] - Rigetti Computing announced a 36-qubit system with a 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity, indicating progress in the accuracy of its quantum systems [4][6] - An investment of $1,500 in Rigetti a year ago would have grown to $36,500, highlighting the phenomenal returns in this sector, despite Rigetti still operating at a loss and having a market cap of nearly $6.5 billion [7]

Group 1 - Quantum Computing's stock has surged for four consecutive days, increasing by 22.2% as of 9:55 a.m. ET, and is projected to close the week up approximately 32% [1][7] - Lake Street Capital Markets initiated coverage of Quantum Computing with a buy rating and a price target of $24, which contributed to the stock's recent gains [3][7] - Analyst Maxwell Michaelis acknowledges that quantum computing is in its early stages but believes Quantum Computing Inc. has a first-mover advantage and significant growth potential [4][5] Group 2 - The analyst predicts a dramatic rise in Quantum Computing's revenue in 2026 and 2027, although the company reported only $373,000 in revenue for the previous year and $100,000 so far this year, indicating a potential revenue decline in 2025 [5][4] - Despite the recent stock performance, there are concerns that the gains may be driven by short-term trading rather than long-term investment fundamentals [5] - The Motley Fool Stock Advisor team has identified ten stocks they believe are better investment opportunities than Quantum Computing, suggesting caution for potential investors [6][7]

Core Insights - Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) is enhancing its collaboration with strategic government partners, recently securing a subcontract with NASA valued at up to $406,478 to support its Langley Research Center [1][8] - The company is also awarded a contract by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the design and fabrication of thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits, marking its first direct government contract in this area [3][4] Government Contracts - QCi will utilize its Dirac-3 quantum computer to develop techniques for removing solar noise from space-based LIDAR data, which has historically hindered NASA's daytime atmospheric sensing capabilities [2] - The NIST contract focuses on delivering mission-critical photonic components, emphasizing low optical-loss waveguides, high-performance modulators, and narrow-band filters [3] Market Performance - QCi's shares have experienced a significant increase of 2642% over the past year, greatly surpassing the industry's growth of 42.3% and the S&P 500's growth of 19.6% during the same period [7][8] Valuation Metrics - The current forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio for QCi stands at 2414.60X, which is substantially higher than the industry average of 5.51X [9]

Core Insights - The quantum computing sector is experiencing significant growth, with companies like IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum leading the charge [2][3][14] - Recent developments in these companies indicate a strong upward momentum, with IonQ acquiring Oxford Ionics, D-Wave reporting an 80% increase in bookings, and Rigetti securing a $5.8 million contract from the Air Force [5][6][7] - Despite the recent rallies, the overall market capitalization of the quantum sector remains relatively small, estimated at $35–40 billion, compared to other emerging industries like the non-Tesla EV sector [8][9] Company Developments - IonQ has completed its acquisition of Oxford Ionics, enhancing its technological capabilities and expanding its global presence [5] - D-Wave Quantum announced strong new bookings in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting a year-over-year growth of over 80% [6] - Rigetti Computing received a $5.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to advance superconducting quantum networking technologies [7] Market Context - The quantum computing industry, while growing rapidly, is still in its early stages compared to other sectors, indicating potential for further expansion as commercialization progresses [3][9] - The combined market cap of publicly traded quantum computing companies is significantly lower than that of individual companies in the EV sector during its peak hype cycle [8][9] Technical Analysis - The recent rallies in quantum stocks have been remarkable, with strong retail interest driving momentum [11] - A cautious approach is suggested for new investors, recommending patience for a potential pullback or consolidation phase before entering the market [12][14]