On Feb. 16, 1990, Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO) went public at $18 per share. The then-$224 million company, whose software enabled computer networks to link up over greater distances, was created by two computer support staffers at Stanford University who had been tasked with helping to expand the computer network across campus. Realizing the commercial potential of the "network extension cord" that they had created, they quit their jobs to found Cisco in 1984. The company's routers and switches were in ...

Core Viewpoint - Quantum computing stocks have experienced significant volatility, with notable price increases on May 22, particularly for IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, Quantum Computing, and Quantum-Si [1][2][3] Group 1: Stock Performance - All five quantum computing stocks rose by at least 14% on May 22, and as of May 23, they are up at least 60% over the past month [2] - IonQ shares rose over 36% on the same day, contributing significantly to the overall market capitalization increase of over $3 billion [3][5] - Despite the recent gains, three of these stocks remain down in 2025 overall, highlighting the volatility in the sector [2] Group 2: Market Capitalization and Revenue - The combined market capitalization of these five quantum computing stocks exceeded $23 billion as of May 23 [3] - Over the last 12 months, these companies generated approximately $77 million in revenue, with a free cash flow of -$365 million, indicating the early stage of the industry [2] Group 3: IonQ's Vision and Industry Impact - IonQ's CEO compared the company's future potential to that of NVIDIA, suggesting aspirations to become a leader in the quantum computing ecosystem [4][5] - The success of IonQ is expected to positively influence other quantum firms, similar to how NVIDIA's success has benefited companies like Arista Networks [8][10] Group 4: Market Sentiment and Short Interest - The high short interest in quantum stocks reflects both bearish sentiment and the potential for significant long-term growth in the sector [12][13] - Quantum-Si has the lowest short interest at just over 12%, while Rigetti Computing has a short interest of 23% [12][13]