Three Quantum Computing Shares Poised for Significant, Long-Term Expansion
In the rapidly evolving world of quantum computing, three companies – IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti Computing – are making significant strides, each focusing on different aspects of this complex field.
IonQ, a leader in trapped-ion quantum computing, boasts a robust patent portfolio of nearly 900 patents, particularly in quantum networking and security. The company aims to scale up to a 20,000-physical-qubit system by 2028 and potentially 2 million physical qubits by 2030, targeting fault-tolerant applications in drug discovery, materials science, and AI. IonQ's strategic acquisitions, such as Oxford Ionics for $1.1 billion, and its commercially deployed quantum networks combined with computing capacity, signal near-term practical applications and revenue growth. By 2025, IonQ's earnings are expected to improve by about 69.9% over 2024.
D-Wave Quantum, on the other hand, specializes in quantum annealing, a form of quantum computing optimized for combinatorial and optimization problems. In Q1 2025, D-Wave achieved quantum computational supremacy on a real-world materials science problem, solving it in minutes versus nearly a million years on a classical supercomputer. This milestone distinguishes D-Wave as the first to demonstrate clear commercial advantage in certain applications. Their Q1 2025 revenue surged by 509% YoY to $15 million, and the company has a strong cash position of approximately $304 million to fund operations to profitability. Earnings for 2025 are projected to improve by 72%.
Rigetti Computing offers a full-stack quantum computing solution integrating hardware and software, a strategy similar to Nvidia's in GPUs. However, Rigetti remains the smallest in revenue terms with about $1.5 million in Q1 2025 sales, reflecting the still limited immediate market for quantum computers. Rigetti's market momentum is highly speculative and reliant on future adoption and breakthroughs. Despite these challenges, it remains one of the top pure-play quantum computing stocks with growth potential tied to advancements in its ecosystem.
Each of these companies represents the leading pure-play quantum computing firms, with D-Wave showing the strongest near-term commercial traction, IonQ aiming for long-term scale and quantum networking leadership, and Rigetti positioned as a full-stack innovator with a more speculative outlook. The quantum computing sector is at an inflection point, with increasing investor interest and technological validation, but the industry remains in early commercialization stages with high risk and high potential rewards.
Notable customers of D-Wave include Volkswagen, Lockheed Martin, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. McKinsey estimates the total addressable market for quantum computing could exceed $1 trillion by 2045. For investors with 20-year horizons, owning all three companies provides exposure to whichever approach ultimately dominates the technological revolution in quantum computing.
[1] IonQ 2025 Earnings Expected to Improve by 69.9% Over 2024 [2] D-Wave Quantum Achieves Quantum Computational Supremacy on Real-world Problem [3] D-Wave Quantum Q1 2025 Revenue Surges by 509% YoY to $15 Million [4] Rigetti Computing Remains One of the Top Pure-play Quantum Computing Stocks
- The anticipation for a significant improvement in IonQ's earnings is evident, with a projected increase of 69.9% over 2024.
- D-Wave Quantum achieved quantum computational supremacy on a real-world materials science problem, solving it in minutes compared to nearly a million years on a classical supercomputer.
- D-Wave Quantum witnessed a remarkable 509% surge in its Q1 2025 revenue, reaching $15 million.
- Rigetti Computing, despite having more speculative potential, remains one of the top pure-play quantum computing stocks, offering growth possibilities tied to advancements in its ecosystem.
