Massive News for IonQ Stock, Rigetti Stock, and Quantum Computing Stock investors!
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 09 2025
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Analyst Views on IONQ
Wall Street analysts forecast IONQ stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 31.300
Low
47.00
Averages
75.91
High
100.00
Current: 31.300
Low
47.00
Averages
75.91
High
100.00
About IONQ
IonQ, Inc. is engaged in the quantum computing and networking industry, delivering high-performance systems capable of solving complex commercial and research use cases. Its generation quantum computers, IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. It sells specialized quantum computing and networking hardware together with related maintenance and support. It also sells access to several quantum computers of various qubit capacities and is in the process of researching and developing technologies for quantum computers with increasing computational capabilities. It makes access to its quantum computers available via three cloud platforms, Amazon Web Services' (AWS) Amazon Braket, Microsoft's Azure Quantum and Google's Cloud Marketplace, and also to select customers via its own cloud service. Its product portfolio also includes quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, quantum random number generators (QRNGs), and single-photon detectors.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Norges Bank's Investment in IonQ Sparks Interest in Quantum Computing
- Increased Investment: Norges Bank raised its stake in IonQ to $200 million in Q4 while also investing in Rigetti and D-Wave, indicating a diversified investment strategy in quantum computing that may signal growing interest from active asset managers.
- Market Potential: Although the holdings remain small relative to market caps, Wedbush analysts view Norges Bank, as the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, as making a “sophisticated” bet on the long-term potential of quantum computing, potentially attracting more active managers into the space.
- Positive Technology Outlook: Wedbush reiterated its OUTPERFORM ratings on IonQ, Rigetti, and QBTS, maintaining a constructive view on the long-term prospects of quantum computing technology and its addressable market despite recent stock volatility, reflecting confidence in the industry's future.
- Investor Structure Shift: Norges Bank's investment may signify a shift in the investor landscape within quantum computing, moving from a dominance of retail investors and passive managers to increased participation from active managers, further propelling industry growth.
See More
Tech Stocks Volatility Amid AI Infrastructure Investment
- Market Volatility Impact: Technology stocks have experienced a volatile start to 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite showing flat performance primarily due to concerns over capital expenditures for AI infrastructure, resulting in a staggering $1 trillion loss in market cap for big tech stocks in just one week, reflecting cautious market sentiment regarding future growth.
- IonQ's Huge Potential: Despite a 21% drop in IonQ's stock price in 2026, a 12-month median price target of $73 from 14 analysts suggests a potential 105% upside, indicating strong market confidence in its quantum computing technology, especially after achieving a 99.99% fidelity in 2-qubit gates.
- Celestica's Growth Drivers: Celestica has benefited from the buildout of AI data centers, with its stock surging 54% over the past six months, and it expects a 50% increase in its connectivity and cloud solutions business in 2026, significantly boosting revenue, particularly through partnerships with major hyperscalers.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Celestica anticipates revenues of $17 billion in 2026, a 37% increase from last year, and if its market value aligns with the Nasdaq index, it could reach $92 billion, showcasing its strong growth potential in the AI sector and attracting investor interest.
See More
Russell 2000 ETF Poised for Strong Returns in 2026
- Strong Small-Cap Performance: The Russell 2000 index has achieved an 8% return in 2026, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4%, indicating robust small-cap performance in the current economic climate and attracting investor interest.
- Diversified Portfolio: The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF's top ten holdings account for only 5% of its weight, ensuring that its performance is not heavily influenced by a small group of stocks, thus achieving stable returns through broad portfolio contributions.
- Favorable Rate Policies: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates six times since September 2024, with two more cuts expected in 2026, directly boosting profitability for about 32% of Russell 2000 companies, enhancing their long-term growth potential.
- Attractive Valuation: With a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.4, the Russell 2000 trades at a 19% discount to the S&P 500's 25.2, providing an attractive opportunity for investors and potentially driving continued strong performance in 2026.
See More
Russell 2000 Index Starts 2026 Strongly
- Strong Returns: The Russell 2000 index has surged 8% in 2026 so far, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4%, indicating robust performance from small-cap companies and attracting investor interest.
- ETF Performance: The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO), which tracks the index, is also expected to benefit from this strong performance, with momentum likely to persist throughout 2026, further boosting investor confidence.
- Sector Distribution: Companies in the Russell 2000 span 11 different sectors, with healthcare comprising 18.8%, showcasing the diversity of its portfolio, especially compared to the S&P 500 where tech dominates at 32.9%.
- Monetary Policy Impact: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates six times since September 2024, with two more cuts predicted in 2026, directly enhancing profitability for about 32% of Russell 2000 companies and driving future growth.
See More
Quantum Computing Stocks Experience Significant Decline Amid Risk-Off Sentiment
- Market Sentiment Shift: Quantum computing stocks experienced broad mid-to-high single-digit losses on Thursday, reflecting a heightened risk-off sentiment in speculative tech, which has led to decreased investor confidence and increased market volatility.
- Poor Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date, most stocks in the quantum computing sector have declined by double digits, indicating ongoing pressure on the industry, particularly against a backdrop of elevated bearish positioning that has made investors cautious about future prospects.
- Short Interest Pressure: As of January 30, short interest rates reveal significant bearish sentiment, with Quantum Computing (QUBT) at 21.89% and IonQ (IONQ) at 20.80%, suggesting a lack of confidence in these companies and potential for further price declines.
- ETF Performance Analysis: The quantum computing ETF (Defiance Quantum ETF, QTUM) has also been affected, and the deteriorating market environment may impact investor decisions regarding long-term investments in the quantum computing sector, increasing uncertainty within the industry.
See More
Quantum Computing Stocks Face Major Risks Amidst Opportunities
- Market Potential: Quantum computing is projected to create between $450 billion and $850 billion in global economic value by 2040, offering substantial return potential for investors despite being significantly smaller than the trillion-dollar AI market.
- Stock Price Surge: As of October 2025, shares of IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. have skyrocketed by 670%, 6,217%, 3,912%, and 2,798% respectively over the past 12 months, reflecting strong market confidence in quantum computing.
- Significant Financing Risks: These four quantum computing companies collectively issued over $4.1 billion in common stock and warrants in 2025 to raise capital, indicating their unproven operating models and posing dilution risks for existing shareholders.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: With major players like Amazon and Microsoft ramping up investments in quantum computing, the low barriers to entry could threaten the market position of pure-play quantum companies, potentially leading to their obsolescence as the technology matures.
See More
Norges Bank's Investment in IonQ Sparks Interest in Quantum Computing
- Increased Investment: Norges Bank raised its stake in IonQ to $200 million in Q4 while also investing in Rigetti and D-Wave, indicating a diversified investment strategy in quantum computing that may signal growing interest from active asset managers.
- Market Potential: Although the holdings remain small relative to market caps, Wedbush analysts view Norges Bank, as the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, as making a “sophisticated” bet on the long-term potential of quantum computing, potentially attracting more active managers into the space.
- Positive Technology Outlook: Wedbush reiterated its OUTPERFORM ratings on IonQ, Rigetti, and QBTS, maintaining a constructive view on the long-term prospects of quantum computing technology and its addressable market despite recent stock volatility, reflecting confidence in the industry's future.
- Investor Structure Shift: Norges Bank's investment may signify a shift in the investor landscape within quantum computing, moving from a dominance of retail investors and passive managers to increased participation from active managers, further propelling industry growth.
See More
Tech Stocks Volatility Amid AI Infrastructure Investment
- Market Volatility Impact: Technology stocks have experienced a volatile start to 2026, with the Nasdaq Composite showing flat performance primarily due to concerns over capital expenditures for AI infrastructure, resulting in a staggering $1 trillion loss in market cap for big tech stocks in just one week, reflecting cautious market sentiment regarding future growth.
- IonQ's Huge Potential: Despite a 21% drop in IonQ's stock price in 2026, a 12-month median price target of $73 from 14 analysts suggests a potential 105% upside, indicating strong market confidence in its quantum computing technology, especially after achieving a 99.99% fidelity in 2-qubit gates.
- Celestica's Growth Drivers: Celestica has benefited from the buildout of AI data centers, with its stock surging 54% over the past six months, and it expects a 50% increase in its connectivity and cloud solutions business in 2026, significantly boosting revenue, particularly through partnerships with major hyperscalers.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Celestica anticipates revenues of $17 billion in 2026, a 37% increase from last year, and if its market value aligns with the Nasdaq index, it could reach $92 billion, showcasing its strong growth potential in the AI sector and attracting investor interest.
See More
Russell 2000 ETF Poised for Strong Returns in 2026
- Strong Small-Cap Performance: The Russell 2000 index has achieved an 8% return in 2026, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4%, indicating robust small-cap performance in the current economic climate and attracting investor interest.
- Diversified Portfolio: The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF's top ten holdings account for only 5% of its weight, ensuring that its performance is not heavily influenced by a small group of stocks, thus achieving stable returns through broad portfolio contributions.
- Favorable Rate Policies: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates six times since September 2024, with two more cuts expected in 2026, directly boosting profitability for about 32% of Russell 2000 companies, enhancing their long-term growth potential.
- Attractive Valuation: With a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.4, the Russell 2000 trades at a 19% discount to the S&P 500's 25.2, providing an attractive opportunity for investors and potentially driving continued strong performance in 2026.
See More
Russell 2000 Index Starts 2026 Strongly
- Strong Returns: The Russell 2000 index has surged 8% in 2026 so far, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4%, indicating robust performance from small-cap companies and attracting investor interest.
- ETF Performance: The Vanguard Russell 2000 ETF (VTWO), which tracks the index, is also expected to benefit from this strong performance, with momentum likely to persist throughout 2026, further boosting investor confidence.
- Sector Distribution: Companies in the Russell 2000 span 11 different sectors, with healthcare comprising 18.8%, showcasing the diversity of its portfolio, especially compared to the S&P 500 where tech dominates at 32.9%.
- Monetary Policy Impact: The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates six times since September 2024, with two more cuts predicted in 2026, directly enhancing profitability for about 32% of Russell 2000 companies and driving future growth.
See More
Quantum Computing Stocks Experience Significant Decline Amid Risk-Off Sentiment
- Market Sentiment Shift: Quantum computing stocks experienced broad mid-to-high single-digit losses on Thursday, reflecting a heightened risk-off sentiment in speculative tech, which has led to decreased investor confidence and increased market volatility.
- Poor Year-to-Date Performance: Year-to-date, most stocks in the quantum computing sector have declined by double digits, indicating ongoing pressure on the industry, particularly against a backdrop of elevated bearish positioning that has made investors cautious about future prospects.
- Short Interest Pressure: As of January 30, short interest rates reveal significant bearish sentiment, with Quantum Computing (QUBT) at 21.89% and IonQ (IONQ) at 20.80%, suggesting a lack of confidence in these companies and potential for further price declines.
- ETF Performance Analysis: The quantum computing ETF (Defiance Quantum ETF, QTUM) has also been affected, and the deteriorating market environment may impact investor decisions regarding long-term investments in the quantum computing sector, increasing uncertainty within the industry.
See More
Quantum Computing Stocks Face Major Risks Amidst Opportunities
- Market Potential: Quantum computing is projected to create between $450 billion and $850 billion in global economic value by 2040, offering substantial return potential for investors despite being significantly smaller than the trillion-dollar AI market.
- Stock Price Surge: As of October 2025, shares of IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. have skyrocketed by 670%, 6,217%, 3,912%, and 2,798% respectively over the past 12 months, reflecting strong market confidence in quantum computing.
- Significant Financing Risks: These four quantum computing companies collectively issued over $4.1 billion in common stock and warrants in 2025 to raise capital, indicating their unproven operating models and posing dilution risks for existing shareholders.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: With major players like Amazon and Microsoft ramping up investments in quantum computing, the low barriers to entry could threaten the market position of pure-play quantum companies, potentially leading to their obsolescence as the technology matures.
See More
