Quantum Stocks: A Potential Headache & Maybe Money

So, quantum computing. Everyone’s talking about it. Like it’s going to solve all our problems. Meanwhile, I can’t even get my smart thermostat to understand that 72 degrees is, in fact, a reasonable temperature. But okay, fine. Apparently, it’s the future. And the future, inevitably, means someone’s trying to sell you something. Which, honestly, is exhausting.

The idea is, if this thing actually works – and that’s a big ‘if’, let me tell you – these little companies, these…startups, could become huge. Like, “buying Amazon before anyone knew what it was” huge. Which, of course, means everyone wants in now. It’s like Black Friday for nerds. And you know what that means: overhyped promises and valuations that make absolutely no sense. It’s infuriating.

I’ve been looking at a couple. Not because I want to, mind you. I have a life. But because, occasionally, you stumble across something that…well, that doesn’t immediately make you want to scream into a pillow. Here are two. Don’t blame me if you lose your shirt.

1. IonQ

IonQ (IONQ 4.52%). They’re the “pure-play” guys. Which is marketing speak, as far as I’m concerned. But apparently, they’ve got this hardware that’s accessible through the cloud. The cloud! Like we don’t have enough things in the cloud already. They claim people are actually using it – pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions… It’s all very impressive. And vague. They say it has something to do with “error rates.” Error rates! Like my cable bill isn’t already riddled with errors.

What they’ve got going for them, supposedly, is a roadmap. A roadmap. As if a roadmap is going to magically solve the problems of quantum physics. But okay, fine. They also have these cloud providers distributing their stuff. Which means more people can mess with it. And then, they have these “partnerships.” Early-stage partnerships. What does that even mean? It means they haven’t actually sold anything yet, that’s what it means.

Still, they seem to have a technical edge, and distribution. And they’re moving beyond the lab. Which is good. Because labs are for science, not for making money. Though, honestly, the line seems to be blurring these days.

2. Rigetti Computing

Then there’s Rigetti (RGTI 4.07%). They’re the “scrappy challenger.” Which means they’re probably underfunded and sleep-deprived. They’re trying to sell cloud access and physical systems. Like they’re running a hardware store. They have this thing called Cepheus-1-108Q. A mouthful, isn’t it? They say it’s coming out around the end of 2026. 2026! That’s an eternity in tech years. I’ll be lucky if I remember what I had for breakfast tomorrow.

They have a “modular strategy.” More jargon. Apparently, they want to install these quantum processing units in national labs and research environments. Which sounds…expensive. And complicated. They’re openly acknowledging they’re competing with giants like IBM and Alphabet. Which is…refreshingly honest, I guess. But also, a little terrifying. It’s like a chihuahua challenging a grizzly bear.

If they can hit their roadmap – and that’s a big ‘if’ – and demonstrate some real speed-ups, and secure some government contracts…well, then maybe they’ll see some revenue. And a higher valuation. But it’s a long shot. A very long shot. It’s like betting on a horse that’s already lost three legs.

The thing is, this is all incredibly risky. These companies are volatile, they’re burning through cash, and they’re operating at the edge of what’s possible. But if you’re willing to treat them like a long-term venture bet, inside a diversified portfolio…well, then maybe you’ll be on the right side of this computing shift. Or maybe you’ll just lose money. It’s a gamble, plain and simple. And I hate gambles. I prefer things to be predictable. Is that too much to ask?

2026-02-22 22:22

1. IonQ

2. Rigetti Computing

Read More