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Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
What's Behind The 400% Rise In IONQ Stock?
CANADA - 2025/05/09: In this photo illustration, the IonQ logo is seen displayed on a smartphone ... More screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) IonQ Inc. (NYSE: IONQ), a company specializing in quantum computing, has witnessed its stock price rise dramatically by 400% over the past twelve months. This surge demonstrates an increasing interest in quantum computing, a domain that has the capacity to transform multiple industries. Unlike traditional computers that operate on binary bits, quantum computers utilize qubits that can exist in various states at the same time. This core distinction enables them to conduct complex calculations and manage extensive data by examining numerous potential outcomes simultaneously. The scope of quantum computing applications is wide-ranging, encompassing everything from financial modeling and drug discovery to materials science. Nevertheless, despite its potential, quantum computing encounters a major obstacle: the frequency of errors increases as systems become more intricate with higher qubit counts. This characteristic renders the technology inherently unstable, which is typical for emerging advanced technologies. Nonetheless, substantial progress is being made. Firms like Google, IBM, and IonQ have shown the capability to create scalable quantum computers with dozens of qubits, a pivotal advancement toward practical uses. IBM is at the forefront of this field, featuring its 1,121-qubit Condor processor and plans to develop systems with 100,000 qubits by 2033. IonQ has also introduced new quantum systems, such as Forte, which provides software configurability and versatility for researchers. However, if you are seeking potential gains with a more stable investment than an individual stock, you might want to explore the High Quality portfolio, which has surpassed the S&P and achieved >91% returns since its establishment. Additionally, see – Nvidia Stock's 1 Big Risk IonQ provides a variety of quantum computing solutions, including high-performance quantum computers and networking systems. These are available through cloud platforms and direct agreements, such as Amazon Braket, Azure Quantum, and IonQ's own Quantum Cloud. IonQ's unique method employs trapped ions as quantum bits. They specifically utilize ionized ytterbium atoms, which are ionized by removing an electron using lasers in a technique also known as 'trapping.' These ions are held steady by a specialized chip. IonQ's product lineup features IonQ Forte – a 36-qubit quantum computer tailored for commercial and research purposes. An enterprise edition is also offered. Additionally, they provide IonQ Aria: – a 25-qubit quantum computer available through the cloud. The company plans to introduce Tempo later this year, aimed at large enterprises and governmental bodies, featuring 99.9% fidelity. Recently, IonQ's management drew comparisons between their enterprise and Nvidia within the quantum computing landscape, which has further fueled investor enthusiasm. While quantum computing holds immense potential, it is still in a developmental phase and is not yet prepared for widespread practical usage. IonQ's revenue of $43 million over the past twelve months is relatively modest, and the company reported an operating loss of $255 million during that same timeframe. IonQ's stock is particularly vulnerable to negative market conditions, exhibiting significantly greater volatility than the overall market. For example, amid the inflation shock of 2022, IonQ's value dropped by 90%, while the S&P 500 recorded a peak-to-trough decline of 25.4%. Similarly, during the market correction induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, IonQ saw a 51% decrease in value from its peak, contrasting sharply with the benchmark index's 34% decline. This trend underscores the substantial risk of IonQ's stock declining in unfavorable market circumstances. Like many stocks in the quantum computing sector, IONQ represents a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity. Key elements affecting its direction include ongoing technological advancements and cost management. IonQ could potentially sell many quantum computers in the upcoming years, which might contribute to further increases in its stock price. For investors, backing IonQ equates to supporting the future possibilities of quantum computing and IonQ's role in that future. The company stands out as one of the few providing high-fidelity quantum computing through platforms like Amazon Braket and has significant clients including Hyundai, Airbus, and Dow. As technology progresses, we can anticipate enhanced precision from a wider array of firms in the quantum computing sphere. Reflecting on its previous performance, IONQ stock has exhibited considerable volatility when juxtaposed with the broader markets. The stock returns were 55% in 2021, -79% in 2022, 259% in 2023, and 237% in 2024. In contrast, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, comprising 30 stocks, has displayed much less volatility and has comfortably outperformed the S&P 500 over the last four years. What accounts for this? On average, HQ Portfolio stocks yielded superior returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index, providing a less tumultuous investment experience, as shown in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.


Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Daejeon, Amazon Web Services seal deal on global quantum technology cooperation
Daejeon seeks to become strategic base for S. Korea's quantum industry The city of Daejeon announced Monday that it has officially inked a memorandum of understanding with Amazon Web Services to become a leading center for quantum industrial development. The agreement aims to foster cooperation across the entire quantum technology value chain, including quantum technology verification, industrialization support, talent development and additional global collaboration. The city is set to form mid- to long-term plans to establish a solid foundation for the industrialization of quantum technologies, build a robust research and industrial ecosystem around quantum technology, secure world-class technological competitiveness and provide local startups and research institutes to enter international markets. According to the city government, one of the most significant outcomes of the recent memorandum is that Daejeon-based companies and research institutes will have access to Amazon Braket — an AWS cloud-based quantum computing platform that provides access to cloud infrastructure integrated with quantum hardware from global leaders, including IBM, IOonQ, IQM, QuEra and Rigetti Computing. The city believes this will enable Daejeon to secure a global-level experimental environment for the entire quantum technology process, from algorithm testing and development to commercialization. Daejeon will also collaborate with AWS' Quantum Embark program to offer appropriate consulting, cloud-based testing environments to local small and midsized enterprises and joint initiatives for access to the global market. The Quantum Embark program helps users prepare for quantum computing through three major modules, including expert-led education by AWS professionals, exploration of use cases and strengthening technological competence. This process allows the clients to understand emerging technologies, identify relevant quantum solutions and make decisions based on the long-term quantum technology data. Daejeon, a central city that has long led South Korea's growth in innovation, plans to connect its existing quantum infrastructure with AWS' global platform to create the quantum industry ecosystem and solidify its position for the era of quantum industrialization. 'Daejeon stands at the forefront of a new era of convergence between quantum technology and cloud computing. The combination of AWS' cloud-based quantum computing resources and Daejeon's research infrastructure is expected to positively impact both foreign investment and the overseas expansion of the local startups,' said Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo in a press release Monday. Yoon Jeong-won, head of AWS Korea's public sector division, also expects that the agreement will significantly strengthen South Korea's quantum ecosystem. Daejeon has already been striving to establish a leading quantum cluster backed by more than 30 national research institutes, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and more, with annual quantum research and development spending amounting to hundreds of billions of Korean won. The city plans to make efforts toward the industrialization of quantum technology by fostering 50 quantum-related startups, attracting 100 billion won ($71 million) in investment and supporting Daejeon's global market expansion by 2028. 'Daejeon is proactively responding to global market changes and will become the hub for the convergence of quantum and cloud technologies. The agreement marks a historic turning point in the globalization of South Korea's quantum industry by extending its global network to major private tech companies,' the mayor said.


Globe and Mail
04-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
2 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Right Now
Quantum computing stands at the precipice of transforming our technological landscape. In 1981, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman first proposed the concept of quantum computers, recognizing that classical machines could never efficiently simulate quantum systems. Unlike classical computers that process information in binary bits (0s and 1s), quantum computers leverage quantum mechanics principles (superposition and entanglement) to rapidly perform complex calculations. This revolutionary approach promises to solve problems previously deemed impossible, from drug discovery and materials science to financial modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) optimization. Though still in its nascent development phase, the quantum computing market is rapidly accelerating toward commercial viability. According to Fortune Business Insights, the market value is projected to rise from $1.2 billion in 2024 to $12.6 billion by 2032, reflecting a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 35%. This trajectory offers astute investors a rare ground-floor opportunity in what could be the defining technological innovation of the 21st century. Here is an overview of two big tech companies poised to capitalize on quantum computing's extraordinary potential. The e-commerce giant with a quantum edge Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has established a formidable presence in quantum computing through its cloud division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). In 2019, AWS launched Amazon Braket, a specialized quantum computing service that offers developers and researchers pay-as-you-go access to various quantum hardware platforms, including those from IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and QuEra Computing. This marketplace approach allows customers to experiment with different quantum technologies without a massive up-front capital investment or an extensive development timeline. Amazon isn't a one-trick pony only in the quantum realm, however. In February 2025, AWS unveiled Ocelot, its first in-house quantum chip designed to tackle quantum error correction -- the primary obstacle to practical quantum computing. Ocelot's architecture reduces error-correction resource requirements by up to 90% compared to conventional approaches, potentially accelerating the timetable for commercially viable quantum computing applications. For investors, Amazon's strategy minimizes technological risk while leveraging AWS' dominant cloud market position to monetize quantum computing regardless of which hardware approach ultimately prevails. As enterprises begin exploring quantum applications for optimization problems, drug discovery, and financial modeling, AWS stands to benefit as both service provider and technology developer. The quantum pioneer with a key first-mover advantage International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) is quantum computing's frontrunner, thanks to decades of consistent investment and innovation in the groundbreaking tech. In April 2025, IBM announced plans to invest $150 billion in America over the next five years, including more than $30 billion specifically for research and development to advance its manufacturing of mainframe and quantum computers. This commitment strengthens IBM's position as the operator of what it calls the world's largest fleet of quantum computing systems. IBM's quantum roadmap has reached significant milestones with the deployment of the Condor and Heron processors. The 1,121-qubit Condor processor represents a breakthrough in scale with a 50% increase in qubit density, while the 133-qubit Heron processor delivers 3 to 5 times higher performance over previous generations. In 2024, IBM demonstrated that Heron can execute circuits with 5,000 two-qubit gates, a critical threshold that moves quantum computing into the realm of practical utility. Looking forward, the company has extended its quantum roadmap through 2033, planning increasingly powerful systems capable of executing more complex quantum circuits. IBM projects a major inflection point in 2029 with its Starling processor executing 100 million gates over 200 qubits, followed by Blue Jay reaching 1 billion gates across 2,000 qubits by 2033. For investors, IBM's dual focus on quantum hardware advancement and cloud-based quantum services provides multiple revenue opportunities as the industry transitions from experimental to commercial applications. 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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rigetti vs. IonQ: Which Quantum Computing Stock Offers More Growth?
As quantum computing edges closer to real-world applications, investors are starting to focus on the companies building the future of computational power. Rigetti Computing RGTI and IonQ IONQ are two notable contenders in this space, each bringing a distinct technological approach and business strategy to the table. These early-stage companies offer high-risk, high-reward potential in a game-changing tech sector. As both companies ramp up commercialization and target government and enterprise contracts, the race to scale quantum systems is heating up. In this two-stock faceoff, we compare Rigetti and IonQ based on technology, business model, and growth strategy, helping investors see which one is better positioned as the quantum era unfolds. Shares of Rigetti and IonQ have plunged 40.3% and 35.9% in the year-to-date period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, IONQ looks more attractive than RGTI. According to the price/book ratio, IonQ's shares currently trade at 15.56, lower than 20.57 for Rigetti. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Rigetti uses superconducting qubits—tiny circuits built on silicon chips—leveraging existing semiconductor processes for scalability. With its fab facility, Fab-1, Rigetti controls chip design, prototyping, and production, supporting faster innovation. Its latest system, Ankaa-3, features 84 qubits and achieved 99.5% two-qubit gate fidelity in 2024, showcasing strong technical progress. IonQ takes a different route with trapped-ion technology, using atoms suspended in a vacuum and controlled by lasers. This setup delivers high coherence, low error rates, and full qubit connectivity. Unlike superconducting systems, it works near room temperature, avoiding the need for complex cooling and offering strong precision in quantum operations. Rigetti's vertically integrated model gives it control across the quantum stack—from chip design and fabrication to software and cloud delivery. Revenue comes from QPU sales, cloud access via Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services, and R&D contracts. In 2024, most income was from government and commercial deals, including DARPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. IonQ follows a cloud-first, asset-light strategy, delivering its trapped-ion systems through Amazon Braket, Azure, and Google Cloud. Its main income comes from quantum computing-as-a-service (QCaaS) and professional services to support client use cases. It is also exploring future on-premise offerings. For 2024, RGTI registered total revenues of $10.8 million compared with IONQ's $43.1 million. RGTI reported a loss per share of $1.09 compared with IONQ's $1.56. Rigetti is focused on improving its quantum systems' performance and scalability. It plans to launch a 36-qubit modular system by mid-2025, built from four 9-qubit tiles, aiming to cut error rates in half. By year-end, the company targets a 100+ qubit system with similar fidelity improvements. It is also expanding its 84-qubit Ankaa-3 system via cloud platforms and government collaborations, including the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre.??? IonQ is scaling its quantum systems by boosting algorithmic qubit counts and improving gate fidelity with photonic interconnects and modular QPUs. The company is expanding its QCaaS model across industries via major cloud platforms. It maintains a strong IP position through exclusive tech licenses from the University of Maryland and Duke University. Superconducting qubits currently lead the quantum computing market due to manufacturing compatibility and strong players like IBM and Google. Trapped-ion technology is gaining traction for its precision and reliability. While the market is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in 2024 to $5.3 billion by 2029, superconducting systems are expected to dominate volume deployments, with trapped-ion platforms advancing in high-fidelity, error-corrected applications. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigetti's 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 34.57% and 44.44%, respectively. Earnings per share estimates have been trending northward over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IonQ's 2025 sales implies year-over-year growth of 97.34%. For 2025, loss per share is projected to be $1.05 compared with $1.56 per share a year ago. The earnings estimates have been trending upward over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Both Rigetti and IonQ carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present, along with the same Zacks Style Score of 'F', which makes it difficult to choose one of them. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. However, RGTI's Growth score of 'D' reflects its better growth potential compared with IONQ's Growth score of 'F'. Rigetti and IonQ are both poised for quantum computing growth, but differ in investment appeal. Rigetti's full-stack control and technical credibility suit government and research, but has high valuation and modest growth. IonQ, with larger cash reserves and a scalable cloud-first model, offers stronger revenue growth and an aggressive roadmap, boosting its market expansion and commercial viability. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio


Globe and Mail
04-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Market's Tariff Tantrum Overshadows Positive Developments for IonQ (IONQ)
Quantum computing company IonQ (IONQ) has been selected by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to participate in the first stage of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Despite the positive news, the stock finished the day down -7.19% as it was caught up in the market's decline following President Trump's tariff announcement. However, the company's stock is still up over 7% on the week on strength of news earlier in the week that the company has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AMZN) to offer its IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer on Amazon Braket, aiming to make quantum computing more accessible and foster the development of commercial applications. Additionally, IonQ has secured significant financial backing through its recent equity offering. Don't Miss Our End of Quarter Offers: Discover the latest stocks recommended by top Wall Street analysts, all in one place with Analyst Top Stocks. Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter. Advancing Quantum Computing on Several Fronts IonQ is a leader in quantum computing. The company has established key revenue-generating partnerships with entities such as SK Telecom (SKM), the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, General Dynamics (GD), and Nvidia (NVDA). The company has also collaborated on medical device design with Ansys (ANSS), demonstrating the superiority of quantum computing over classical computing in simulating blood pump dynamics for designing medical devices. The company has been selected to participate in the initial phase of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which aims to evaluate the practicality of industrial quantum computers within their expected timeline. As part of this initiative, IonQ will assist in establishing benchmarks for the utility-scale performance of quantum computers by analyzing use cases that demand large-scale machines and simultaneously advancing its own quantum computing technologies. IonQ has also announced the global availability of its Forte Enterprise quantum computer through Amazon Braket and IonQ Quantum Cloud. This development enables customers worldwide to explore the potential of quantum computing for a range of applications. Further, the company has successfully raised approximately $360 million through its 'at-the-market' equity offering program by selling 16,038,460 shares of common stock. This strategic move was made to meet the company's anticipated capital needs. The company's President and CEO, Niccolo De Masi, expressed satisfaction with the capital raised, stating it supports IonQ's ongoing leadership in the quantum computing and networking sectors. Analyst Responding Positively Analysts' responses to recent news have been mostly positive. David Williams from Benchmark Co. has reiterated a Buy rating for IonQ while maintaining a price target of $45 for the shares, citing strategic developments within the company, notably a significant transition in executive leadership that could introduce fresh strategies. Additionally, IonQ's acquisition of ID Quantique is a key move aimed at boosting its technological prowess and expanding its market presence. The recent successful capital raising underscores strong investor trust and equips IonQ with the resources necessary to advance its initiatives in quantum computing. Williams believes these factors combined indicate a promising trajectory for IonQ. IonQ is rated a Moderate Buy overall, based on the recent recommendations of six analysts. The average price target for IONQ stock is $41.60, which represents a potential upside of 78.92% from current levels. See more IONQ analyst ratings.