Forget SpaceX: The Next Red-Hot IPO Is Here and It’s a Quantum Computing Stock - Yahoo Finance
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Forget SpaceX: The Next Red-Hot IPO Is Here and It’s a Quantum Computing Stock Rich Duprey Tue, May 26, 2026 at 11:47 AM EDT 5 min read SPAX.PVT NVDA -0.96% SOFI +3.33% Quick Read Quantinuum, backed by Honeywell (65% stake) and Nvidia ($600M investment), is planning an IPO targeting a $12 billion valuation that would make it the second-largest pure-play quantum computing company, with existing revenue from quantum cybersecurity products and enterprise partnerships unlike most quantum startups. The quantum computing sector is experiencing renewed investor enthusiasm as IPO activity resumes, but history shows blockbuster IPO day-one investors often face disappointment due to lockup expirations, insider selling, and unmet expectations. It sounds nuts, but SoFi is giving new active invest users up to $1,000 in stock for a limited time, and all it takes is a $50 deposit to get started. See for yourself (Sponsor) The IPO market is waking up again, and few offerings have generated as much buzz as SpaceX.
Between Elon Musk’s star power, the company’s reported multi-trillion-dollar valuation it is seeking, and dreams of Mars colonization, it is easy to see why investors are excited. But history says investors chasing blockbuster IPOs right out of the gate often wind up disappointed. That may also be true for another newly announced offering grabbing attention for a very different reason: quantum computing. This time the company is Quantinuum -- and while it lacks rockets, it may offer investors a more grounded way to bet on the next generation of computing.
Quantum Stocks Are Hot Again Quantum computing stocks looked untouchable in late 2024 and early 2025 before cooling off as investors realized practical quantum systems were still years away from mainstream adoption. Yet the trade is heating back up again. SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion. Open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts. See for yourself by clicking here now. Shares of IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) have climbed nearly 37% year-to-date, while Quantum Computing (NASDAQ:QUBT) gained about 10.5%. The rally reflects renewed enthusiasm around artificial intelligence infrastructure spending and the idea that quantum computing could eventually become the next leap forward after AI accelerators. Now Quantinuum wants in. According to reports surrounding its IPO plans and recent funding announcements, the company is seeking to raise $1.05 billion that would target a valuation near $12 billion. If achieved, that would instantly make it the second-largest publicly traded pure-play quantum computing company behind IonQ, which currently carries a market capitalization around $23 billion. It would put it just ahead of D-Wave Quantum (NASDAQ:QBTS) with its $10 billion valuation.
Story Continues Surprisingly, Quantinuum may enter the market with advantages many quantum rivals never had.Quantinuum Has Something Most Quantum Startups LackMost publicly traded quantum companies remain early-stage businesses with limited revenue and large annual losses. Quantinuum is different because it already has major industrial backing.The company was formed in 2021 through the merger of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum. Today, Honeywell International (NYSE:HON) still owns a majority stake, giving Quantinuum access to deep engineering expertise, industrial customers, and financial support many startups can only dream about. Then there is the AI angle. Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) recently participated in a $600 million investment round in Quantinuum alongside several institutional investors and banks. That matters because Nvidia is increasingly positioning itself not just as an AI chip company, but as the backbone for next-generation computing infrastructure.Let's look at how Quantinuum stacks up against current quantum peers: CompanyMarket ValueRevenue BaseKey Strength IonQ$23 billionCommercial quantum cloud accessStrong public market momentum and enterprise partnerships QuantinuumTargeting $12 billion IPO valuationQuantum cybersecurity, software, and hardwareHoneywell backing and Nvidia investment D-Wave Quantum$10 billionQuantum systems, cloud access, and optimization softwareCommercial annealing systems already in enterprise use Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI)$8 billionQuantum computing systems and cloud servicesSuperconducting quantum architecture and government contracts Quantum Computing$2.5 billionEarly-stage commercializationQuantum photonics and optics-focused systems Quantinuum already generates revenue from quantum cybersecurity products, quantum software tools, and partnerships with governments and enterprise customers. That gives it a broader commercial footprint than many rivals still largely dependent on research contracts.Granted, the business is still not profitable, and commercial quantum computing remains in its infancy. Error correction, scalability, and cost remain major hurdles before quantum systems can become mainstream computing platforms.
Investors Should Still Be CarefulThat said, investors should not ignore one important lesson: large IPOs often disappoint early buyers.Data from Nasdaq shows many high-profile IPOs trail the broader market during their first two years as public companies. Newly public firms frequently face lockup expirations, insider selling, and sky-high expectations that become difficult to meet quarter after quarter.SpaceX could face those same pressures despite its dominant position in launch services and satellite internet. Quantinuum may as well.In any case, Quantinuum differs from many speculative quantum names because it enters the market with established corporate backing, existing revenue streams, and ties to both Nvidia and Honeywell. Regardless of how you look at it, that gives it a sturdier foundation than many quantum startups that reached public markets through SPAC mergers in recent years.Key TakeawayIn short, sharp investors may want to resist the temptation to chase either SpaceX or Quantinuum aggressively on day one. IPO excitement has a habit of outrunning fundamentals.Still, Quantinuum could become one of the more important quantum computing companies in public markets if the technology evolves the way many researchers and enterprise customers expect. For investors who believe quantum computing eventually becomes a viable commercial industry, establishing a small starter position after the IPO -- rather than betting heavily upfront -- may be the smartest approach.
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