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Prediction: IonQ Will 10X by 2035

The Motley Fool
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⚡ Quantum Brief
IonQ leads quantum computing with record 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, surpassing competitors stuck at 99.9% accuracy, positioning it as the front-runner in solving quantum’s core challenge: error correction. The quantum computing market may reach $72 billion by 2035, per McKinsey, with early adopters already deploying systems for niche tasks, signaling faster-than-expected commercialization despite lingering accuracy hurdles. Analysts predict IonQ’s stock could 10x by 2035, requiring $8.5 billion in revenue—just 12% of the projected market—assuming 40% margins, a feasible target given Nvidia’s hardware profitability benchmarks. IonQ’s $16 billion market cap could hit $170 billion at 10x growth, aligning with a 50x P/E ratio typical for high-growth tech, though execution risks remain amid fierce competition and unproven scalability. Despite negative gross margins today, IonQ’s technical edge and first-mover advantage in high-fidelity quantum systems make it a top contender to dominate the emerging industry if it sustains its lead.
Prediction: IonQ Will 10X by 2035

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By Keithen Drury – Apr 27, 2026 at 4:36PM ESTKey PointsIonQ's technology leads the way in quantum computing accuracy.The quantum computing market could be worth up to $72 billion by 2035. Predicting that any stock will rise tenfold in any time frame is a bold call. Some high-growth investors are looking for stocks that can 10x in 10 years, which would be an incredible return. I think that IonQ (IONQ +2.69%) may be one such stock. Image source: The Motley Fool. Quantum computing is coming quicker than most realize Useful quantum computing is already at our doorstep. Several companies are already using early-stage quantum computers for certain tasks. What's keeping quantum computing from going mainstream is accuracy. Quantum computers today are vastly less accurate than traditional computers, and separating noise from actual results isn't easy. However, IonQ has the world's leading quantum technology and boasts a world-record-holding 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity. This means IonQ's technology makes about one error out of every 10,000 operations when a calculation is required to pass through two logic gates. Most quantum computing companies are struggling to achieve 99.9% accuracy at scale, so IonQ is well in front. While even 99.99% fidelity is far from the levels needed to make this technology ready for the mainstream, if IonQ can maintain its lead as the race progresses, this could give it a shot at capturing a large piece of the market. ExpandNYSE: IONQIonQToday's Change(2.69%) $1.15Current Price$43.84Key Data PointsMarket Cap$16BDay's Range$41.11 - $44.0752wk Range$25.89 - $84.64Volume23MAvg Vol26MGross Margin-2267.11% Should IonQ gain a meaningful share of this important and emerging industry, I have no doubt that its stock price will skyrocket. If it grew tenfold, it would have a $170 billion market cap. For a company operating on the bleeding edge of technology and rapidly growing, I'd expect it to trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 50. To make those figures match up would require IonQ to generate $3.4 billion in earnings. Profit margins on hardware businesses normally aren't as good as for software businesses, but companies like Nvidia (NVDA +3.97%) have proven that margins of 50% or greater on hardware are possible. Let's be a bit more conservative and speculate that IonQ might manage a margin of 40%. At that level, to earn $3.4 billion requires $8.5 billion in revenue. Could it do that in 10 years? Well, McKinsey & Company estimates that the global quantum computing market could be between $28 billion and $72 billion annually by 2035. So there is plenty of room for IonQ to capture a slice of the market and deliver 10x returns. If it ends up capturing more, it could deliver even better returns. While the math that supports this premise is simple, the execution will be anything but. There are still a ton of roadblocks ahead of IonQ, and it won't be easy for it to rise to the top. However, with its technology edge, I think it has as good a shot as any of its rivals to lead the market. Read NextApr 27, 2026 •By Keithen DruryThe First 5 Quantum Computing Stocks I'd Buy If I Were Starting From ScratchApr 27, 2026 •By Leo SunPrediction: IonQ Will Be the First Quantum Stock to Prove the Bears WrongApr 26, 2026 •By Keithen DruryTop Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in AprilApr 26, 2026 •By Keithen Drury3 Impressive Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy NowApr 24, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsQuantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave Have Soared Up to 72% in 7 Trading Sessions -- and You'll Likely Regret Chasing This RallyApr 21, 2026 •By Keithen DruryWhere Will IonQ Be in 5 Years?About the AuthorKeithen Drury is a contributing Motley Fool technology analyst covering AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and SaaS stocks. In addition to The Motley Fool, Keithen is a mechanical engineer and has held roles at Honeywell and smaller industrial companies like Brand Hydraulics and Lincoln Industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Dordt University.TMFTripleOptionStocks MentionedIonQNYSE: IONQ$43.91(+2.86%)+$1.22NvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$216.54(+3.97%)+$8.27*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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