The Quantum Computing Stock Insiders Are Quietly Buying
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This quantum computing pioneer offers a high-risk but potentially high-reward proposition for investors.Imagine two scenarios. In the first, you learn that gold has been found in the surrounding area where you own land. In the second, you find out that previously undisclosed nuclear waste was buried in the surrounding area. In which scenario would you be more likely to try to buy more land adjacent to your original property? That's a no-brainer, right? If you had a good reason to believe gold could be mined on your land, you'd be much more likely to buy additional acres. On the other hand, if you discovered news that could cause your property value to decrease once it became public knowledge, you'd probably be inclined to sell as soon as the opportunity arose. This hypothetical exercise illustrates why it can pay off to notice when insiders are buying (or selling) the stock of their company. I bring this up for a simple reason: There's a quantum computing stock that insiders are quietly buying. Image source: Getty Images. All in on IonQ Key insiders appear to believe they've found quantum gold with IonQ (IONQ 2.00%). Over the last six months, insiders have purchased 1,388,206 shares of the quantum computing pioneer. During the same period, insiders sold only 513,617 shares of IonQ. Granted, the largest "purchase" during this period was actually a $6.75 million restricted stock award to IonQ's new CFO, Inder Singh, in September 2025. However, other insiders used their own money to buy IonQ shares during the period. Advertisement For example, Robert Cardillo, executive chair of IonQ Federal, bought $488,000 worth of IonQ shares on Sept. 12, 2025. This transaction increased his total stake in the company to $2.37 million. Nearly two months later, William Teuber Jr. purchased 2,000 shares at a price of approximately $54.82, totaling around $109,630. It's also helpful to understand that some of the insider sales that have occurred over the last 12 months didn't reflect a negative opinion about IonQ's prospects. As a case in point, Chief Revenue Officer Rima Alameddine sold 100,000 shares on Nov. 20, 2025. However, this was a pre-planned sale using a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that had been initially set up more than eight months earlier. Why insiders' outlook about IonQ is upbeat We don't know for sure why IonQ insiders might have upbeat outlooks on their company. However, I think we can make some pretty good guesses. For one thing, IonQ's financial trajectory is encouraging. The company reported revenue of $39.9 million in the third quarter of 2025, representing a 222% year-over-year increase. This total even exceeded the high end of IonQ's previous revenue guidance. ExpandNYSE: IONQIonQToday's Change(-2.00%) $-1.01Current Price$49.44Key Data PointsMarket Cap$18BDay's Range$49.29 - $52.6052wk Range$17.88 - $84.64Volume575KAvg Vol24MGross Margin-747.41% IonQ continues to make significant progress in advancing its quantum computing technology. It achieved a key technical milestone with its Tempo system three months ahead of schedule. The company also demonstrated quantum frequency conversion to telecom wavelengths, a significant advance that could pave the way for connecting quantum computers using the existing fiber optic infrastructure. I wouldn't be surprised if insiders are also bullish in part due to IonQ's recent mergers and acquisitions activity. The company's deals to acquire Oxford Ionics and Vector Atomic, in particular, help position it as a full-stack quantum technology provider. Should you buy IonQ stock, too? Just because key insiders buy a stock doesn't mean that other investors should blindly follow suit. That's true with IonQ as it is with any other stock. The reality is that IonQ remains a risky bet. Despite the company's rapid revenue growth, it continues to post hefty net losses. There's also no guarantee that IonQ will emerge as one of the winners in the quantum computing space over the long run. That said, I think more aggressive investors may want to consider opening a position in this quantum computing stock. IonQ's trapped-ion architecture is promising. The company is winning contracts with major customers at a healthy rate. I also like its focus on quantum technologies beyond quantum computing. There just might be plenty of quantum gold under the surface with IonQ.Read NextJan 9, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsBeyond the Hype: 5 Reasons Quantum Computing Stocks IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum Can Crash in 2026Jan 6, 2026 •By Justin PopeIs IonQ a Buy?Jan 6, 2026 •By Marc GubertiCan Pure-Play Quantum Stocks Really Make You $5 Million in 10 Years?Jan 3, 2026 •By Catie HoganIonQ Stock in 5 Years: Moon Shot or Crash Landing?Jan 3, 2026 •By Geoffrey Seiler2 Breakout Growth Stocks You Can Buy and Hold for the Next DecadeJan 3, 2026 •By Geoffrey SeilerDown 45%, Should You Buy the Dip on IonQ?About the AuthorKeith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.TMFFishBizStocks MentionedIonQNYSE: IONQ$49.44 (0.02%) $1.01*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.Advertisement