2 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in Early 2026

By Manali Pradhan, CFA – Jan 24, 2026 at 2:20PM ESTKey PointsNvidia is building the systems that will allow quantum computers to link smoothly with classical supercomputer clusters.Microsoft is monetizing quantum computing through the cloud.Both companies combine reliable cash flows with long-term quantum computing-driven upside potential.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NASDAQ: NVDANvidiaMarket Cap$4.6TToday's Changeangle-down(1.60%) $2.95Current Price$187.79Price as of January 23, 2026 at 3:58 PM ETIf you want to get quantum computing exposure, skipping the pure plays and focusing on the diversified tech giants could be a smart strategy.Quantum computing is gradually evolving from a largely experimental technology toward commercialization. According to a forecast from the consultancy MarketsandMarkets, the global quantum computing market will expand from $3.5 billion in 2025 to $20.2 billion in 2030. Image source: Getty Images. However, betting on pure-play quantum companies with minimal revenues and heavy ongoing research and development (R&D) costs can be risky. A more balanced approach is to invest in diversified technology leaders that offer quantum computing exposure, but that can support their efforts in this new field with their profitable established businesses.These two stocks fit those criteria. 1. Nvidia Nvidia (NVDA +1.60%) is already a dominant force in the global artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure market. The company is increasingly focused on selling rack-scale AI server systems that combine chips, networking hardware, and supporting software, for training and inferencing (real-time deployment) large AI models in data centers worldwide. The company also boasts exceptional demand visibility, with management indicating more than $500 billion in orders for its Blackwell processors and next-generation Rubin processors from the start of 2025 through the end of 2026. Hence, the company is well-positioned to continue generating massive cash flows, which should boost its share price. ExpandNASDAQ: NVDANvidiaToday's Change(1.60%) $2.95Current Price$187.79Key Data PointsMarket Cap$4.6TDay's Range$186.83 - $189.6052wk Range$86.62 - $212.19Volume4.7MAvg Vol187MGross Margin70.05%Dividend Yield0.02% Nvidia also provides a bridge between classical supercomputers and quantum computers through its NVQLink technology. This enables the systems to offload key tasks such as calibration, control, and error mitigation to GPU-powered supercomputers with low latency and improved throughput. The resulting hybrid systems will provide the platforms that could take quantum computing mainstream. Building on this architecture, Nvidia, in collaboration with Quantum Machines, launched the DGX Quantum system, with an early access program introduced in March 2025. This program allows research laboratories and quantum hardware companies to deploy the system in real-world environments. At the software layer, Nvidia's CUDA-Q open-source platform enables developers to write programs that can run optimally across CPUs, GPUs, and quantum processors using a single programming framework. Hence, Nvidia looks like a safer way to participate in quantum computing's upside, while avoiding the extreme volatility of pure-play bets. 2. Microsoft Microsoft (MSFT +3.28%) is a prominent player in the enterprise software and cloud computing space. Its Azure cloud platform serves a large, sticky base of enterprise customers, while its AI assistant, Copilot, is also adding to its recurring software revenues across its productivity and developer tools. ExpandNASDAQ: MSFTMicrosoftToday's Change(3.28%) $14.81Current Price$465.95Key Data PointsMarket Cap$3.5TDay's Range$450.53 - $471.1052wk Range$344.79 - $555.45Volume38MAvg Vol25MGross Margin68.76%Dividend Yield0.73% However, it's not resting on its laurels. The company aims to leverage its cloud capabilities to advance its quantum computing technology.

Through Azure Quantum, the company provides customers with cloud-based access to an integrated stack of high-performance computing systems, AI models, and quantum processors. This gives its clients the ability to run hybrid quantum-classical workloads without owning quantum computing hardware. Like other players in the space, Microsoft is developing logical qubits, which are composed of multiple physical qubits that are grouped together in a single state. This helps make quantum computers more error-resistant and reliable. Microsoft and privately held start-up Quantinuum built a 12-logical-qubit system, and processed an end-to-end chemistry simulation using logical qubits, high-performance computing, and AI technologies. These milestones highlight the steady technical progress of Microsoft's quantum computing capabilities. Microsoft has launched the Majorana 1 quantum chip, based on a new topological qubit architecture designed to reduce error-correction costs. While it's still experimental, if it's validated at scale, this approach could strengthen Azure's competitive moat in the long run. All these factors make Microsoft a lower-risk way to gain quantum exposure.Read NextJan 24, 2026 •By Stefon WaltersIf You'd Invested $1,000 in Nvidia 5 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have TodayJan 24, 2026 •By Geoffrey SeilerWhat Are the 3 Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stocks to Buy Right Now?Jan 24, 2026 •By Trevor JennewineThe 4 Best AI Stocks to Buy as Trillion-Dollar Tech Shapes a Once-in-a-Lifetime Investment OpportunityJan 24, 2026 •By Danny Vena, CPAChina Poised to Approve Nvidia's H200 Chips for Import. Here's What It Means for InvestorsJan 24, 2026 •By Trevor Jennewine2 AI Stocks to Buy Before They Soar to $20 Trillion, According to Wall Street ExpertsJan 24, 2026 •By Danny Vena, CPAAI Infrastructure Could Triple to $1.4 Trillion by 2030: Here's the Best Stock to Buy for 2026About the AuthorManali Pradhan, CFA, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and industrial sectors. Manali brings prior experience as a healthcare analyst and team lead at Market Realist, a data equity analyst at Morgan Stanley, and a data analyst at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master’s in finance from Mumbai University.TMFManaBStocks MentionedNvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$187.79 (+0.02%) $+2.95MicrosoftNASDAQ: MSFT$465.95 (+0.03%) $+14.81*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.