Quantum Computing Stocks: IonQ To Acquire SkyWater In $1.8 Billion Deal
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Continuing its acquisition spree, IonQ (IONQ) on Monday announced the purchase of SkyWater Technology (SKYT) in a deal the companies valued at $1.8 billion. IonQ has been the most aggressive acquirer among quantum computing stocks. IonQ will acquire SkyWater for $35 per share in a cash-and-stock transaction. Bloomington, Minn.-based SkyWater manufactures the superconducting circuits and specialized silicon required for quantum processors. ↑ X More Videos0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabledShortcuts Open/Close/ or ?Play/PauseSPACEIncrease Volume↑Decrease Volume↓Seek Forward→Seek Backward←Captions On/OffcFullscreen/Exit FullscreenfMute/UnmutemDecrease Caption Size-Increase Caption Size+ or =Seek %0-9 Next UpNvidia Can Sell AI Chips To China Again. Why That's A Big Deal.03:40Subtitle SettingsOffEnglishFont ColorWhiteFont Opacity100%Font Size100%Font Familysans-serifCharacter EdgeNoneEdge ColorBlackBackground ColorBlackBackground Opacity75%Window ColorBlackWindow Opacity0%ResetWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan100%75%50%25%200%175%150%125%100%75%50%ArialCourierGeorgiaImpactLucida ConsoleTahomaTimes New RomanTrebuchet MSVerdanaNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDrop ShadowWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan100%75%50%25%0%WhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyan100%75%50%25%0%0.5x1x1.25x1.5x2xLive00:0000:0000:00 Chip Challenges Continue As Industry Reacts To Tariffs, Generative AI And Quantum Computing See All Videos NOW PLAYING Chip Challenges Continue As Industry Reacts To Tariffs, Generative AI And Quantum Computing One IonQ analyst was cautious on the SkyWater deal. Will SkyWater Purchase Boost IonQ Stock? "While we understand the strategic rationale of this acquisition, it's not difficult to see the defensive writing on the wall, with D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) and PsiQuantum (along with other quantum players) using SkyWater as a fab," said Alexander Platt, analyst at D.A. Davidson, in a report. "In the case that SkyWater loses many of these customers, we find it hard to not see how this ends up being a near-term net-negative for IonQ, though we await more details." At Jefferies, analyst Kevin Garrigan holds a more upbeat view. "We view IonQ's acquisition of SKYT as strategically sound and consistent with IonQ's push towards becoming a 'full stack' quantum computing platform," Garrrigan said in a report. He added: "As quantum hardware progresses, we believe manufacturing becomes increasingly important and owning a U.S-based foundry will help compound learning and accelerate innovation across chip generations, while SkyWater's R&D exposure enhances IonQ's positioning for federal government opportunities. SkyWater will remain a merchant supplier supporting all quantum computing modalities and serving external customers." Quantum computing works on a subatomic level and uses exotic technologies, like supercold superconductor chips. Quantum computing aims to solve problems too complex for today's classical computers, such as simulating chemical reactions. Traditional computers use electronic circuits to store information as digital zeros and ones. Instead, quantum machines rely on processors known as "qubits." Quantum Computing Stock IonQ's 'Full-Stack' Strategy "This transformational acquisition enables IonQ to materially accelerate its quantum computing roadmap and secure its fully scalable supply chain domestically," IonQ Chief Executive Niccolo de Masi said in a statement. "With secure, U.S.-based design, packaging and chip fabrication — IonQ will benefit from vertical integration across our increasingly interlinked quantum computing, quantum networking, quantum security, and quantum sensing applications." In 2025. IonQ purchased Lightsynq and Capella. It also has purchased Oxford Ionics and Vector Atomic. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), a rival of IonQ, recently agreed to buy Quantum Circuits for $550 million, including $250 million in cash, speeding up its move into the most widely used form of quantum computing technology. While IBM and Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google are also pursuing superconducting-based quantum technology, IonQ (IONQ) is developing trapped ion systems. Meanwhile, quantum computing stocks have been volatile amid controversy involving Nvidia (NVDA) over how soon commercially viable quantum technology will be available. IonQ Stock: Technical Ratings From a technical view, IonQ stock holds a Composite Rating of 25 out of a best-possible 99, according to IBD Stock Checkup. IBD's Composite Rating combines five separate proprietary ratings into one easy-to-use rating. The best growth stocks have a Composite Rating of 90 or better. Meanwhile, IonQ stock holds an Accumulation/Distribution Rating of B. That rating analyzes price and volume changes in a stock over the past 13 weeks of trading. (A+ signifies heavy institutional buying. E means heavy selling. Think of a C grade as neutral.) IonQ reported a third-quarter loss of $3.58 per share vs. a 24-cent loss a year earlier. Revenue climbed 222% to $39.9 million, including acquisitions. In Q3, the company reported a net loss of $1.1 billion. For the fourth quarter, Wall Street analysts expected IonQ to report a loss of 52 cents per share. Also, IonQ revenue was expected to grow 245% to $40.4 million.
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