Should You Invest $1,000 in IonQ Right Now?
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Weigh in the pros and cons before investing in this quantum computing company.Shares of pure-play quantum computing player IonQ (IONQ +1.70%) have soared by over 62% in the past year. Image source: Getty Images With the company delivering multiple technology breakthroughs and rapidly moving toward its ambitious targets, many investors are wondering if this may be the right time to invest $1,000 in the stock. Accelerating financials and proven execution IonQ reported stellar results in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 (ending Sept. 30, 2025), with revenues soaring 222% year-over-year to $39.9 million, nearly 37% more than the higher end of the company's guidance. The company also holds a pro forma cash balance of $3.5 billion and no debt on its balance sheet. Hence, the company has sufficient financial flexibility to invest in research and development, targeted acquisitions, and commercial expansion. ExpandNYSE: IONQIonQToday's Change(1.70%) $0.88Current Price$52.55Key Data PointsMarket Cap$18BDay's Range$49.06 - $52.8852wk Range$17.88 - $84.64Volume19MAvg Vol30MGross Margin-747.41%Dividend YieldN/A IonQ has also achieved a world record of 99.99% two-qubit fidelity (two quantum bits can work together with extremely low error rates), which is a significant step toward the company's long-term goal of building a fault-tolerant quantum system (computations remain correct despite qubits experiencing errors). The company is also moving aggressively toward its target of creating a quantum computing system with 40,000 to 80,000 logical qubits by 2030. IonQ's flagship Tempo system has achieved an algorithmic qubit score of 64 (#AQ 64 ), a strong indicator of its real-world performance and ability to tackle complex quantum problems. The company has also expanded global access to its commercialized Forte Enterprise system with #AQ 36 score, by making it available on Amazon's managed quantum computing service, Amazon Braket, and on IonQ Quantum Cloud. This can eventually generate recurring revenue streams for IonQ. Finally, IonQ has also added new capabilities in quantum networking, sensing, and security through acquisitions, including Oxford Ionics, Vector Atomic, and a controlling stake in ID Quantique.Advertisement Despite these strengths, commercial quantum adoption may require time, which can keep the company unprofitable for an extended period. Hence, long-term investors can consider investing $1,000 in this stock only if it is not more than 5% of their larger diversified investment portfolio.About 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.TMFManaBRead NextDec 11, 2025 •By Chris NeigerIs IonQ a Buy?Dec 11, 2025 •By Brett SchaferShould You Buy Quantum Computing Stocks in 2026?Dec 11, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAIs IonQ Stock a Buying Opportunity Before 2026?Dec 11, 2025 •By Keith SpeightsWhat to Watch With IonQ Stock in 2026Dec 10, 2025 •By Adam SpataccoPrediction: IonQ Stock Will Be Worth This Much By Year-End 2026Dec 10, 2025 •By Sean WilliamsIonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. Have Issued a $926 Million Warning to Wall Street for 2026