Why D-Wave Quantum Stock Popped Today

D-Wave Quantum (QBTS +9.31%) stock jumped 9.2% through 1 p.m. ET Thursday after announcing last night that it will host the Qubits Asia 2026 Quantum Computing User Conference in Seoul on Oct. 28, 2026. Image source: Getty Images. Seriously? That's it? Seriously. That's all the news it took to send D-Wave stock up more than 9% today. D-Wave said at the conference it will "showcase production applications, customer momentum across APAC and advancements in D-Wave's annealing and gate-model quantum computing technologies." Presumably, all this will generate positive PR for the company. It may even generate some sales for D-Wave -- but that's not guaranteed. In the absence of any other positive catalysts, and in the presence of the fact that the U.S. Federal Reserve just announced its first interest rate hike in three years, and seems intent on raising more, today's share price spike seems an overreaction to me. ExpandNASDAQ: QBTSD-Wave QuantumPremium FeatureMoneyball Superscore68/100Today's Change(9.31%) $1.52Current Price$17.79Key Data PointsMarket Cap$6.1BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.Day's Range$16.64 - $17.8452wk Range$12.75 - $46.75Volume15.4MAvg Vol18.8MGross Margin-730.78% The problem with D-Wave stock So here's the situation in a nutshell. D-Wave Quantum is not a profitable quantum computing stock. D-Wave is unprofitable, is on course by some measures to lose more money this year than last, and may lose more next year than this year. Analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, who follow D-Wave stock, think it will keep on losing money as far out as anyone can see -- at least through 2030. What's more, D-Wave has only $546 million in the bank and is forecast to burn more than $560 million over the next five years. (So by the time 2030 rolls around, D-Wave could also be out of money.) Conferences are fun and all, but they can't replace profits. Until D-Wave finds a way to earn some of those, the stock's a sell in my book.Read NextSep 14, 2026 •By Rick OrfordD-Wave's Commercial Momentum Is Real, but a Critical Gap RemainsSep 12, 2026 •By Sara AppinoBigBear.ai vs. D-Wave Quantum: Which Technology Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?Sep 12, 2026 •By Daniel SparksPrediction: D-Wave Quantum's Revenue Triples Before 2030Sep 10, 2026 •By Johnny RiceD-Wave, Rigetti, and Quantinuum Just Got $300 Million From Washington. Here's What That Changes for Investors.Sep 10, 2026 •By Geoffrey Seiler3 Quantum Stocks Just Scored $100 Million in Government Funding. Which Is the Best to Buy Now?Sep 8, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy D-Wave Quantum Stock Popped TodayAbout the AuthorRich Smith is a contributing Motley Fool defense and stock market analyst covering publicly traded and emerging companies in defense, space, aerospace, and other sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Rich practiced international corporate law for Clifford Chance in Russia, and for the Russian-Ukrainian Legal Group in Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the College of William & Mary, a law degree from the University of Baltimore, and a language certification from the International Institute of Russian Language & Culture in Tver, Russian Federation. The Globe and Mail once featured him as “one of the best stock pickers since 2009.”TMFDittyX@RichSmithFoolStocks MentionedD-Wave QuantumNASDAQ: QBTS$17.79(+9.31%)+$1.52Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest PickGet Access---% Avg Return*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.