Why IonQ Stock Popped Today

IonQ (IONQ +6.61%) stock jumped 8.6% through 3:25 p.m. ET Monday after investment bank Wedbush assumed coverage of the stock with an outperform rating, and assigned the $40 stock a $75 price target -- basically predicting a double in 12 months. Image source: Getty Images. Why Wedbush loves quantum computing Valued at $13.6 billion in market capitalization, IonQ is by this measure one of the most richly priced quantum computing stocks -- but Wedbush thinks IonQ is worth the premium. With $187 million in trailing revenue, IonQ's business is about 15x bigger than its nearest rival among the pure-play quantum computing stocks. With $2 billion in the bank, it's also the best-funded. Finally, IonQ is the only one of these pure plays on quantum computing to own its own chip foundry, SkyWater, which IonQ brought in-house last month. Over time, Wedbush thinks investors will see quantum stocks evolve from research-and-development shops solving engineering and physics problems into "efficient and scalable businesses" that earn profits and generate positive free cash flow. As this happens, IonQ's ability to manufacture its own chips in-house, to iterate rapidly and improve the design of its products, could give it an edge over smaller rivals such as Rigetti and D-Wave Quantum. ExpandNYSE: IONQIonQToday's Change(6.61%) $2.41Current Price$38.85Key Data PointsMarket Cap$14BMarket 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$35.43 - $40.1652wk Range$25.89 - $84.64Volume23.2MAvg Vol27.2MGross Margin-2879.52% What's next for IonQ stock Just don't expect financial success to happen overnight. Despite boasting substantially more revenue than all its pure-play rivals combined, IonQ still isn't profitable, reporting $510 million in losses last year. Analysts think IonQ might earn a profit this year, but will quickly resume losing money -- and indeed, keep on losing money as far out as any analysts are making forecasts -- 2030 to be precise. That year, IonQ is forecast to lose $650 million. Investing in this one is going to require both patience and risk tolerance.Read NextAug 2, 2026 •By Daniel SparksIonQ Is Worth $13 Billion and Sits 58% Below Its High. Here's What Has to Go Right.Aug 2, 2026 •By Sara AppinoIonQ vs. Rigetti: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?Aug 2, 2026 •By Robert IzquierdoIonQ vs. D-Wave Quantum: Which Quantum Computing Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?Aug 2, 2026 •By Robert IzquierdoIonQ vs. Alphabet: What Revenue Trends Reveal About the Quantum Computing Chipmaker and the Artificial Intelligence GiantAug 1, 2026 •By Rick Orford3 Technology Stocks to Watch in the Government Sovereignty BoomJul 31, 2026 •By Lyle DalyWhere Will IonQ Be in 1 Year?About 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 MentionedIonQNYSE: IONQ$38.85(+6.61%)+$2.41Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest PickGet Access---% Avg ReturnD-Wave QuantumNASDAQ: QBTS$19.98(0.00%)-Rigetti ComputingNASDAQ: RGTI$16.02(+7.16%)+$1.07*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.