Why Rigetti Computing Stock Slumped on Friday - The Motley Fool
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By Johnny Rice – Feb 27, 2026 at 4:37PM ESTKey PointsHot inflation data sent speculative stocks like Rigetti tumbling as investors brace for the Fed to delay rate cuts.A price target cut on rival D-Wave Quantum added pressure across the quantum computing sector.Rigetti's current valuation prices in enormous success that remains far from guaranteed.Shares of quantum computing company Rigetti Computing (RGTI 6.54%) tumbled Friday, finishing the day down 6.6%. A one-two punch hit the stock: a hotter-than-expected inflation report and a Wall Street price cut on shares of quantum computing peer, D-Wave Quantum. ExpandNASDAQ: RGTIRigetti ComputingToday's Change(-6.54%) $-1.22Current Price$17.42Key Data PointsMarket Cap$6.2BDay's Range$16.63 - $18.1752wk Range$6.86 - $58.15Volume26MAvg Vol33MGross Margin-6849.48% Rigetti stock is sliding on troubling economic data Friday's producer price index (PPI) showed core wholesale prices surging 0.8% in January -- nearly triple the 0.3% economists had forecast. The hot inflation numbers likely mean the Federal Reserve will hold off on any rate cuts for longer than expected, and that is not good news for more speculative stocks like Rigetti's. When interest rates stay elevated, investors are less willing to pay a premium for future profits, especially when those profits are as uncertain as Rigetti's. Image source: Getty Images. D-Wave Quantum stock gets a price cut On top of that, analysts at Mizuho slashed its price target on D-Wave stock from $46 to $40 on Friday. The company is a close rival of Rigetti, and at this point, investors tend to tie the fates of all of the quantum pure-plays together. Is Rigetti stock worth buying on the dip? Quantum computing may well transform entire industries someday. But I think "someday" has a good chance of being much further off than quantum bulls would hope. Rigetti's valuation is still pricing in enormous success that is far from guaranteed. I wouldn't invest until Rigetti's valuation is more in line with reality. Read NextFeb 27, 2026 •By Johnny RiceWhere Will Rigetti Computing Be in 5 Years?Feb 25, 2026 •By Rich SmithForget Rigetti Computing: This Dividend‑Paying Powerhouse Has a Much Stronger UpsideFeb 24, 2026 •By Johnny RiceWhere Will Rigetti Computing Be by 2030?Feb 21, 2026 •By Johnny RiceVanguard Owns 36 Million Shares of Rigetti Computing. Here's Why That $577 Million Position Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does.Feb 20, 2026 •By Johnny Rice2 Incredibly Popular Stocks to Sell Before They PlummetFeb 19, 2026 •By Rick OrfordUnfortunate News Hides Behind Rigetti's 1300% SurgeAbout the AuthorJohnny Rice is a contributing writer for The Motley Fool covering tech stocks. He previously contributed to various financial publications.TMFJohnnyRiceStocks MentionedRigetti ComputingNASDAQ: RGTI$17.42(-6.54%)-$1.22Mizuho Financial GroupNYSE: MFG$8.89(-1.39%)-$0.13D-Wave QuantumNYSE: QBTS$18.75(-6.93%)-$1.40*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.