How to Invest in Quantum Computing: Stocks, ETFs and Risks
There are three ways to invest in quantum computing: large companies that do quantum research alongside other businesses (IBM, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA and Honeywell), pure-play quantum stocks (IonQ, D-Wave, Rigetti, Quantum Computing Inc, Quantinuum and a wave of 2026 listings), and a handful of quantum ETFs. The pure plays have tiny revenues against large valuations, losses and dilution, and the technology that would make them profitable, fault-tolerant machines, is still being built, so treat the sector as high risk and do not size a position you could not afford to lose.
What are the ways to invest in quantum computing?
| Route | Examples | What it gives you | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large companies | IBM, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA, Honeywell | Quantum as one option inside a profitable business | Quantum is a small part of each, so it will barely move the stock |
| Pure-play stocks | IonQ, D-Wave, Rigetti, Quantum Computing Inc, Quantinuum, IQM and others | Direct exposure to the technology | Tiny revenue, large losses, dilution and extreme volatility |
| ETFs | Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM), WisdomTree Quantum Computing Fund (WQTM), Global X AI Semiconductor & Quantum ETF (CHPX) | A basket of quantum and related companies | Funds hold chipmakers and software firms too, with expense ratios of 0.40% to 0.50%, so check holdings |
Tickers and fees are as reported on October 22, 2026. Check your broker and each fund's own page, since the lists of listed companies and ETF holdings change.
Which large companies have quantum exposure?
These are all tracked on this site, so their numbers come from the weekly data of October 17, 2026:
| Company | Price | Trailing P/E | Passes (of 6 fundamental filters) | Quantum role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | $232.14 | 20.4 | 5 | Builds quantum systems and runs IBM Quantum; with the US Commerce Department's letter of intent for a $1 billion Anderon chip foundry, plus $1 billion of its own |
| Alphabet (GOOGL) | $340.59 | 17.6 | 5 | Willow and Sycamore chips; Google Cloud partners with IonQ |
| Microsoft (MSFT) | $529.05 | 29.8 | 2 | Azure quantum access and quantum labs; partners with IonQ |
| Amazon (AMZN) | $250.00 | 20.3 | 6 | AWS offers access to quantum hardware, including IonQ's |
| NVIDIA (NVDA) | $214.13 | 26.9 | 3 | Software and links between GPUs and quantum machines (CUDA-Q, cuQuantum) |
| Honeywell (HON) | $211.41 | 7.7 | 6 | Controlling shareholder of Quantinuum, keeping about 49% of the votes after its IPO |
Honeywell's P/E of 7.7 is unusually low for an industrial company, so look at what is in its trailing earnings before reading anything into it. Quantum is a rounding error for most of these companies, which is both the safety and the limit of this route. Among them, IBM and Honeywell are the closest to the technology.
Which pure-play quantum stocks are there?
| Company | Ticker | Approach | Q1 2026 revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| IonQ | IONQ | Trapped-ion computers | $64.7 million, up 755% year on year; 2026 revenue guidance raised to $260 to $270 million |
| D-Wave Quantum | QBTS | Quantum annealing | $2.9 million, down 81% year on year, with bookings up sharply |
| Rigetti Computing | RGTI | Superconducting chips | $4.4 million, with $569 million of cash and no debt reported at quarter-end |
| Quantinuum | QNT | Trapped-ion computers | $5.2 million with a $136.6 million net loss (March quarter); Honeywell keeps about 49% of the votes |
| IQM | IQMX | Superconducting chips (Finland) | 2026 revenue guidance of 42 to 47 million euros |
| Quantum Computing Inc | QUBT | Photonics | Discloses little revenue |
First-quarter 2026 revenue, as reported by Motley Fool from company results.
Quantinuum listed on Nasdaq in June 2026 and was described as the largest quantum IPO; reports differ on the final price and amount raised, and one October report has the shares well below the IPO price. Other quantum companies now listed include IQM (since July 2026), Infleqtion, Xanadu and Horizon Quantum. Prices and valuations of all of these move quickly, and one analysis in June put IonQ at about 179 times sales, so check the current multiple.
What is the US government doing?
In May 2026 the US Department of Commerce announced letters of intent worth more than $2 billion for around nine quantum-related companies, in exchange for minority equity stakes. They include $1 billion for IBM's planned chip foundry (with IBM adding its own $1 billion) and about $100 million each for Rigetti, D-Wave and Infleqtion. Quantinuum also has a letter of intent for up to $100 million. These are non-binding, and one analysis noted the stock gains from the news faded within weeks. Government support signals strategic importance, not profit.
What are the risks?
- Revenue and losses: revenues are small and gross margins are reported as deeply negative for several pure plays.
- Valuation and dilution: sales multiples in the hundreds, plus new shares from IPOs and capital raises, mean existing holders can be diluted.
- The technology: useful, fault-tolerant machines depend on error correction. Quantinuum says its Helios machine reached a logical fidelity of 99.9995% on October 19, 2026 and targets 2029 for fault tolerance, and IBM and others are also reported to target 2029. These are company claims.
- Concentration: Quantinuum's revenue was mostly one customer a year earlier.
- Hype cycles: pure-play stocks have risen and fallen sharply on news, so timing a position is hard.
Before putting money in, ask what growth a price assumes (what growth does a share price imply), size the position so a total loss would not change your plans (position sizing), and prefer to read the filings. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any stock.
Sources
- Motley Fool: Quantinuum's IPO is putting pressure on IonQ, Rigetti and D-Wave (June 16, 2026): Q1 2026 revenue and cash, valuation multiples
- Yahoo Finance: Honeywell-backed Quantinuum's IPO puts the quantum rally to the test (May 26, 2026): IPO terms, Honeywell's votes, Quantinuum's quarter
- Yahoo Finance: quantum stocks jump as the administration doles out $2 billion for equity stakes (May 22, 2026): the government letters of intent
- Motley Fool: 7 best quantum computing stocks for 2026 (updated October 8, 2026): tickers, big-company roles
- Motley Fool: 3 best quantum computing ETFs for 2026 (updated August 13, 2026): ETF tickers and fees
Sources disagree in places on figures such as the Quantinuum IPO price and fund holdings, so figures here are as reported and may have changed.
Quantum computing stocks FAQ
What are the main quantum computing stocks?
Pure plays include IonQ (IONQ), D-Wave (QBTS), Rigetti (RGTI), Quantum Computing Inc (QUBT), Quantinuum (QNT) and IQM (IQMX). Large companies with quantum programs include IBM, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA and Honeywell.
Is there a quantum computing ETF?
Yes. Reported in October 2026: the Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM), the WisdomTree Quantum Computing Fund (WQTM) and the Global X AI Semiconductor & Quantum ETF (CHPX), with expense ratios of 0.40% to 0.50%. Check each fund's holdings, which include chip and software companies.
Is quantum computing a good investment?
This site does not give recommendations. The field is early: revenues are small, losses are large and valuations assume machines that are not yet built, so it is high risk.
Which quantum stock is safest?
None of the pure plays is safe. The large companies, such as IBM or Alphabet, are far more stable because quantum is a small part of a profitable business, but they will not move much on quantum news.
When will quantum computers be useful?
Companies including IBM and Quantinuum target fault-tolerant machines around 2029, which are company goals. Most systems today are still in the research stage.