Why Did D-Wave Quantum Stock Fall 16.6% This Week?
Key Points
QBTS stock sank 16.6% over the week ending on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, after CFO John Markovich's abrupt retirement announcement spooked investors.
D-Wave's Q2 2026 operating loss more than doubled year over year, widening from $26.5 million to $54.7 million, even as quarterly sales held flat near $3 million.
The sell-off came against a rising market -- the S&P 500 gained 1.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.8% over the same week.
- 10 stocks we like better than D-Wave Quantum ›
D-Wave Quantum (NASDAQ: QBTS) stock fell this week, finishing down 16.6% by the market's close on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, following the company's announcement that a key C-suite executive would be departing.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are both up this week, gaining 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
D-Wave CFO John Markovich to retire Sept. 2, replaced by Greg Golkov
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, D-Wave announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) John Markovich is retiring, effective Sept. 2, 2026. He will be replaced by Greg Golkov, the company's senior vice president of finance.
CEO Alan Baratz thanked Markovich for his "significant contributions," including the "pivotal role" he played in helping take D-Wave public in 2022.
The company said the resignation wasn't the result of any disagreements "on any matter related to the Company's business, operations, accounting policies, practices, financial statements, disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting."
Image source: Getty Images.
Despite the disclaimer, the sudden announcement of his unusually quick departure spooked investors.
D-Wave's operating loss doubled to $54.7 million in Q2 2026
That's especially true because it comes on the heels of a less-than-stellar earnings report. D-Wave's Q2 sales were flat year over year, coming in once again just above $3 million. At the same time, however, its operating loss more than doubled from negative $26.5 million to negative $54.7 million.
This is a stock with an enormous amount of very uncertain growth baked in. I would avoid D-Wave stock.
Should you buy stock in D-Wave Quantum right now?
Before you buy stock in D-Wave Quantum, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and D-Wave Quantum wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $430,571!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,399,268!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 986% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of August 28, 2026.
Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
