5 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in September

Key Points

• Pure plays like IonQ and D-Wave Quantum are high-risk, high-reward investments.

• Alphabet and Microsoft need quantum computing for their cloud computing services.

• Nvidia is bridging the gap between traditional and quantum computing.

• 10 stocks we like better than IonQ ›

Quantum computing investing is gaining popularity and could become a major trend in the stock market in 2026. Because of this, it makes sense to get in early before the rest of the market does.

Quantum computing has the potential to generate significant returns for investors if the technology proves successful. However, numerous companies are competing in this field, and not all may be suitable investments.

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I've identified five stocks that I believe are solid picks in the quantum computing space, and they appear to be great buys right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

Pure plays: IonQ and D-Wave Quantum

Companies of all sizes are vying for supremacy in the field of quantum computing. The ones with the most upside are those that have no other business besides quantum computing. It's an all-or-nothing bet for these companies, and they're fighting for their lives to produce a successful business. These companies are high-risk investments, but that's precisely why they have such high potential.

Two of my favorite pure-play stocks are IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS). I like these two over others for their two distinct approaches to quantum computing.

IonQ uses trapped ion technology, which can be cost effective and very precise. D-Wave Quantum uses a different process called quantum annealing. Neither company uses superconducting, which involves cooling a particle to near absolute zero. This is an expensive process, but it's also the one that most companies are taking.

By taking their own approaches, IonQ and D-Wave Quantum give themselves better chances at success, as they're not directly competing against the big quantum computing companies with nearly unlimited resources.

Legacy competitors: Alphabet and Microsoft

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), the parent company of Google, and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) are developing their own in-house quantum computing solutions.

Both companies need to develop their own internal quantum computing hardware, as they don't want to be dependent on purchasing computing equipment from a supplier indefinitely. On the AI front, they've already spent billions of dollars on computing equipment from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and if they can eliminate similar expenses in their quantum computing efforts, they will be far more profitable when quantum computing becomes commercially viable.

Since Alphabet and Microsoft aren't actively marketing their quantum computing products directly to customers, any growth these two companies generate from quantum computing will likely come from offering access through their existing cloud computing businesses. If they're successful, anyone wanting access to quantum computing would need to rent it through these cloud providers.

Even without the quantum computing catalyst that could be coming down the pipeline, cloud computing still has a ton of tailwinds, making it reason enough to invest in both stocks. But if either can develop a viable quantum computing product, it will produce significant additional growth that will reward shareholders.

A hybrid approach: Nvidia

Nvidia produces top-tier traditional computing hardware but has not been heavily involved in the quantum computing arms race. Instead, it focuses on what it does best and provides a hybrid solution for quantum computing.

By developing the equipment needed to connect existing traditional computing infrastructure with upcoming quantum computers, Nvidia appears once again to be positioning itself nicely to take advantage of a massive computing spending spree.

Nvidia remains a smart buy due to its substantial investment in traditional computing, driven by the AI arms race, but it will also benefit as quantum computing becomes more widely deployed.

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Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.