1 Unstoppable Quantum Computing Stock to Buy Before It Soars 200%, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • IonQ's revenues are growing rapidly due to multiple contract wins.

  • Its top line is still relatively small, and its revenues are dwarfed by its losses.

  • Its technology is promising, but there's no guarantee of success.

  • 10 stocks we like better than IonQ ›

The quantum computing sector is a great place to find stocks that have the potential to deliver massive returns. However, if one of these companies comes out with a poor testing result or loses a major client, the investment thesis for it can collapse overnight, sending the stock price tumbling.

My favorite stock in this space is IonQ (NYSE: IONQ). The company has taken the lead in quantum computing accuracy -- and that's key, as error reduction and error correction are the two central problems that must be solved before the technology can start being widely deployed. Analyst John McPeake of Rosenblatt Securities has a $100 price target on the stock, which means he thinks it could triple from here in the next year.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »

So, should investors buy the stock now?

A quantum computing cell.

Image source: Getty Images.

IonQ is delivering promise growth

While McPeake is the most bullish of the analysts covering IonQ, the consensus on the stock is also positive. The average price target is $65, which is still double today's stock price of about $32.50. In fact, the lowest one-year price point is $35 per share, showing that IonQ's stock may be undervalued as is. But it is now down by about 66% from the high of more than $84 it hit in October.

If you look at how the company is doing, it's clear that IonQ's solutions are starting to gain traction. In the fourth quarter, it recognized $62 million in revenue -- up 429% year over year. That came from a combination of research contracts and some early-stage system sales, but it showcased that demand for quantum computing technology is rapidly rising. Overall, in 2025, the company recognized $130 million in revenue. For 2026, that figure is expected to increase to $235 million.

Still, there is no guarantee of success for the company over the long term, and attempting to value it using traditional metrics like the price-to-sales ratio doesn't work well because they don't take into account the potential market opportunity that IonQ could benefit from if its products become mainstream winners in the space. Instead, I think investors are better off looking at IonQ like a biotech stock.

Its tech may or may not work out, but all indications are that IonQ's early-stage trials are going well. As a result, it is trading at a premium over some of its competitors. There is still huge room for upside if it can bring a commercially viable product to market, but there's still a possibility that another company's products will surpass it or that its later-stage trials will flop. Successful investors avoid loading up on early-stage biotech companies too heavily due to their high-risk nature. But they may want to get a small amount of portfolio exposure and add to their positions as such companies report more successes.

I think that's the smart way to think about IonQ's stock. Buy a little bit now, then add to your position over time if the company's path toward success becomes clearer.

Should you buy stock in IonQ right now?

Before you buy stock in IonQ, 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 IonQ 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 $503,861!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,026,987!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 884% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% 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 March 29, 2026.

Keithen Drury has positions in IonQ. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends IonQ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Seesaw Effect Continues. US Pre-Market Three Major Index Futures Weaken, Oil Prices Rise, Bitcoin Drops Below 68,000 MarkAgainst a backdrop of intertwined geopolitical risks and macroeconomic uncertainty, global market sentiment has repeatedly diverged. In Friday pre-market trading ET, the three major U.S.
Author  TradingKey
Mar 27, Fri
Against a backdrop of intertwined geopolitical risks and macroeconomic uncertainty, global market sentiment has repeatedly diverged. In Friday pre-market trading ET, the three major U.S.
placeholder
Australian Dollar falls to two-month lows on US–Iran peace uncertaintyAUD/USD extends its losing streak for the fourth consecutive day, trading around 0.6880 during the Asian hours on Friday.
Author  FXStreet
Mar 27, Fri
AUD/USD extends its losing streak for the fourth consecutive day, trading around 0.6880 during the Asian hours on Friday.
placeholder
US-Iran Rift Persists, Will Gold Rise or Fall Next?US-Iran tensions persist; $4,400 becomes the gold ( XAUUSD) bulls' make-or-break level.During the European session on March 26, as of press time, spot gold retreated 1.5% to $4,436.42 per
Author  TradingKey
Mar 26, Thu
US-Iran tensions persist; $4,400 becomes the gold ( XAUUSD) bulls' make-or-break level.During the European session on March 26, as of press time, spot gold retreated 1.5% to $4,436.42 per
placeholder
Gold rallies on hopes for US-Iran talks and falling US Treasury yieldsGold price (XAU/USD) gains nearly 2% on Wednesday as Oil futures prices tumbled amid growing speculation that the US and Iran would begin talks to end the conflict that started nearly four weeks ago. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,556.
Author  FXStreet
Mar 26, Thu
Gold price (XAU/USD) gains nearly 2% on Wednesday as Oil futures prices tumbled amid growing speculation that the US and Iran would begin talks to end the conflict that started nearly four weeks ago. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades at $4,556.
placeholder
Gold Prices Under Pressure After Hitting $4,600, UBS: Safe-Haven Logic Unchanged But Only Delayed.Impacted by signs of easing geopolitical risks in the Middle East, international gold prices (XAUUSD) rebounded sharply after previously falling to the $4,100 level, at one point climbing
Author  TradingKey
Mar 25, Wed
Impacted by signs of easing geopolitical risks in the Middle East, international gold prices (XAUUSD) rebounded sharply after previously falling to the $4,100 level, at one point climbing
goTop
quote