Why IonQ Stock Surged Today

IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) stock posted big gains in Friday's trading. The quantum-computing company's share price closed out the daily session up 10.8% amid a bullish backdrop for the broader market. The S&P 500 index's level climbed 1.2% in the daily session, and the Nasdaq Composite index rose 1.7%.

Quantum-computing stocks rocketed higher across 2024's trading but saw some sell-offs as investors took profits at the end of the year. Now, fresh rounds of bullish coverage and suggestions that quantum stocks could be 2025's hot market trend are powering big gains for IonQ and other players in the space.

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Quantum-computing excitement heats up again early in 2025

Axios published an article today with the headline "Quantum computing stocks are the new AI stocks," discussing the market's rising enthusiasm for companies with exposure to the potentially revolutionary new computing category. Risk-tolerant investors seeking explosive returns are looking for the next big thing, and quantum stocks have emerged as a top candidate for 2025.

On the heels of rising excitement and increasing media coverage, investment dollars have been pouring into IonQ and other players, including Rigetti Computing and D-Wave Quantum. But while Rigetti and D-Wave have actually seen far more explosive valuation growth over the last year, IonQ remains a larger and more established player in the space.

What's next for IonQ stock?

Quantum computing is an emerging tech field with a speculative outlook. In December, Alphabet's Google division published new reports about its Willow computing chip that indicated the company had made some major breakthroughs when it comes to scaling fundamental quantum-computing measures and reducing error rates. The news energized a new round of bullish momentum for companies with quantum-computing projects, but investors should approach the space with the understanding that the potential for these stocks to deliver more explosive returns is counterbalanced with high levels of risk.

Some experts forecast that commercial applications for quantum computing won't arrive until 2030 at the earliest. If so, that wouldn't be terribly far down the line, but there's a lot that could happen within that proposed half-decade window. If IonQ can deliver significant quantum-computing breakthroughs and take major steps toward commercializing its tech, the stock will likely soar above current levels.

On the other hand, investors should understand that this quantum stock probably has a binary outcome. Over the next five years, shares will likely either skyrocket or crater from current pricing levels.

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Keith Noonan 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.