1 Unstoppable Quantum Computing Stock to Buy Before It Soars 200%, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst - The Motley Fool
The Motley FoolArchived Apr 19, 2026✓ Full text saved
1 Unstoppable Quantum Computing Stock to Buy Before It Soars 200%, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst The Motley Fool
Full text archived locally
✦ AI Summary· Claude Sonnet
By Keithen Drury – Mar 29, 2026 at 4:31PM EST
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.
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 (
IONQ
+3.16%
). 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.
So, should investors buy the stock now?
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.
Expand
NYSE: IONQ
IonQ
Today's Change
(3.16%) $1.41
Current Price
$46.09
KEY DATA POINTS
Market Cap
$17B
Day's Range
$43.68 - $46.69
52wk Range
$23.48 - $84.64
Volume
49M
Avg Vol
25M
Gross Margin
-2267.11%
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.
Read Next
Apr 18, 2026 By Keithen Drury
3 Red-Hot Growth Stocks That Could Turn $5,000 Into $50,000 by 2030
Apr 17, 2026 By Geoffrey Seiler
Bull vs Bear: Is IonQ Stock a Buy or Sell?
Apr 17, 2026 By Sean Williams
Wall Street's Biggest Bubble Stocks Are Bouncing Back (and I'm Not Talking About AI) -- Don't Take the Bait
Apr 16, 2026 By Keithen Drury
Could IonQ Be the Next Multibagger?
Apr 15, 2026 By Emma Newbery
Stock Market Today, April 15: IonQ Surges Over 20% on String of Good News
Apr 15, 2026 By Keith Noonan
IonQ Is Ripping Higher Today -- Is the Stock a Buy Right Now?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keithen Drury is a contributing Motley Fool technology analyst covering AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and SaaS stocks. In addition to The Motley Fool, Keithen is a mechanical engineer and has held roles at Honeywell and smaller industrial companies like Brand Hydraulics and Lincoln Industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Dordt University.
TMFTripleOption
STOCKS MENTIONED
IonQ
NYSE: IONQ
$46.18
(+3.36%)
+$1.50
*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.