Why IBM Could Be One of the Biggest Quantum Computing Winners in 2026 - Yahoo Finance

Why IBM Could Be One of the Biggest Quantum Computing Winners in 2026 Urmimala Biswas June 2, 2026 3 min read IBM -0.95% The federal quantum funding initiative, which was announced on May 21, has pushed quantum-related stocks significantly higher. Among the beneficiaries, International Business Machines Corporation IBM stands out. The stock has gained 26.7% since the announcement. With accelerating federal support, growing commercialization efforts and enterprise adoption gathering pace, IBM appears well positioned to extend its gains through 2026. Let’s delve deeper. Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Quantum Computing: A National Strategic Priority in 2026 The U.S. government proposed approximately $2.01 billion in CHIPS and Science Act incentives for nine quantum-related companies on May 21, marking one of the largest federal commitments to the sector to date. The initiative reflects Washington's growing focus on quantum computing as a strategic technology with applications spanning national security, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, drug discovery and financial modeling. IBM emerged as the largest beneficiary of the program, securing a proposed $1 billion award to establish a quantum foundry dedicated to manufacturing quantum-grade superconducting wafers in the United States. The second-largest award went to GlobalFoundries GFS, which received $375 million to build a secure domestic quantum-manufacturing ecosystem supporting multiple quantum-computing modalities. The investment is intended to strengthen domestic quantum supply chains and expand the nation's advanced computing infrastructure. IBM Accelerates Quantum Commercialization Efforts A major strategic statement from IBM quickly followed the proposed federal backing. On May 28, the company announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years, one of the largest private-sector commitments within this niche to date. The investment will support research and development, manufacturing scale-up, capital expenditures, ecosystem partnerships and strategic acquisitions aimed at accelerating quantum commercialization. The company reaffirmed its goal of delivering IBM Quantum Starling, the world's first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer, by 2029. According to IBM, Starling is expected to operate with 200 logical qubits and execute up to 100 million quantum operations, representing a significant leap beyond the capabilities of today's quantum systems. The company believes such a machine could unlock practical applications that are beyond the reach of classical computers. IBM's quantum ecosystem now includes more than 325 organizations spanning enterprises, startups, universities and government agencies. The company also operates more than 90 quantum systems worldwide, providing a strong platform for developing commercial applications across industries. Story Continues View Comments Terms and Privacy Policy Privacy Dashboard