Prediction: These 4 Quantum Computing Stocks Will Skyrocket in 2026 - Yahoo Finance

Prediction: These 4 Quantum Computing Stocks Will Skyrocket in 2026 Keithen Drury, The Motley Fool January 6, 2026 5 min read GOOG -0.19% IONQ -1.48% MSFT -0.71% NVDA -1.02% Key Points Alphabet and Microsoft are well-funded competitors. Nvidia is playing a supporting role in the quantum computing realm. IonQ leads the world in quantum computing error reduction. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Quantum computing is a cutting-edge technology that has yet to be proven out, but numerous companies are working on producing commercially viable systems. While 2026 won't be the year that it reaches the mainstream, it's likely that there will be several impressive breakthroughs in the field. I think that these four quantum computing stocks will do well in 2026, and each one has its own set of circumstances that will drive its success. Image source: Getty Images. Alphabet and Microsoft Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) are two of my top picks in the quantum computing realm. These tech behemoths have nearly unlimited resources to throw at developing quantum computing, making them forces to be reckoned with. Each also has a massive cloud computing division, which gives them another incentive to develop quantum computing technology in-house. By developing their own viable quantum computing hardware, they can control the costs and earn better margins when they eventually rent out capacity on those systems. Furthermore, it's also a hedge against competitors developing viable quantum computing technology first. If a pure-play quantum computing company does bring a commercially viable quantum computer to market ahead of the giants, that still wouldn't be too problematic for Alphabet and Microsoft; the hyperscalers could simply buy those systems, install them in their data centers, and rent capacity on them much as they do today with graphics processing units (GPUs). While this wouldn't be the best scenario for their margins, it would maintain the current status quo in the cloud computing industry. However, if Alphabet were to develop a viable quantum computing option while Microsoft's efforts lagged, for example, some Azure clients might choose to move to Google Cloud to gain access to its revolutionary computing technology. The possibility of their rival gaining a significant competitive advantage will keep both companies engaged in the quantum computing realm until the technology is developed and deployed. Still, quantum computing won't be a critical part of either company's business in 2026. Artificial intelligence will be what drives these two higher, and each has an excellent AI strategy boosting its finances. An investment in either or both of these companies would be a good way to capitalize on current tech trends while maintaining exposure to future ones. As a result, I think both are excellent buys. Story Continues View Comments Terms and Privacy Policy Privacy Dashboard