IonQ vs. Rigetti Computing: Which Quantum Computing Stock Will Outperform in 2026?

• Quantum computing stocks went connected a chaotic thrust successful 2025.

• IonQ is taking a unsocial attack that could acceptable it up to triumph the quantum computing race.

• Rigetti's exertion is overmuch faster than IonQ's, but much error-prone.

• 10 stocks we similar amended than Rigetti Computing ›

Quantum computing stocks gained a batch of attraction successful 2025 arsenic the adjacent large imaginable technological innovation aft artificial quality (AI). Two of the astir salient pure-plays successful the abstraction are IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI). While some stocks went connected chaotic rides successful 2025, it is Rigetti that is acceptable to outperform successful 2025 with a year-to-date summation of astir 50% versus astir 15% for IonQ, arsenic of this writing.

Let's look astatine which banal is acceptable to outperform successful 2026.

Quantum computing is precise overmuch successful its aboriginal days, and gross for these companies is comparatively modest. As such, however they execute volition mostly travel down to however their exertion progresses and the milestones they hit.

IonQ's imaginable vantage successful the quantum computing contention is its trapped-ion technology. Instead of utilizing fabricated quantum bits, oregon qubits, similar astir companies successful the space, IonQ's systems usage existent ytterbium and barium atoms. Since each atom of an constituent is identical, they are much stable, which tin pb to less errors, which is 1 of the biggest obstacles facing quantum computing. While these systems tin initially beryllium much costly to build, they bash person an advantage, arsenic IonQ doesn't request to plan caller chips to marque its systems much powerful; it tin conscionable adhd much ions.

At the aforesaid time, IonQ wants to instrumentality a leafage retired of Nvidia's book and physique an full quantum computing ecosystem. While Nvidia is known for its almighty graphics processing units (GPUs), it is the company's CUDA bundle level and networking portfolio that person made it the ascendant institution successful AI infrastructure. In a akin vein, IonQ has gone retired and made assertive acquisitions successful the abstraction to prime up quantum sensing, interconnect, satellite, and semiconductor technology. It's besides developed bundle to assistance further trim errors. It volition usage this exertion to marque amended systems, arsenic well. For example, it is looking to determination to a modular architecture, wherever it tin nexus tiny ion traps with photonic interconnects, to marque adjacent bigger jumps successful power.

The institution has a monolithic warfare thorax of currency connected its equilibrium expanse to proceed to money probe and improvement and marque much acquisitions. Meanwhile, it has seen beardown growth, with its gross soaring much than 200% successful Q3 to astir $40 million.