Quantum computing stocks are extending their remarkable run into a third consecutive session. IonQ (NYSE:IONQ | IONQ Price Prediction) stock is up 4% today, D-Wave Quantum (NYSE:QBTS) shares are up 5%, and Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI) stock is adding 3% in Thursday afternoon trading. What started as a sector rotation has now extended to a third consecutive session of broad-based gains.
We covered the second consecutive day of gains yesterday, but today the story shifts from “back-to-back” price moves to a genuine re-rating. The catalysts span NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), government contracts, and earnings anticipation, hitting all three names at once.
NVIDIA’s Ising Models Light the Fuse
The broadest catalyst is NVIDIA’s launch of open-source quantum AI models, branded “Ising.” These models are reported to be up to 2.5 times faster and 3 times more accurate than current industry standards for quantum processor calibration.
The world’s most influential AI infrastructure company now treats quantum computing as a near-term commercial reality worth investing in, and institutional money tends to follow that kind of credibility. A Reddit post on r/stocks titled “Quantum Computing theme up 8.48% today, here’s what’s actually driving it” drew concentrated discussion on April 15, with the NVIDIA connection cited as the central driver.
IonQ: Earnings Anticipation and Institutional Credibility
IonQ’s fundamental story is the strongest of the three. The company posted Q4 2025 revenue of $61.89 million, a 429% year-over-year increase, and became the first public quantum company to exceed $100 million in annual GAAP revenue, finishing fiscal 2025 at $130.02 million.
Management guided for $225 million to $245 million in 2026 revenue, giving investors a concrete growth target for IonQ. With Q1 2026 earnings scheduled for May 6, the market is positioning ahead of that report.
A recent University of Cambridge innovation center agreement adds institutional credibility. IonQ’s composite sentiment score sits at 70.19, rated bullish with medium confidence, and has risen 8.4 points over the past 30 days. Sentiment momentum of that magnitude typically precedes institutional repositioning.
D-Wave: Commercial Momentum Stands Out
D-Wave Quantum is the strongest performer across the three-day stretch. The company secured a $20 million agreement with Florida Atlantic University, one of the larger academic quantum computing commitments on record. Its Q1 2026 year-to-date bookings reached $32.8 million, and the company holds record cash of $884.5 million.
D-Wave Quantum’s dual-platform strategy, combining quantum annealing with gate-based approaches, differentiates it from competitors. Furthermore, D-Wave’s composite sentiment score jumped 25.83 points over the past seven days, the largest sentiment swing of the three names. That shift in market perception, backed by real bookings growth, sustains a rally beyond day one.
Rigetti: Government Contracts and Hardware Advancement
Rigetti Computing’s fundamentals are the most challenged. FY2025 revenue came in at $7.09 million, down 34% year over year, and Q4 missed estimates.
Yet, the forward story is what investors are buying. Analysts project 255% revenue growth for 2026, supported by Rigetti’s $8.4 million C-DAC contract for a 108-qubit system with the Indian government. The launch of the 108-qubit Cepheus system positions Rigetti more competitively.
New strategic investment initiatives in the UK are also adding to sentiment. Rigetti’s composite prediction sentiment sits at 62.26, bullish with medium confidence, with a social sentiment score of 68 on Reddit.
What to Watch
It’s the third day of consecutive days of gains across the entire quantum sector, which is notable. The NVIDIA catalyst is real, government contract flow is accelerating, and IonQ’s May 6 earnings report looms as the next major inflection point. Watch for whether today’s gains hold into the close for IONQ, QBTS, and RGTI.
If you think NVIDIA’s quantum AI push signals genuine commercial acceleration, all three names offer different risk profiles. IonQ gives you the strongest revenue base and nearest earnings catalyst. D-Wave offers clearest commercial bookings momentum. Rigetti is the highest-risk, highest-upside bet on hardware advancement. All in all, the quantum trade is no longer just a speculative footnote in the AI story.
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