IonQ Shares Surge 37% After CEO’s Ambitious Remarks
Shares of quantum computing company IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) surged 37% on Thursday, following an interview with CEO Niccolo de Masi featured in Barron’s. In this discussion, de Masi set an ambitious goal for the company, even going so far as to label IonQ as the “Nvidia” of quantum computing.
Such lofty claims alone should not account for a significant increase in stock prices. Upon closer examination of the interview, it appears there was little substantive information to justify this substantial rise in share value.
The Influence of Nvidia Comparisons
Over the past two years, comparisons to Nvidia have often driven stock price increases. Just last week, CoreWeave saw its shares skyrocket after Nvidia disclosed its increased investment in the company. Such hype often attracts speculators.
However, these comparisons can also backfire. For instance, SoundHound AI experienced a significant decline when Nvidia sold all its shares in the company, and the stock has not recovered since.
In the Barron’s interview, de Masi remarked about the quantum computing sector: “I believe IonQ will be the Nvidia player. There will be other people that copy us and follow us; they have always copied and followed us.”
IonQ holds the distinction of being the first publicly traded quantum stock, primarily focusing on early commercialization through its trapped-ion technology. While competitors are exploring alternative methods, IonQ’s approach aims for a quicker path to market.
Later in the interview, de Masi predicted considerable interest from major cloud providers, stating someone would “pay hundreds of billions of dollars to buy IonQ.” Given that the company had a market cap of approximately $8.75 billion prior to this surge, his comments may have catalyzed the dramatic increase in share price.
Image source: Getty Images.
Current Financial Reality
Investors should be wary of any quantum computing stock, particularly in light of today’s explosive rise. Despite de Masi’s optimistic rhetoric, IonQ generated only $7.6 million in revenue last quarter while incurring a loss of $32.3 million.
While parallels to Nvidia are intriguing, the quantum computing market’s potential remains uncertain. Nvidia developed its AI GPU technologies largely without competition for 15 years, but IonQ faces numerous startups, as well as established cloud players that have their own in-house quantum research.
This recent rally is largely fueled by speculation. Notably, about 18% of IonQ’s stock is sold short, suggesting that some investors may be attempting to create a short squeeze. Historically, such surges can be fleeting. The commercialization of quantum technology is likely still years away.
Investment Considerations for IonQ
If you’re contemplating investing $1,000 in IonQ, consider the following:
The Motley Fool analyst team has identified what they regard as the 10 best stocks to buy currently, and IonQ is not included in this list. The selected stocks possess strong potential for significant returns in the upcoming years.
For example, consider Netflix’s inclusion on December 17, 2004. If you had invested $1,000 at that time based on our recommendation, you would have $644,254 today!
Or when Nvidia made the list on April 15, 2005… a $1,000 investment then would be worth $807,814 now!
Overall, the Stock Advisor has achieved a total average return of 962%—a significant outperformance compared to 169% for the S&P 500.
*Stock Advisor returns are as of May 19, 2025.
Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
5 Stocks Our Experts Predict Could Double In the Next Year
By submitting your email, you'll also get a free pivot & flow membership. A free daily market overview. You can unsubscribe at any time.
