IONQ Stock Today: Shares Surge After Beat, 2026 Guide Tops – February 26
IONQ stock jumped more than 20% on February 26 after IonQ reported 2025 revenue of $130 million, up 202% year over year, and issued 2026 revenue guidance of $225–$245 million, topping expectations. The company also became the first public quantum computing firm to surpass $100 million in GAAP revenue. Management cited faster commercial sales and a planned SkyWater Technology acquisition as scale drivers, even as operating losses are expected in 2026. With attention back on growth, we outline what today’s move could mean for U.S. investors watching IONQ stock and the wider quantum computing stock theme.
Earnings Beat and 2026 Guidance Lift IONQ Stock
IonQ posted 2025 revenue of $130 million, up 202% year over year, making it the first public quantum company to clear $100 million in GAAP revenue. The print and commentary sparked a rally in IONQ stock as investors refocused on scale and commercialization. Coverage highlighted strong demand for paid access and services tied to enterprise pilots source.
Management guided 2026 revenue to $225–$245 million, above forecasts. That implies roughly 73% to 88% growth versus 2025’s $130 million base. The company still expects operating losses in 2026, but the revenue trajectory suggests improving scale economics as utilization rises. For IONQ stock, upside drivers now hinge on sustained bookings growth, larger enterprise deals, and evidence that pilots are converting into multi-year contracts at higher average values.
Price Action and Technical Picture
IONQ stock traded up about 21.7% to $40.88, with a session high of $41.90 and low of $38.75. Volume swelled to 69.6 million versus a 20.6 million average, signaling broad interest. The market cap sits near $14.47 billion. Shares remain well below the 52-week high of $84.64 and above the 52-week low of $17.88, underscoring high volatility.
Momentum improved, with RSI at 56.2 and ADX near 36 indicating a strong trend. CCI around 294 and Williams %R near -9 flag short-term overbought conditions. Price is still under the 50-day and 200-day averages at $43.92 and $47.45, creating resistance. MACD’s positive histogram and Bollinger upper band near $41.88 suggest a test of overhead supply is likely.
Commercial Momentum and SkyWater Plan
Management cited accelerating commercial sales, supported by access through AWS Braket, Microsoft Azure Quantum, and Google Cloud. Media noted today’s rally stemmed from stronger growth visibility and large-deal potential source. For IONQ stock, expanding paid usage across cloud marketplaces and direct enterprise contracts can improve utilization, backlog, and pricing power as customers progress from proofs of concept to production-grade workloads.
IonQ highlighted a planned SkyWater Technology acquisition that could reinforce supply, manufacturing, and integration capabilities. Execution will matter: closing, regulatory approvals, and integration timelines could influence delivery schedules and capital needs. If the plan accelerates hardware scale and reliability, IONQ stock could see improved confidence in multi-year revenue ramps and higher attached services as systems move into broader commercial deployment.
Valuation, Financials, and Street Views
After the pop, IONQ stock trades at lofty multiples, including over 100x trailing sales and about 3.7x book. Losses persist, with EPS at -$5.84. Offsetting that, cash and liquidity look solid: cash per share near $6.92, current ratio around 15.5, and minimal leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio near 0.01, reducing balance-sheet risk.
Street sentiment skews positive with 12 Buy ratings and a Buy consensus. Our Stock Grade is B with a Hold suggestion, while some quantitative models flag weak profitability and valuation risk. Next catalysts include the May 6, 2026 earnings report, bookings growth, gross margin trends, and any updates on the SkyWater Technology deal and government or hyperscaler contract wins.
Final Thoughts
Today’s beat and above-consensus 2026 guidance reset expectations for IONQ stock. The company delivered $130 million in 2025 revenue, with a 2026 target of $225–$245 million that implies strong growth. Momentum, cloud distribution, and a manufacturing plan point to greater scale, but losses remain and valuation is rich. For U.S. investors, the setup favors a disciplined approach: look for evidence of larger multi-year deals, stronger utilization, and improving margins. Track integration progress on the SkyWater plan and watch cash burn against liquidity. If execution stays on track and demand holds, IONQ stock could sustain premium multiples, though pullbacks are likely in a volatile, early-stage quantum computing stock.
FAQs
Why did IONQ stock jump today?
Shares rallied after IonQ reported 2025 revenue of $130 million, up 202% year over year, and guided 2026 revenue to $225–$245 million, ahead of expectations. Coverage highlighted faster commercial activity and improving visibility on larger deals, which helped shift focus toward growth and scale despite continued operating losses.
What is IonQ’s 2026 revenue guidance?
Management guided 2026 revenue to a range of $225–$245 million. That implies roughly 73% to 88% growth versus 2025’s $130 million result. Investors will watch whether bookings, backlog, and utilization trends support this outlook and if deal sizes expand as pilots move toward multi-year production contracts.
Is IonQ profitable, and what are the key risks?
No. IonQ remains unprofitable and expects operating losses in 2026. Key risks include execution on large enterprise deals, integration of the planned SkyWater Technology acquisition, high valuation, and potential dilution. Investors should also monitor cash burn, gross margin progression, and the pace of commercialization across cloud marketplaces.
How is IONQ stock valued after the surge?
Valuation is elevated. Trailing price-to-sales is over 100x and price-to-book is roughly 3.7x, while EPS remains negative. Supportive factors include strong liquidity, minimal leverage, and fast top-line growth. The premium likely persists if growth and bookings accelerate, but it increases sensitivity to execution setbacks.
What near-term catalysts should investors watch?
Key dates and drivers include the May 6, 2026 earnings report, updates on the planned SkyWater Technology acquisition, bookings and backlog growth, gross margin trends, and any new enterprise or government contracts. Progress on these items can influence confidence in the 2026 outlook and price action for IONQ stock.
Disclaimer:
The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes. Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.