QUBT Stock Prediction: This Quantum Computing Stock Is a Good Buy in 2026

2025 showed great interest from investors in quantum computing stocks as they began to look for the next computing opportunity outside of AI. Many of their peers showed strong growth. IonQ (IONQ) outperformed the market, Rigetti (RGTI) gained substantial ground, and D-Wave (QBTS) expanded by more than fourfold. In contrast, QUBT's run was rather bland as it returned a mid-single-digit percentage for the year, although it did do well in the early part of autumn.Shares experienced extreme volatility, trading at a 52-week high of around $25.84 in September after falling by over 30% in the following months and trading as low as 60% of that peak. The disparity between the high interest for the sector and the poor performance of QCi was a reflection of the concern around the pace at which room-temperature photonics would turn from a promising technology to a commercially viable one in combination with the company’s small revenue base.

Following volatile stock performances, 2025 laid down a groundwork of several factors that could be very important in 2026. QCi announced a cash deal to purchase Luminar Semiconductor, a provider of photonic technologies for active clients, for $110 million. When/if it is approved by regulators, the acquisition would move QCi more into revenue-producing hardware and would take it outside the boundaries of research and development. The transaction is subject to court approval due to Luminar Technologies' related bankruptcy case, and could take about a year to close, but if it does, it significantly diversifies QCi’s potential product portfolio.

QCi is still nascent in terms of operations, with trailing 12-month revenue of less than $1 million and operating expenses that dwarf revenue. Still, revenue growth off a small base accelerated through 2025, and Wall Street is looking for a step-up into 2026, with consensus revenue of around $2.8 million. That's not enough to alter the profit picture yet, but momentum can influence how investors value a small-cap company if results come in above what they are anticipating. Short interest has also risen as some market participants questioned the pace of commercialization, resulting in a meaningful chunk of its shares being sold short. If QCi meets growth expectations and clears line-of-sight milestones, that positioning could enhance the upside via forced buying.

QCi began 2026 with a strong balance sheet to pursue development. Up to now, candlesticks have appeared variable by quarter in the cash flows from operations published above, but the company has continually emphasized a significant cash reserve and no debt, which mitigates near-term risk of bankruptcy and provides the management team with the space to scale capacity at FAB-1 and pursue FAB-2. For a company competing in a capital-intensive industry, that runway offers a significant strategic advantage.

Looking further ahead, quantum computing is unlikely to be the technology that supplants classical systems en masse in 2026. Instead, expect to see “more focused applications where quantum computing has an advantage — cryptography and security, constrained optimization, materials modeling, and specialized sensing or imaging.” For quantum computing stocks, that ongoing volatility means that the market will continue to reward those companies with real contracts, technical progress and credible roadmaps, and punish those getting delayed and diluted.

In 2026, QCi has the opportunity to show us how room temperature photonics has the ability to help acquisition and commercial contracts. Look for larger acquisition contracts and commercial contracts in the areas of quantum security and increased throughput for foundries. Regarding the Luminar Semiconductor agreement, if the deal is finalized, it will provide QCi with the opportunity for a more advanced photonics customer base and help to expedite the transition from prototype photonic products to marketable and shipable photonic products. Assuming sales increase as analysts and management anticipate, the narrative surrounding the company will shift from “promising and speculative” to more “early commercialization with dynamic growth.”

From the current position, assuming the company can maintain the current momentum, it is likely that QUBT will see a surge and explosive growth in 2026. Provided that the company meets the expectations of the market, there is a strong customer base with pent up demand for growth. There is likely to be diminutive growth for QUBT assuming the bullish sentiment and market expectations hold. QCi is likely to see a strong most positive sentiment in the market surrounding the company. Additionally, the court's decision in approval of the Luminar Semiconductor deal will provide further positive expectations surrounding the company and will contribute toward further positive market expectations for the company. There will likely be a significant increase in stock demand assuming positive news/catalyst is reported. There will be diminished reported stock supply for the bearish reports of the company as stocks in the company will be reported in thin volumes. Negative reports surrounding the company will be a factor causing bearish investors to cover stock claims. There is likely to be a stock demand increase, near-term stock supply increase, and a stock price increase that are all likely to be a reported and verified bullish sentiment surrounding the company.

A measured base case is more appropriate. Even with revenue growth, QCi’s is more than 2026, and valuation remains stretched for the short sales.The stock could rerate higher on milestones and if several catalysts happen. In other words, QCi looks like a good buy for investors who can deal with some risk, and expect catalysts and volatility.

Risks involved in this investment start with the valuation risk. QCi has less than $1 million in annual revenue, making pricing multiples un comparable to peers. Next is the risk of dilution. Over the past three years, the number of outstanding shares has drastically increased due to the company raising capital, and the need for future capital will put negative pressure on current stockholders if progress is made slower than expected. There is real risk in both the manufacturing and the commercialization of the product. Resource intensive are the challenges of scaling the production of photonic chips. There are also challenges of winning repeat orders and customer support. Winning the Luminar SME acquisition has the potential of improving QCi’s position, but also the risk of delays in growing. QCi has significant competitive risk with IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave; and in addition, with deep-pocketed incumbents like Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL), IBM (IBM), and Nvidia (NVDA). Lastly, insider selling reported in 2025 shows the need for management to be aligned with the business; while insider selling has many explanations, the lack of insider buying pushes external investors to wait for results.

If you think QUBT fits your style, you can purchase shares through any broker that offers U.S. stocks. Once logged in, search QUBT to view the company quote. Check the filings, any company news and earnings dates for possible catalysts. Choose a dollar amount that fits your risk tolerance, as quantum computing stocks are speculative. Choose the order type that best fits your investment plan: a market order will be executed at the best available price as soon as possible, while a limit order lets you specify the maximum price you are willing to pay.Place the order and once filled, watch the position size as well as developments like revenue updates, manufacturing milestones, and progress on the Luminar Semiconductor acquisition. Some investors like to stress-test their positions by gradually building them over time, dealing with the fluctuations in early-stage companies.

QCi is definitely not a consensus pick, and that is in fact part of why I like it for 2026. The company’s room-temperature photonics strategy, nascent commercial traction, sufficient cash, and potential inclusion of Luminar Semiconductor provide a viable path for revenue momentum. At the same time, valuation, dilution history, execution risk, competition and deal risk beckon caution. For investors who are willing to make these trade-offs and want to take a more targeted bet on a high-beta name within the quantum computing space, QCi looks very much like a good buy as we head into 2026, and things could get a lot better if key catalysts fall in place.