New York, Feb 26, 2026, 18:31 EST — After-hours
- IonQ finished the session 21.7% higher at $40.88. After the bell, the stock slipped 1.9%.
- After reporting Q4 revenue of $61.9 million, the company is now forecasting between $225 million and $245 million in revenue for 2026.
- Traders keep an eye on how the SkyWater deal goes through, plus management’s appearances at conferences in March.
IonQ (IONQ.N) surged 21.7% to finish at $40.88 on Thursday, then edged down 1.9% to $40.09 after the bell. The quantum computing firm’s stock spiked after new earnings and a 2026 revenue outlook. 1
This shift stands out: quantum stocks have been moving on evidence. Investors want to know who’s able to convert those research-driven plans into actual, repeatable revenue.
IonQ posted its figures just as the company moves into a heavier pipeline of earnings and fresh product news. A handful of names have already surged this week, pushing expectations higher.
IonQ reported a 429% jump in fourth-quarter revenue to $61.9 million from the year-ago period, with full-year 2025 revenue up 202% at $130 million on a GAAP basis. Looking to 2026, the company projects revenue between $225 million and $245 million, including $48 million to $51 million in the first quarter, but expects to post an adjusted EBITDA loss of $310 million to $330 million for the year. CEO Niccolo de Masi described 2025 as “a strategic and financial inflection point.” IonQ also noted cash, cash equivalents and investments reached $3.3 billion at the end of 2025. The pending SkyWater Technology acquisition is tracking for a close in the second or third quarter, pending approval. 2
IonQ leaned into its quantum security narrative on Thursday, saying it has now implemented technology for Romania’s National Quantum Communication Infrastructure. According to the company, the network features 36 quantum-secured links stretching over 1,500 kilometers. Quantum key distribution—QKD for short—relies on quantum mechanics to distribute encryption keys that are tough to intercept. “A practical foundation for secure data exchange,” is how Prof. Pantelimon George Popescu of POLITEHNICA Bucharest put it. 3
IonQ filed an 8-K with U.S. regulators on Wednesday, according to the document tied to its results. 4
Thursday saw the broader market retreat—Nasdaq slipped roughly 1.2%, S&P 500 dropped around 0.5%. Quantum peers, though, managed smaller advances: D-Wave Quantum (QBTS.N) picked up about 2.5%, Quantum Computing (QUBT.O) tacked on 4.1%. 5
IonQ shares surged, but the move wasn’t free. Yes, the company is charting ambitious revenue growth, yet it’s also flagging increased costs as it pushes to deliver more systems and stretch into networking and security.
The path isn’t exactly wide. That 2026 forecast counts on a steady stream of deals closing and turning into revenue, and the SkyWater deal still has to pass regulatory review. Any delays—or a demand dip—could sting a stock that’s lately traded with all the swings of a high-beta momentum play.
Investors are eyeing fresh signals from management at two big events: the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference set for March 4, and Cantor’s Global Technology & Industrial Growth Conference on March 11. First-quarter revenue guidance is now in play.
