We’re in the most exciting stretch of the summer trading calendar. Major tech earnings have supercharged the tape—big names like Meta, Microsoft, and Robinhood just shattered expectations, and now the spotlight is shifting to the next round of market-moving reports. Volatility is back, growth themes are leading, and smaller, news-sensitive stocks are lighting up on every headline.
The mood? Risk-on, but focused. Traders are rotating into AI, quantum, and infrastructure themes—looking for the next high-momentum story or earnings sympathy play. With crypto and AI headlines driving sector sentiment, penny stocks in these spaces are front and center for short-term opportunity.
If you want to know what I’m looking for — check out my free webinar here!
Here are three penny stocks I’m watching, with fresh catalysts and actionable setups this earnings season:
3 Penny Stocks To Watch in August 2025
|
Stock Ticker |
Company |
Performance (YTD) |
|---|---|---|
|
NASDAQ: RGTI |
Rigetti Computing Inc |
|
|
NYSE: QBTS |
D-Wave Quantum Inc |
|
|
NASDAQ: APLD |
Applied Digital Corporation |
These aren’t stocks that I’m necessarily buying…
These are stocks that I’m watching.
Want the whole list of AI penny stocks?
10 Top AI and Quantum Computing Penny Stocks for August 2025
I’m watching the following three picks extra closely…
1. Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) — Quantum Tech Breakthroughs, Earnings on Deck
Why Watch:
Rigetti just reignited the quantum hype cycle, rallying sharply after announcing a breakthrough in quantum fidelity on its new chip. This puts them one step closer to fault-tolerant quantum computing—a target that could attract major enterprise and government spending. RGTI’s 12-month chart is up triple digits, but the next move will depend on its ability to convert tech progress into new contracts and actual revenue.
Upcoming Catalyst:
Q2 earnings after the close on August 12. Management is hosting a call at 5:00 PM ET. Traders will be watching for fresh updates on customer wins, government funding, and forward guidance.
Trade Setup:
- Bullish: A clean break and hold above $20, especially if supported by bullish earnings or big contract headlines, could ignite a fresh squeeze.
- Bearish: A reversal below $20 or a disappointing earnings call could trigger a hard dip—watch $11–$12 for potential support and dip-buy setups.
Risk:
Expect volatility. RGTI is a headline-driven, speculative trade—don’t get caught without a risk plan.
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2. D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) — Momentum Leader, Earnings Next Week
Why Watch:
D-Wave is leading the quantum sector with real commercial traction and a record revenue quarter already under its belt. The company is seeing adoption from over 100 organizations and just put up a $15M quarter—a standout for any pre-profit tech stock. With the quantum computing story in focus, QBTS is where momentum traders are lining up.
Upcoming Catalyst:
Q2 earnings pre-market Thursday, August 7. Consensus calls for a $0.05 loss per share on $2.6M revenue. The street is watching for confirmation that last quarter wasn’t a fluke and for any new enterprise deals.
Trade Setup:
- Bullish: Hold or breakout above the recent $18–$20 highs post-earnings could draw more momentum buyers.
- Bearish: Earnings disappointment or guidance miss could see a fade to the $14 area, which has previously attracted buyers.
Risk:
QBTS is hot, but crowded—position sizing and discipline are key around earnings.
3. Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD) Earnings Winner on AI Infrastructure Demand
Why I’m watching:
Applied Digital is benefiting directly from the current AI and data center spending spree. The company just reported a solid quarter, beat on revenue, and inked another massive lease deal with CoreWeave—bringing total contracted revenue to $11 billion. Demand for next-generation, liquid-cooled data centers is strong, and APLD is positioning as a must-watch for the AI infrastructure trade.
Upcoming Catalysts:
- Management is hinting at further business updates around new leases and strategic moves in its cloud segment, which remains under review.
- Any additional customer wins or partnership headlines could keep the stock volatile.
Trade Setup:
- Bullish: A sustained break above $15 with strong volume could start another leg up, especially with more AI infrastructure headlines.
- Bearish: Failure at resistance or market-wide profit-taking could bring a pullback to the $9 area, setting up a potential bounce for aggressive traders.
Risk:
Post-earnings volatility is high—news moves this stock fast.
Bottom Line
With tech earnings season in overdrive and AI/crypto themes fueling the market’s hottest trades, RGTI, QBTS, and APLD stand out for their news catalysts, sector leadership, and explosive potential. These aren’t set-and-forget investments—they’re fast movers for traders with a plan and risk discipline.
Upcoming Catalysts At a Glance:
- RGTI: Q2 earnings after close, August 12
- QBTS: Q2 earnings pre-market, August 7
- APLD: Watch for news to send this stock on the next leg up
This is stock news, not investment advice. StocksToTrade News delivers real-time stock market updates tailored to highlight the key catalysts driving short-term price movements. Our coverage is designed for active traders and investors who thrive in fast-moving markets, with a focus on volatile sectors like penny stocks, AI stocks, Robinhood stocks and other momentum plays. From earnings reports and FDA approvals to mergers, new contracts, and unusual trading volume, we break down the events that can spark significant price action.
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