Quantum is back on the radar. Hopes for lower rates have money rotating into growth again, and this group has real updates, not just buzz. IonQ hit a fresh performance mark, Rigetti logged new orders and grant funding, and D-Wave shipped a toolkit that plugs straight into the AI stack. At the same time, plenty of pros are reminding traders that after big runs, many names revisit long-term trend lines like the 200-day moving average. That’s normal.
If you want to know what I’m looking for — check out my free webinar here!
The plan for October is simple: focus on catalysts, respect key levels, and keep risk tight.
3 Top Quantum Computing Penny Stocks to Watch in October
| Stock Ticker | Company | Performance (YTD) |
| NASDAQ: RGTI | Rigetti Computing Inc | |
| NYSE: QBTS | D-Wave Quantum Inc | |
| NYSE: IONQ | IONQ Inc |
The market has tightened up, but quantum momentum hasn’t disappeared — it’s just flowing toward the names with hard catalysts. Traders are rewarding technical breakthroughs, enterprise adoption, and government funding … and punishing everything else.
That’s why these three stand out right now:
- Clear near-term catalysts, from milestone fidelity results to AI-integration announcements and Wall Street coverage.
- Alignment with the quantum + AI crossover story, one of the strongest narratives of 2025.
- Liquid charts with obvious levels for both breakout and breakdown setups.
I’m not saying these are “buy and hold” stocks — they’re highly speculative, and that’s the point.
👉 For the bigger picture, check my full watchlist of 10 Top AI and Quantum Computing Penny Stocks for October 2025.
Here are the three quantum names I’m watching most closely…
Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ: RGTI) — Breakthrough Setup With Real Progress
Rigetti ran about 4,300%* across 2024–2025 and is building a base near $30 after a key lab result. Management reported 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity on a 36-qubit multichip system, cutting error rates in half versus its prior platform. The multichip “chiplet” design matters because it shows a path to 100+ qubits by year-end using smaller tiled units instead of one big processor.
On the business side, Rigetti secured a $5.48 million U.S. Air Force grant for its fabrication process and booked $5.7 million in new Novera system orders for 2026. Partnerships with Quanta Computer, Iowa State, and Lawrence Livermore add credibility. Risks are clear too: low revenue today, insider selling into strength, and recent share sales that boosted cash but diluted holders. That’s why levels matter.
Trade Levels To Watch
• Bullish: Above $34 with strong volume can trigger a fresh push
• Bearish: Below $28 opens room toward $20, the prior base
Embed RGTI chart
D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE: QBTS) — Quantum + AI Toolkit Powers Interest
D-Wave remains one of the steadier movers here. The company sells Advantage annealing systems, supports developers with Ocean tools, and onboards customers through the Leap cloud. Use cases already include logistics, scheduling, portfolio optimization, and early drug discovery pilots.
The recent catalyst was a Quantum AI toolkit that plugs directly into PyTorch. That lowers the barrier for data scientists to test quantum-enhanced models without changing their workflow. Early demos are simple image tasks, but the direction is right. Customers like Japan Tobacco and Triumph are already building hybrid apps on D-Wave’s stack. Just remember the business ramps slowly, even when the chart looks strong.
Trade Levels To Watch
• Bullish: A clean push above $30 can set up fresh highs
• Bearish: A break under $25 puts $20 back in play
Embed QBTS chart
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IonQ Inc (NYSE: IONQ) — Higher-Priced Leader With Cash And Customers
IonQ is the most watched pure play. It offers access through AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and works on quantum-safe networking and algorithm co-development. The company just reached an #AQ 64 mark on its Tempo platform, a step toward more practical workloads. It also plans to acquire Oxford Ionics and has expanded its quantum networking footprint.
Wall Street is engaged. A late-August Buy initiation helped, and shares jumped about 80% in September to new highs. IonQ beat Q2 expectations and now holds roughly $1.6 billion in cash after a $1 billion equity raise. The roadmap is bold: a “cryptographically relevant” machine by 2028 and very large logical qubit counts by 2030. The price reflects leadership, which helps on the way up and hurts on the way down.
Trade Levels To Watch
• Bullish: Above $76 (September highs) can open a push into the $80s
• Bearish: If momentum fades, prior support sits near $50
Embed IONQ chart
* Past performance isn’t indicative of future results.
Should You Buy Quantum Computing Stocks Now?
There are reasons to watch this theme into October. Lower rate expectations support risk assets, governments are funding research, and AI gives near-term ways to test quantum ideas. That helps the story.
But these are still early-stage companies. Prices can swing 10% to 30% in a day without fresh news. Larger tech firms are building their own quantum efforts. Share sales can and do happen to fund growth. None of this is a surprise, but you should plan for it.
How To Approach It
• Start small. Treat these as speculative trades
• Set entries and exits before you click buy
• Avoid chasing large gaps at the open
• A small basket can cut single-name risk, but “quantum” funds often lean on mega-caps, which can mute upside
Bottom Line
- Rigetti is the speculative hardware breakout with fresh fidelity gains and government backing.
- D-Wave is the enterprise-ready annealing play tapping directly into AI/ML workflows.
- IonQ remains the sector’s blue-chip: deep partnerships, capital, and a bold roadmap.
Quantum has real news and strong charts into October. If you trade it, keep a plan and keep your risk small. If you’re not ready for fast moves, watch the levels and learn first.
If you do decide to make a trade, I’ve got one piece of advice… USE AI TO TRADE AI!
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