The Quantum Stock Billionaires Are Buying
Hello! Today, I've brought a very interesting topic for you! You may have heard about the incredible buzz around quantum computing stocks, with some shooting up by over 1,000%! But have you ever wondered where the truly "smart money"—the billionaires—are placing their bets in this futuristic field? You might be surprised to find out it's not the companies making all the headlines. Let's dive in!
For example, consider these massive runs over the past year:
- D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): Up more than 1,700%!
- IonQ (IONQ): Blasted nearly 450% higher!
With gains like these, it's easy to see why individual investors are piling in. But the big question is, are the world's most successful investors following this trend?
In 2023, Google announced a massive breakthrough. Their researchers performed a computational task faster and more accurately than the world's most powerful supercomputers. They achieved this by demonstrating that it's possible to reduce data errors while increasing the number of "qubits." This is a huge deal because, typically, more qubits mean more errors, which has been a major roadblock for quantum computing.
Billionaires have taken notice. In the first quarter of 2025:
- Millennium Management, run by billionaire Israel Englander, increased its position in Alphabet by 151%.
- Citadel Advisers, run by billionaire Ken Griffin, boosted its stake by about 10%.
- Appaloosa Management, David Tepper's fund, also added to its Alphabet holdings.
These savvy investors understand that Alphabet has the resources and talent to lead the way in commercializing this revolutionary technology.
- Diversified Businesses: Alphabet owns fast-growing segments like YouTube and Google Cloud. It's also a leader in other future-tech areas like autonomous driving with its Waymo division.
- Attractive Valuation: The stock is currently trading at about 19 times forward earnings, which many investors see as a reasonable price for a company with so much growth potential.
- Navigating Challenges: While Alphabet faces challenges, such as the Department of Justice lawsuit over its digital ad business and competition from AI chatbots like ChatGPT, it has a strong track record of innovation. Its own AI, Gemini, is already being integrated into search to compete.
Buying Alphabet is not just a bet on quantum computing; it's a bet on a diversified tech leader that is shaping the future in multiple ways.
Q2. Why are billionaires choosing Alphabet over a pure quantum company like IonQ?
A. Billionaires are likely choosing Alphabet for several reasons. First, Alphabet has already demonstrated major breakthroughs in solving the error-correction problem in quantum systems. Second, as a massive company, it has nearly unlimited resources to pour into research and development. Finally, Alphabet is a much more diversified and less speculative investment. Its established businesses like Search, YouTube, and Cloud provide a stable foundation, making its quantum ambitions a high-potential bonus rather than an all-or-nothing bet.
Q3. Is Alphabet a good buy now, considering the risks?
A. While no stock is without risk, Alphabet presents a compelling case. It is a leader in multiple high-growth industries (AI, cloud, autonomous driving, quantum computing). Despite legal and competitive challenges, its core businesses remain strong, and its stock is trading at a valuation many find attractive. For long-term investors, it offers a way to invest in the future of technology with the backing of a proven industry giant.