TLDR
- The Trump administration plans to award $2 billion in grants to quantum computing companies, with the U.S. government taking equity stakes in return.
- IBM is set to receive $1 billion and plans to match that with its own $1 billion investment to build a quantum chip manufacturing facility.
- GlobalFoundries will receive $375 million, while D-Wave, Rigetti, and Infleqtion are each expected to get $100 million.
- Quantum stocks surged 12%–42% on the news, with D-Wave up 33%, Infleqtion up 42%, and Rigetti up 28%.
- Funding is expected to come through the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, though deals have not yet been finalized.
The Trump administration is set to award $2 billion in funding to nine quantum computing companies. The deals will include equity stakes for the U.S. government, similar to arrangements previously made with companies in other strategic industries.
Quantum stocks just got a major government-backed catalyst…
The U.S. is reportedly awarding $2B in quantum grants, with $IBM, Rigetti $RGTI and D-Wave $QBTS among the names in focus 👀
👉 Analyst Ratings: IBM: 1 Strong Buy, 12 Buy, 7 Hold, 0 Sell. pic.twitter.com/LuPXNuGY4r
— Wall St Alpha (@WallStAlphaPro) May 21, 2026
The funding is expected to be financed through the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. The Commerce Department said the deals have not yet been finalized.
IBM is the largest recipient, set to receive $1 billion in government funding. The company also plans to invest an additional $1 billion of its own money to build a dedicated quantum chip manufacturing facility.
International Business Machines Corporation, IBM
GlobalFoundries is expected to receive $375 million. D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion are each set to get $100 million. Startup Diraq is reportedly in line for $38 million.
A senior Commerce Department official told the Wall Street Journal there is now a clearer path toward commercial quantum computing becoming viable.
The White House is also reportedly preparing a new executive order focused on the quantum computing industry.
Quantum Stocks Post Sharp Gains
News of the funding package sent quantum computing stocks sharply higher. D-Wave surged 33.54%, Infleqtion jumped 42%, and Rigetti climbed 28% on Thursday. IBM rose over 4.6% and GlobalFoundries gained around 12%.
Gains continued into Friday’s premarket session. Rigetti was up 7.5%, Infleqtion rose 7.8%, D-Wave climbed 5.9%, and GlobalFoundries added 4.5%.
The Defiance Quantum ETF is up 36.2% year-to-date, reflecting broader investor interest in the sector.
Despite the rally, several stocks remain in negative territory for the year. IBM is down 14.6% year-to-date, Arqit Quantum is down 24.8%, and SEALSQ is down 13.5%.
High Short Interest and Weak Profitability Remain a Concern
Many quantum computing stocks still carry high short interest and weak profitability grades. IonQ has a short interest of 22.4% and a profitability grade of D-. Quantum Computing Inc. carries 26.4% short interest.
Rigetti and Arqit Quantum both hold “Strong Sell” ratings from Seeking Alpha’s Quant system. Analysts point to ongoing commercialization challenges and uncertain timelines for enterprise adoption.
IBM stands out with a profitability grade of A+ and short interest of just 2.4%. Its GF Score of 80 out of 100 reflects strong fundamentals, though it currently trades at a 6.4% premium to its estimated intrinsic value of $237.81.
Insider activity at IBM has shown modest buying of around $113,000 over the past three months, with no insider selling reported.
The quantum computing sector remains a government strategic priority alongside artificial intelligence, with policymakers citing both economic competitiveness and national security as key drivers.
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