TLDR
- SkyWater Technology shareholders approved IonQ’s merger deal, clearing a major hurdle for the acquisition.
- IonQ stock jumped roughly 15% on the news, trading at $57.18 per share.
- The deal is expected to close in Q2 or Q3 2026, pending regulatory approval.
- IonQ posted record Q1 revenue of $64.7 million — up 755% year-over-year — but still reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $96.8 million.
- Institutional ownership stands at 41.42%, with Vanguard, State Street, and JPMorgan all increasing their stakes.
IonQ stock surged roughly 15% on Monday after SkyWater Technology shareholders voted to approve IonQ’s planned acquisition of the chip foundry. The stock was trading around $57.18, though it remains 30.3% below its 52-week high of $82.09 hit in October 2025.
The shareholder vote clears one of the bigger hurdles in the deal. But the transaction still needs regulatory sign-off and other standard closing conditions before it can be finalized.
IonQ expects to wrap up the acquisition in Q2 or Q3 of 2026. The goal is to bring more chip manufacturing and packaging capability in-house — specifically U.S.-based expertise — giving the company tighter control over its quantum hardware supply chain.
It’s a strategic move for a company that has been scaling fast. IonQ reported Q1 2026 revenue of $64.7 million, a 755% jump from the same period last year. The company also raised its full-year revenue guidance to a range of $260 million to $270 million.
Losses Still Weigh on Investors
That revenue story comes with a catch. IonQ posted an adjusted EBITDA loss of $96.8 million in Q1, along with an adjusted loss of $0.34 per share. The company is growing hard and fast, but it’s burning cash to do it.
That tension was on full display just four days ago, when the stock dropped 9.4% following the Q1 earnings release. Strong top-line numbers weren’t enough to offset concerns about ongoing losses and high spending.
Wall Street is watching closely. Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the stock after calling it a “record quarter.” Jefferies has a $85.00 target on IONQ. The consensus sits at a “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $68.63 across 17 analysts — 10 buys, 6 holds, and one sell.
Not everyone is on board. DA Davidson has a “neutral” rating with a $35.00 target, and Weiss Ratings maintains a sell. The spread in price targets reflects just how divided opinion is on IonQ’s risk-reward profile.
Institutional Interest Remains Strong
Despite the losses and price swings, institutional investors have been adding to their positions. Vanguard lifted its stake by 18.5% in Q4, now holding over 34.7 million shares worth roughly $1.56 billion. State Street, JPMorgan, Northern Trust, and Lansdowne Partners all increased their holdings in recent quarters. Total institutional ownership is now at 41.42%.
Swedbank AB opened a brand new position in Q4, picking up 60,355 shares worth approximately $2.71 million.
On the insider side, the picture is more cautious. Insider Robert T. Cardillo sold about $188,000 worth of stock on May 6th. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold around $504,000 in total. Insiders now own 5.20% of the company.
IonQ is up 22.3% since the start of the year. Investors who bought in five years ago have seen their $1,000 grow to $5,706.
The stock has a 52-week low of $25.89 and a beta of 3.05, which tells you everything about how it trades. It moves — a lot. There have been over 80 moves greater than 5% in the past year alone.
The company also announced this week that it successfully demonstrated a photonic interconnect as a step toward scalable quantum systems.
🚨 Our MAY Stock Picks Are Live!
A new month means new opportunities. Our analysts have just released their top stock picks for May, highlighting companies with strong momentum that rank highly on our KO Score algorithm. We’re also now sharing trade ideas for both long-term and short-term investors, giving you more ways to spot potential opportunities in the market.
Sign up to Knockout Stocks today and get 50% off to unlock the full list and see which stocks made the cut.
Use coupon code Special50 for your exclusive discount!
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
