D-Wave Quantum Surges 8.9% Amid Tech Rally: Should This Be Your Stock to Buy Now in 2026?

Rally Drives Quantum Play Higher

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) captured investor attention on Monday, closing with an impressive 8.9% gain as tech stocks broadly benefited from positive market sentiment. The stock hit intraday highs of 11.4% before settling, riding the coattails of a 0.6% S&P 500 advance and a 0.7% Nasdaq Composite climb. The broader surge in quantum computing and artificial intelligence-related equities underscored how investors are gravitating toward cutting-edge technologies. Year-to-date, QBTS shares have climbed 235%, reflecting strong momentum in this emerging sector.

What Makes D-Wave a Potential Stock to Buy Now?

For those seeking exposure to quantum computing in 2026, D-Wave presents a compelling case. The company’s quantum-annealing methodology distinguishes it from competitors, offering faster pathways to real-world commercial applications. Beyond near-term revenue opportunities, management is simultaneously developing next-generation quantum approaches that could unlock substantially larger market opportunities down the road.

The balance sheet provides additional confidence: as of Q3 of last year, D-Wave held $836 million in cash and short-term liquid assets. This financial cushion positions the company to aggressively pursue technology development and expand its commercialization efforts without immediate funding constraints.

The Other Side of the Coin: Material Risks to Consider

Before placing capital into this stock to buy now, investors must honestly assess their risk appetite. While quantum computing could prove transformative across industries, the technology remains embryonic with uncertain timelines for mainstream adoption. Combined with potential macroeconomic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties, the company’s elevated valuation multiples and lofty growth expectations create a recipe for significant price swings throughout 2026.

Learning from History — Past Winners and Present Realities

The investment community offers a sobering reminder: identifying breakthrough technologies is far easier in retrospect. Consider Netflix—investors who backed the streaming pioneer in December 2004 and held through subsequent volatility saw their $1,000 position balloon to $490,703. Similarly, Nvidia investors from April 2005 witnessed $1,000 transform into $1,157,689. Yet countless other moonshot bets failed to deliver comparable returns.

Today’s quantum computing plays carry similar asymmetric risk-reward profiles, though with substantially higher uncertainty. The question isn’t whether quantum will matter, but which companies will capture value and when.

Final Verdict: Proceed With Eyes Wide Open

D-Wave Quantum stock to buy now remains a play for disciplined, long-term investors comfortable with volatility and capable of weathering significant drawdowns. The technology’s potential is undeniable, and D-Wave’s capital position and technical approach stack up favorably against competitors. However, valuation and execution risk suggest this belongs in portfolios only for those willing to endure meaningful swings in exchange for potential outsized gains. For conservative investors, the risk-reward calculus may simply not justify entry at current levels.