Want to Invest in Quantum Computing? 3 Stocks That Are Great Buys Right Now

Key Points

• Alphabet kicked off the quantum computing investment trend last December.

• Microsoft claims to have created a new state of matter for its quantum computer.

• IonQ is taking a unique approach to quantum computing.

• 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet ›

The quantum computing arms race is starting to heat up, although we're still a few years away from commercial viability. That hasn't stopped investor interest, as quantum computing stocks are some of the hottest on the market right now.

If you're looking to get in on the quantum computing investment trend, I've got a few solid picks that make for smart buys now and help balance out the risk that comes with investing in this space.

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Alphabet

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is the parent company of Google and many other brands. It's well known for using the resources that its Google Search engine generates to invest in various technologies and see what comes out of it. One of the more promising investment areas in quantum computing, and its breakthroughs kick-started the quantum computing investment race in December 2024.

Google's Willow chip completed an incredibly difficult computing task rapidly, and this made investors realize that quantum computing could be coming soon. This chip performed a task in five minutes that would have taken traditional computing 10 septillion years (10 to the 25th power), showcasing its impressive capabilities.

Alphabet is heavily investing in quantum computing because it can bolster its AI goals. Additionally, with its massive cloud computing business, offering a quantum computing solution of its own eliminates the need for intermediaries (like how it needs Nvidia GPUs now), allowing this segment to become far more profitable.

With Alphabet, it doesn't need quantum computing to be a successful investment, but if it succeeds, it will be a great boost to Alphabet's existing business.

Microsoft

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is in almost the same boat as Alphabet. It's developing a quantum computing capability in-house in an attempt to cut out the middleman to make more profits.

Microsoft has done extensive work in this field, and even claims to have created a new state of matter for its Majorana 1 chip. Microsoft has a ton of spare cash to invest in this technology, so it should be seen as a huge threat in the quantum computing space.

Additionally, CEO Satya Nadella is a believer in the technology, and he believes that the next big accelerator in its cloud computing business will be quantum-related. With Microsoft working on widespread quantum computing availability, it looks like a solid stock to buy in the quantum realm.

IonQ

While Alphabet and Microsoft are both viable competitors in the quantum computing realm, their upside is limited because they have ancillary businesses that may overshadow the benefits of a booming quantum computing business.

That's why pure plays such as IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) are popular too, as their stocks stand to skyrocket if they're successful. IonQ is my top pure-play quantum computing pick because of the approach that it's taking.

Alphabet, Microsoft, and many other competitors are taking a superconducting approach, which requires cooling a particle to near absolute zero. IonQ's trapped ion approach can be done at room temperature, which makes it far more cost-effective. IonQ estimates that it costs less than $50 million for its machines versus $1 billion for superconducting computers.

That's a huge difference, and having an easily scalable and low-cost quantum computing platform is key to success for emerging technologies. Ultimately, IonQ may not be a winner, as there could be an unknown hurdle it cannot clear while developing its product. As a result, investors should keep position sizing for IonQ relatively small, so that if it goes to $0, it doesn't have a huge effect on a portfolio. But if it succeeds, it can provide portfolio-changing returns.

Quantum computing could be the next biggest technology. By having some exposure to this trio, investors can benefit from a massive long-term trend that could define the next decade of investing.

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Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.