New York, Jan 12, 2026, 14:17 EST — Regular session
- D-Wave Quantum shares climbed in afternoon trading, following a broader rally among U.S.-listed quantum companies
- Attention remains fixed on D-Wave’s upcoming Quantum Circuits acquisition and key deadlines set for late January
- Upcoming event: D-Wave’s Qubits 2026 conference set for Jan. 27–28
D-Wave Quantum Inc. shares edged up 0.8% to $28.33 in Monday afternoon trading, continuing the volatile early-year trend for U.S.-listed quantum computing stocks.
The shift is significant as D-Wave navigates a crucial transition: expanding from its specialty in “annealing” systems—designed for specific optimization tasks—into the realm of “gate-model” quantum computers, the broader method favored by major research labs.
The stock is now viewed primarily through that shift. Traders have reacted to each roadmap update and deal milestone as a chance to trade, driving the group to move in tight unison on fragile, sentiment-fueled flows.
Peers also saw gains. IonQ climbed 2.5%, Rigetti Computing rose by the same margin, and Quantum Computing Inc. increased 2.0%.
D-Wave last week struck a deal to acquire Quantum Circuits for $550 million, paying $300 million in stock and $250 million in cash, the company announced. CEO Alan Baratz described the move as a “pivotal milestone.” Quantum Circuits’ chief scientist and co-founder Rob Schoelkopf said the deal brings “fault-tolerant error-corrected quantum computing within our reach,” according to the statement. 1
A recent filing detailed key mechanics traders are still parsing, such as the method for calculating the share component and the price collar applied in that formula. It also included an extensive list of closing conditions and set an outside date for the deal. 2
Separately, D-Wave has been pushing its work to make gate-model systems easier to scale. In a disclosure on Jan. 6, chief development officer Trevor Lanting said the company’s on-chip cryogenic control effort “positions D-Wave to deliver” a scalable, commercial-grade gate-model system by reducing wiring needs without hurting qubit performance. 3
Annealing and gate-model approaches differ notably due to the markets they target. Annealing suits near-term optimization problems, whereas gate-model systems are seen as the longer road toward wider algorithm applications—and, ultimately, error-corrected machines capable of consistent performance.
But the downside risks are clear. The Quantum Circuits deal faces regulatory and closing obstacles. The company’s 2026 product delivery timeline is a target, not set in stone. Any delays or a weaker risk environment could send QBTS shares tumbling fast.
D-Wave’s Qubits 2026 conference is set for Jan. 27–28 in Boca Raton, Florida. Investors are looking for fresh details on product milestones and how integration will unfold. 4
