D-Wave’s Bookings Spike Keeps QBTS in Play, but the Revenue Math Still Has to Catch Up
D-Wave Quantum dropped its key number for investors ahead of Tuesday’s open: bookings surged to $33.4 million in the first quarter, a staggering 1,994% jump from the same period last year. That leap got a major lift from Florida Atlantic University’s $20 million order for a system, plus a $10 million, two-year quantum computing-as-a-service contract with a Fortune 100 client. Bookings represent customer orders likely to convert into future revenue—they’re not revenue recognized yet. That explains why the stock jumped ahead of the report. QBTS finished Monday at $24.03, gaining 6.47% after quantum stocks bounced hard. Options players were set for an 18.83% swing on earnings, either way. Investors weren’t just paying for D-Wave’s latest sales figures; they were betting that those orders might finally translate into more consistent revenue streams.