NEW YORK, Jan 2, 2026, 12:04 ET — Regular session
- QBTS rose about 3% in midday trade, with heavy volume and a wide intraday range.
- Quantum-computing peers also gained as tech shares led early market strength.
- Focus is on D-Wave’s CES Foundry appearance next week and a busy January U.S. data calendar.
Shares of D-Wave Quantum Inc. rose about 3% to $26.95 by 12:04 p.m. ET on Friday, the first U.S. trading day of 2026. The NYSE-listed stock traded between $25.44 and $27.64, with about 25.4 million shares changing hands.
The move puts attention back on a corner of the market that tends to magnify shifts in risk appetite. With many investors restarting positions after a holiday-thinned finish to 2025, small-cap tech names have been among the first to see fresh flows.
D-Wave has two near-term dates traders are circling. It is set to sponsor the CES Foundry, a two-day event at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Jan. 7-8, where it plans demos and a masterclass, the company said. A regulatory filing showed D-Wave will also host its Qubits 2026 user conference in Boca Raton, Florida on Jan. 27-28.
Other quantum names also moved higher: IonQ was up about 0.8%, Rigetti Computing gained roughly 1.7%, and Quantum Computing Inc rose about 4.1%. The parallel moves underscored sector trading rather than a single-stock catalyst.
D-Wave develops quantum-computing systems and software, focusing on “quantum annealing,” a technique aimed at finding good solutions to optimization problems such as scheduling or routing. It also markets hybrid tools that combine quantum processing with classical computing.
The broader market backdrop was supportive. U.S. stocks started 2026 on firmer footing with technology shares leading, Reuters reported, after risk sentiment improved following late-December declines.
Still, investors are watching next week’s labor market report for clues on the Federal Reserve’s path after rate cuts late last year. “The market is looking for direction,” said Matthew Maley, chief market strategist at Miller Tabak. The U.S. jobs report is due Jan. 9, followed by consumer price data and the start of big-bank earnings on Jan. 13, Reuters reported. Reuters
Quantum-computing stocks have also been prone to sharp swings as investors debate how quickly the technology will translate into durable profits. Reuters has previously noted that the sector’s pure-play names can be difficult to value, adding to volatility.
For D-Wave, attention is likely to stay on any customer wins or product roadmap details that emerge from its CES sessions and the late-January user conference. Friday’s wide intraday range showed how quickly sentiment can shift in the group.
Beyond company events, the next catalyst for the stock may come from macro data that moves rate expectations and risk appetite. Traders will also watch whether the early January rebound in tech holds as earnings season ramps up.
