NEW YORK, January 4, 2026, 06:16 ET — Market closed
- Rigetti Computing shares last closed up about 6.6% at $23.60, after swinging between $21.63 and $24.00.
- A director filed an SEC Form 144 notice to sell up to 59,316 shares, valued at about $1.31 million.
- Quantum-computing peers IonQ, D-Wave and Quantum Computing Inc also rose into the weekend.
Rigetti Computing shares jumped about 6.6% in the most recent session, ending at $23.60 on Friday with heavy trading volume, even as a company director filed paperwork signaling an intent to sell stock.
The timing matters because quantum-computing names have become a high-volatility corner of the market, with sharp moves often driven by sentiment and risk appetite rather than near-term fundamentals.
The filing is a Form 144, a notice insiders use to disclose a planned sale under SEC Rule 144. It flags an intent to sell but does not guarantee a sale will occur.
A Form 144 filing submitted on Friday showed director Alissa Fitzgerald proposed selling up to 59,316 Rigetti common shares with an aggregate market value of about $1.31 million, through Piper Sandler & Co. The filing said the shares were acquired on June 10, 2025 through compensation and listed roughly 330 million shares outstanding. 1
Rigetti traded as high as $24.00 and as low as $21.63 on Friday, with volume of about 37.4 million shares, according to market data.
The move tracked strength across other U.S.-listed quantum-computing stocks. IonQ rose about 4.3% on Friday, while D-Wave Quantum gained about 7.6% and Quantum Computing Inc climbed about 7.3%, based on latest available closes.
Broader markets were mixed heading into the weekend, while investors weighed the outlook for U.S. rates — a key driver for speculative growth shares. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Anna Paulson said further rate cuts could be some way off as officials assess the economy after last year’s easing campaign. 2
Quantum stocks also remain under a valuation microscope. Christopher Poch, CEO of Promethium Advisors, compared how investors were valuing the group to being “a magic act,” in a Reuters report last year. 3
Rigetti builds quantum computers that use superconducting circuits and sells access to its systems primarily through cloud-based offerings, a business model that can produce lumpy revenue as contracts and milestones land.
Before Monday’s open, traders will be watching whether Friday’s momentum holds as a heavy macro week kicks off. The ISM’s calendar shows the U.S. manufacturing PMI report due Monday, Jan. 5, and the services PMI due Wednesday, Jan. 7, while the Labor Department’s schedule lists the December jobs report for Friday, Jan. 9. 4
The next obvious company-specific catalyst is earnings. Rigetti has not confirmed a date, but earnings calendars point to an early March report window. 5
