Two of the quantum computing firms, IonQ (IONQ) and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), have made headlines this week for significant insider selling moves. On Monday, QBTS stock was down about 3%, while shares of IONQ remained unchanged.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 55% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
According to TipRanks, both companies currently carry a Negative Insider Trading Signal, indicating bearish sentiment from executives and board members based on recent transactions.
IONQ Director Sells Stock Worth $2.17M
At IonQ, Director Inder M. Singh sold 50,480 shares on August 13, totaling $2.17 million, with prices ranging from $42.97 to $43.16 per share. Despite the sale, Singh still holds 5,513 shares.
The sale coincided with Singh exercising stock options at much lower strike prices. This suggests a strategic move to capitalize on IonQ’s recent surge, as its stock has soared 452% over the past year.
QBTS Director Makes a Larger Sale
Meanwhile, D-Wave Quantum saw even larger insider activity. Director Steven M. West offloaded 144,000 shares worth $2.6 million last week at prices around $18.17 per share. Following this sale, West retains a sizable stake, 139,018 shares directly and 24,659 shares indirectly.
It must be noted that the sale came after QBTS posted mixed Q2 results. D-Wave reported a wider-than-expected loss of $0.08 per share, though revenue beat estimates by $0.56 million.
While insider sales do not always signal trouble, they often prompt scrutiny by investors, especially in high-growth sectors like quantum computing. In the case of IonQ and D-Wave, both firms are still in the early stages, so investors are likely to closely watch insiders’ moves.
Which Stock Is Better, IONQ or QBTS?
Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool, we compared QBTS and IONQ to see which stock analysts favor. D-Wave stock carries a Strong Buy rating, while IonQ is a Moderate Buy. At the same time, QBTS stock has upside potential of 32.37%, whereas IONQ has 20.26% upside.
