Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 18,961 Shares of IonQ, Inc. $IONQ

Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its position in IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ) by 17.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,561 shares of the company’s stock after selling 18,961 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in IonQ were worth $5,693,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Amazon Com Inc. bought a new stake in IonQ during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,705,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al bought a new stake in shares of IonQ during the third quarter worth $806,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of IonQ during the second quarter worth $114,767,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in shares of IonQ in the second quarter valued at about $6,104,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in IonQ by 56.8% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 47,545 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,924,000 after buying an additional 17,215 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 41.42% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CRO Rima Alameddine sold 100,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.89, for a total value of $4,689,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive directly owned 432,616 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $20,285,364.24. This represents a 18.78% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Kathryn K. Chou sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.40, for a total transaction of $1,028,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 60,839 shares in the company, valued at $3,127,124.60. This represents a 24.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 125,000 shares of company stock valued at $5,992,000 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 5.20% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

IONQ has been the subject of several research reports. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of IonQ in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Zacks Research raised IonQ from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 4th. DA Davidson upped their price target on IonQ from $35.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of IonQ in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of IonQ in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $100.00 target price on the stock. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, IonQ has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $75.91.

IonQ Stock Up 9.2%

Shares of IonQ stock opened at $34.18 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $45.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $50.82. The stock has a market cap of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of -6.39 and a beta of 2.63. IonQ, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.88 and a 12 month high of $84.64.

Trending Headlines about IonQ

Here are the key news stories impacting IonQ this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and outlets are flagging IonQ’s strategic expansion—coverage highlights a quantum M&A push and a reported ~$3.5B cash position, framing the company as pursuing growth even after recent underperformance; that narrative can support a recovery if execution continues. IonQ’s Quantum M&A Push and $3.5B Cash: Buy, Sell or Hold in 2026?
• Positive Sentiment: Broader fintech/media coverage that recommends buying quantum-computing names can lift investor interest in IonQ as a pure‑play/leader in the sector; such “buy” stories tend to increase flows into high‑beta quantum stocks. Want to Invest in Quantum Computing? 3 Stocks That Are Great Buys Right Now.
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical and institutional dynamics are colliding: coverage notes a bearish “death cross” (negative technical signal) but also reports that a large Norwegian institutional investor publicly countered short‑seller claims — a mix that can create short‑term volatility rather than a clear directional catalyst. IonQ Triggers Death Cross As Norway’s $2.2 Trillion Fund Counters Short Seller Claims
• Neutral Sentiment: Informational pieces note increased retail and analyst attention (IonQ is a “trending” stock); that raises liquidity and news sensitivity but doesn’t by itself change fundamentals. IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Negative Sentiment: Sector commentary warns of overlooked risks in quantum‑computing names (valuation, uncertain timing of practical applications), which can pressure high‑beta pure plays like IonQ if sentiment shifts. The Quantum Computing Stock Risk Everyone (Even Wall Street Analysts) Is Missing
• Negative Sentiment: An investor‑alert/legal probe from Scott+Scott alleging potential breaches by IonQ’s directors and officers introduces regulatory and litigation risk that can be a near‑term overhang on the stock until resolved. IONQ, INC. INVESTOR ALERT: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Investigates IonQ, Inc.’s Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties – IONQ

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc engages in the development of general-purpose quantum computing systems in the United States. It sells access to quantum computers of various qubit capacities. The company makes access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Braket, Microsoft’s Azure Quantum, and Google’s Cloud Marketplace, as well as through its cloud service. It also provides contracts associated with the design, development, and construction of specialized quantum computing hardware systems; maintenance and support services; and consulting services related to co-developing algorithms on quantum computing systems.