IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) Stock Rating Cut to “Strong Sell” at Zacks Research

Zacks Research downgraded shares of IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report report published on Thursday morning,Zacks reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded IonQ from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on IonQ from $80.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Needham & Company LLC cut their price objective on IonQ from $65.00 to $48.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of IonQ in a research note on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald decreased their target price on IonQ from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.23.

IonQ Price Performance

IONQ stock traded up $5.69 during trading on Thursday, hitting $32.12. 42,656,594 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,644,404. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $36.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.58. The company has a market cap of $13.79 billion, a PE ratio of 118.98 and a beta of 3.32. IonQ has a 1 year low of $24.92 and a 1 year high of $73.65.

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The company reported ($0.29) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.35) by $0.06. The company had revenue of $173.83 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.49 million. IonQ had a negative return on equity of 22.29% and a negative net margin of 553.27%. IonQ’s revenue for the quarter was up 336.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($3.58) earnings per share. Research analysts expect that IonQ will post -2.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at IonQ

In other news, insider John Raymond sold 2,407 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.21, for a total value of $89,564.47. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 77,741 shares in the company, valued at $2,892,742.61. This represents a 3.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On IonQ

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Archer Investment Corp acquired a new stake in IonQ in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. EFG International AG purchased a new position in IonQ in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of IonQ during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $42,000. Blueline Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of IonQ during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of IonQ by 216.5% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 959 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. 41.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

IonQ News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting IonQ this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IonQ reported record third-quarter revenue of $173.8 million, up 336% year over year and above analyst expectations. Its loss per share was also narrower than forecast. Why IonQ Stock Is Soaring Today
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $505 million–$515 million. Its backlog reached $1.2 billion, and Superion 256 capacity is booked through 2027—signs of robust demand and future sales visibility. IonQ: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Positive Sentiment: IonQ also advanced to Stage C of DARPA’s quantum benchmarking initiative, while its SkyWater acquisition is expected to strengthen manufacturing capabilities. IonQ Q3 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald and Needham lowered their price targets but kept positive ratings, reflecting a more cautious outlook without abandoning the investment case. Cantor Fitzgerald recommendations
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the growth, IonQ remains loss-making. Investors are also weighing cash burn and potential dilution from its planned capital raise and stock-funded $1.15 billion Elisity acquisition, as well as uncertainty over how quickly quantum computing demand will translate into sustainable profits. IonQ Beat and Raised: Can the Quantum Stock Buck the Tech Selloff?
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks added IONQ to its Strong Sell list, a counterpoint to the earnings optimism and a potential source of investor caution. New Strong Sell Stocks for November 6th

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc (NYSE: IONQ) is a quantum computing company that develops full-stack quantum computing systems and related software. Its technology is based on trapped-ion quantum computing, which uses electrically charged atoms as qubits and is designed to support highly accurate quantum operations.

The company provides access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms and direct enterprise and research engagements. Its offerings include quantum computing hardware, cloud-based access, software tools, and professional services intended to help organizations explore applications in areas such as optimization, chemistry, materials science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.