IonQ Soars Over 33% After Microsoft's Bold Call: What's Next?

Shares of IonQ Inc. IONQ enjoyed a quantum leap of 33.48% in a single day to close Wednesday at $39.39. The catalyst?

A perfect storm of bullish momentum driving investor buying, including a Microsoft-powered tailwind and a $1 billion deal securing Maryland as the new epicenter of quantum computing.

IonQ Stock: Bulls In Charge

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IonQ stock is up over 336% over the past six months. It is riding a strong bullish momentum, with its share price above the five, 20 and 50-day EMAs, signaling buying pressure. IonQ stock's eight-day SMA (simple moving average) at $37.42 confirms a short-term bullish signal, while the 50-day SMA at $33.86 reinforces bullish sentiment.

However, the 20-day SMA at $40.97 presents a minor resistance level, suggesting potential near-term volatility. With the 200-day SMA at just $14.94, IONQ stock remains in a long-term uptrend, keeping the bulls in charge.

Read Also: Quantum Computing Stocks Surge In Thursday Premarket: QUBT Up 15%, QBTS Climbs 9%, RGTI Gains Over 3%

Microsoft Says ‘Get Quantum-Ready,’ Wall Street Listens

Microsoft's strategic missions chief Mitra Azizirad fired up the quantum bulls on Wednesday, declaring 2025 "the year to become quantum-ready."

That was all investors needed to send IonQ shares flying, as the company sits at the forefront of the quantum race with its cloud-accessible quantum computers and expanding partnerships.

IonQ CEO Peter Chapman doubled down on the optimism, projecting strong 2024 results and profitability by 2030—a bold call in a sector where commercial viability remains a long game.

Maryland's $1B Bet On IonQ

Beyond the tech buzz, IonQ locked in a $1 billion deal with the state of Maryland to build a 100,000-square-foot quantum computing hub at the University of Maryland.

The investment is set to accelerate quantum research, create jobs, and cement IonQ's position as a leader in the space.

Pentagon's Quantum Play: A $21.1M Air Force Deal

Adding to its bullish case, IonQ secured a $21.1 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab to advance quantum networking infrastructure.

This follows a $54.5 million deal signed in September, underscoring the military's growing reliance on quantum tech.

Reality Check: Quantum Stocks Are Volatile

Despite the euphoria, IonQ remains a high-beta stock, swinging between massive gains and steep pullbacks.

The College Park, Maryland-based company is still unprofitable and faces skepticism from bears, including controversial investor Martin Shkreli, who recently suggested shorting quantum computing stocks overvaluation concerns.

What's Next?

With quantum investment topping $50 billion and giants like Amazon, Google, IBM, and Nvidia diving in, the sector's long-term potential is undeniable. But for IonQ investors, the road ahead could be as volatile as the quantum particles they're betting on.

Will IonQ's momentum hold, or is this just another quantum blip? Buckle up—2024 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for the stock.

Read Next:

• NVIDIA Announces First-Ever Quantum Day At GTC 2025, Days After Jensen Huang Said Quantum Computing Is 20 Years Away

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