IONQ's Price Hike: Or How to Sell Dreams in the Quantum Age
So, Morgan Stanley's Joseph Moore, a "top analyst" (according to whom, exactly?) just slapped a higher price target on IonQ. From $32 to $58. Okay. And the reason? "Bullish outlook" and some tech deals with countries I can't find on a map without Google's help. Give me a break.
Let's be real, quantum computing is the new crypto – all hype, zero actual product that Joe Average can use. We're talking about a company that's expected to lose $0.44 per share. But hey, revenue is "expected to surge." It always is, ain't it?
Quantum Leaps of Faith (and Losses)
Heavy investment in R&D, they say. That's the excuse. It's always R&D. Throw money into the void and hope something sticks. IonQ's not alone, offcourse. D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI) are also burning cash like it's going out of style. They're all chasing this quantum dream, and Wall Street is eating it up. Pardon Our Interruption
Here's the analogy: it's like those old Western movies where everyone's rushing to find gold. Except, instead of gold, it's qubits. And instead of grizzled prospectors, it's dudes in lab coats. And instead of striking it rich, they're just digging deeper into debt.
But wait, there's more! Morgan Stanley owns a 7% stake in IonQ. Color me shocked. Is this analysis or self-promotion? Are they pumping up their own investment? I mean, come on.
The "Strong Buy" Mirage
TipRanks slaps a "Strong Buy" consensus on IONQ. Six buys, two holds. The average price target is $68.29, a potential 27.9% upside. Over the past year, IONQ stock has "rocketed" nearly 248%. Good for them. Seriously. But what is this based on?
It's based on hope. It's based on the idea of quantum computing, not the reality. It’s based on analysts who probably couldn't explain a qubit if their lives depended on it, but they can sure as hell write a report about it. It is a house of cards built on buzzwords.
And these "technology development agreements" with the UK, Korea, and Japan... I'm sure they're very impressive on paper. But what do they actually mean for IonQ's bottom line? Will they translate into actual, profitable products? Or is it just more hype to justify the inflated stock price? IONQ Stock Wins a Price Target Hike from Top Analyst Ahead of Q3 Results
So, What's the Real Story?
It's all smoke and mirrors. Quantum computing might be the future, but right now, it's a money pit. And IonQ, despite the analyst hype and the "Strong Buy" ratings, is just another company selling dreams in the quantum age. I wouldn't touch this stock with a ten-foot pole.
