BNP Paribas Financial Markets Boosts Stake in IonQ, Inc. $IONQ

Key Points

• BNP Paribas Financial Markets sharply increased its IonQ stake, boosting holdings by 163.5% in the fourth quarter to 787,875 shares worth about $35.4 million. The filing shows continued institutional interest in the quantum computing company.
• IonQ is attracting broader Wall Street attention, with analysts maintaining a generally positive view and a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy.” The average price target sits at $68.63, while the stock has seen both bullish and more cautious target cuts.
• The company remains volatile but growth-focused: IonQ reported revenue of $64.67 million in its latest quarter, up 754.7% year over year, though it still missed EPS expectations and posted a loss. Recent headlines also highlight expansion efforts, including a new Boulder R&D lab and progress toward its first commercial machine.

BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ - Free Report) by 163.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 787,875 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 488,908 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.23% of IonQ worth $35,352,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. increased its stake in IonQ by 485.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 410 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. purchased a new stake in IonQ in the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in IonQ by 117.4% in the 3rd quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC now owns 500 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Accent Capital Management LLC increased its stake in IonQ by 171.8% in the 4th quarter. Accent Capital Management LLC now owns 587 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in IonQ in the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 41.42% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about IonQ

Here are the key news stories impacting IonQ this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IonQ opened a 22,000-square-foot quantum R&D lab in Boulder, Colorado, with semiconductor ion-trap chips expected to power its first commercial machine by year-end, reinforcing execution progress and commercialization potential. Article: IonQ just opened a 22,000-square-foot quantum R&D lab in Boulder, Colorado
• Positive Sentiment: IBM’s multibillion-dollar quantum investment is seen as a sign that the market opportunity is real, which could help smaller pure-play names like IonQ attract more attention and capital. Article: What IBM's $10-Billion Quantum Project Means For Smaller Players (IONQ)
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage emphasizing that IonQ stock surged 59.7% in May points to strong momentum and growing speculative demand in the quantum-computing trade. Article: Why IonQ Stock Skyrocketed 59.7% in May
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators continue to frame IonQ as a leading pure-play quantum computing company with strong government and education-sector demand, supporting the case for rapid revenue growth. Article: IonQ: Unique Trapped Ion Technology To Sustain Rapid Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Several articles note heightened investor attention and sector-wide trading interest, but these pieces are more about market sentiment than a specific new catalyst. Article: IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Negative Sentiment: Some commentary warns that quantum stocks are being treated as one crowded trade, which could create volatility if enthusiasm shifts away from the sector. Article: Will Quantinuum Lift Other Quantum Stocks — Or Eat Their Lunch?

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on IONQ shares. Northland Securities initiated coverage on shares of IonQ in a research note on Monday, April 20th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of IonQ in a research note on Monday, February 9th. DA Davidson dropped their price objective on IonQ from $55.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price objective on IonQ from $80.00 to $65.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Benchmark dropped their price objective on IonQ from $75.00 to $65.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $68.63.

Insider Activity at IonQ

In related news, insider Robert T. Cardillo sold 3,773 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.90, for a total value of $188,272.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 139,967 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,984,353.30. This trade represents a 2.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider John W. Raymond sold 2,800 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.34, for a total transaction of $93,352.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 83,963 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,799,326.42. This trade represents a 3.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

IonQ Trading Down 4.7%

IonQ stock opened at $68.02 on Thursday. IonQ, Inc. has a 12 month low of $25.89 and a 12 month high of $84.64. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $46.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $43.96. The company has a market cap of $25.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -242.91 and a beta of 3.18.

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported ($0.34) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $64.67 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $49.75 million. IonQ had a net margin of 174.88% and a negative return on equity of 23.20%. IonQ's revenue for the quarter was up 754.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.14) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that IonQ, Inc. will post -2.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.

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