Brevan Howard Capital Management LP Buys New Position in IonQ, Inc. $IONQ

Key Points

• Brevan Howard Capital Management LP initiated a new position in IonQ, buying 187,269 shares worth about $11.52 million in the third quarter, equal to roughly 0.05% ownership.
• Analysts are mixed but generally constructive: the consensus rating is Moderate Buy with an average price target of $69.45, while individual targets span roughly $35–$100.
• On the company side, IonQ announced a partnership with the University of Cambridge to develop a 256‑qubit machine—boosting its commercialization case—yet the stock has been volatile and recently traded near $33 versus a one‑year high of $84.64.

Brevan Howard Capital Management LP purchased a new position in IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 187,269 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,517,000. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP owned 0.05% of IonQ as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in IonQ by 12.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 134,176 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,962,000 after purchasing an additional 14,898 shares during the period. Amundi purchased a new stake in shares of IonQ in the 1st quarter worth about $630,000. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of IonQ by 106.2% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 57,305 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,265,000 after purchasing an additional 29,513 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of IonQ by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 450,031 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,932,000 after purchasing an additional 87,428 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in shares of IonQ by 30.3% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 46,782 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,032,000 after buying an additional 10,881 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 41.42% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on IONQ. Morgan Stanley set a $37.00 price objective on shares of IonQ in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Benchmark reduced their target price on IonQ from $75.00 to $65.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on IonQ from $47.00 to $42.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Rosenblatt Securities reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $100.00 price target on shares of IonQ in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, DA Davidson lowered their price objective on IonQ from $55.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, IonQ currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $69.45.

Insider Activity at IonQ

In other news, Director Kathryn K. Chou sold 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total value of $275,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 60,839 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,346,145. This represents a 7.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director William J. Teuber, Jr. purchased 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $38.38 per share, for a total transaction of $115,140.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 9,413 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $361,270.94. The trade was a 46.78% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 10,781 shares of company stock valued at $497,804. 5.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

IonQ Price Performance

IONQ opened at $33.04 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $40.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $50.07. The firm has a market cap of $12.11 billion, a PE ratio of -13.27 and a beta of 2.61. IonQ, Inc. has a 1 year low of $18.81 and a 1 year high of $84.64.

Key Headlines Impacting IonQ

Here are the key news stories impacting IonQ this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IonQ announced a partnership with the University of Cambridge to build a 256‑qubit quantum computer, a concrete technical milestone that supports commercialization prospects and product differentiation. IonQ partners with the University of Cambridge for 256-qubit quantum computer
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts are highlighting 2026 as a scaling year for quantum computing — Zacks says IonQ is positioned to expand revenues and push new qubit systems, which supports a longer‑term growth narrative for the stock. Quantum Computing Set to Scale in 2026: IONQ, QBTS, RGTI's Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: A MarketWatch/Fool-style roundup names IonQ among top quantum contenders, noting IonQ's technique gives it an edge on accuracy versus peers — positive for investor perception of competitive moat. 2 Millionaire-Maker Quantum Computing Stocks
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks flagged IonQ as a trending/search interest stock, which can increase retail attention and intraday volume but doesn’t guarantee direction. Is Trending Stock IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) a Buy Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: Financial roundups (e.g., Yahoo Finance) listed IonQ among stocks making notable moves, indicating increased media visibility and trading activity rather than directional news. Stocks making big moves yesterday: Saia, Oracle, Atlas Energy Solutions, IonQ, and Conagra
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple Zacks pieces note recent share weakness: IonQ has underperformed in the recent tech sell‑off, is down materially year‑to‑date, and experienced notable intraday dips — near‑term pressure from macro/tech sentiment and high beta remains a risk. IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know IonQ Stock Falls in 2026 Tech Sell-Off: Should You Buy the Dip or Hold?

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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