D-Wave Quantum Shares Gain Momentum Ahead of Key Tech Showcase

D-Wave Quantum US26740W1099

The stock of D-Wave Quantum Inc. is entering the new week with significant positive momentum, fueled by a strong prior session and growing anticipation for its upcoming appearance at a major industry event. Recent institutional buying activity has also captured market attention.

The company's latest quarterly report provides fundamental support for the recent price movement. For the third quarter of 2025, D-Wave reported revenue that doubled year-over-year to $3.74 million. While the firm continues to operate at a loss, its earnings per share of -$0.05 surpassed consensus estimates by $0.02, indicating operational progress on the path toward profitability.

This backdrop contributed to a notable rally in the final session of the first trading week of 2026. On Friday, shares advanced by $1.93, or 7.4%, closing at $28.08. This move effectively broke the stock out of a previous consolidation phase. Trading volume was conspicuously high, with approximately 48.1 million shares changing hands—well above the average volume of around 33 million. Such elevated activity typically signals intensified investor interest and can precede further price movement.

Institutional Confidence and Sector Valuation

A key driver behind the surge appears to be renewed institutional confidence. Recent regulatory filings revealed that UNICOM Systems Inc. increased its stake in D-Wave Quantum by 12.1%. The investor now holds roughly 3.12 million shares. Market observers interpret this as a sign of growing belief in the company's long-term trajectory among professional investment firms.

This purchase aligns with a broader trend of institutional and hedge fund positioning ahead of a critical industry event. D-Wave's market capitalization, standing at approximately $9.8 billion, reflects a substantial sector-wide revaluation of quantum computing over the past twelve months. The company has outperformed many rivals, a fact often attributed to its hybrid approach combining annealing technology with gate-based models.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying D-Wave Quantum?

Analyst sentiment remains predominantly positive, with a consensus rating in the "Strong Buy" range. Price targets underscore this optimism: Jefferies has set a target of $45, while Wedbush sees a fair value of $35. The stock's recent reclaiming of the $28 level is viewed as technically significant, as it represents a break above a short-term resistance level established in late December.

The CES 2026 Catalyst and Near-Term Outlook

All eyes are now on the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, where D-Wave is scheduled to present on Wednesday and Thursday. The company plans to showcase its current Advantage2 annealing quantum platform and hybrid quantum-classical solutions. The market's primary focus will be on whether D-Wave can convincingly demonstrate the commercial applicability of its technology, particularly in logistics and supply chain optimization—areas where it has recently reported increased bookings.

The upcoming week is expected to be characterized by heightened volatility centered on this event. A compelling demonstration of the Advantage2 system with clear use cases could propel the stock further toward the analyst consensus target near $39. Conversely, a weaker reception or technical hiccups could trigger profit-taking following Friday's sharp gains.

Looking beyond CES, the "Qubits 2026" user conference in late January will shift focus to customer adoption trends. From a chart perspective, the zone around $26.84—representing the 50-day moving average—serves as a crucial support level. Maintaining this level is considered vital for the sustainability of the current upward trend.