Part 2: The Best of the Rest in Quantum Computing

Alphabet (GOOGL)

In 2019, Google claimed that it had achieved what it called quantum supremacy. The company claimed to have built a computer with capabilities far beyond those of traditional computers.

In a report published in Nature, Google said its quantum computer managed to calculate something that would take a normal machine 10,000 years.

What practical applications Google's performance will have in the real world is still unclear. The initial computation was a demonstration of capability rather than a product that will have a significant commercial impact any time soon.

Having a horse in the race will also mean they can turn it up a notch once they receive more direction on where this might lead.

Like so many of its other companies, Alphabet invests heavily in the latest computer technology.

Many of these ventures probably won't bring in much money; others, on the other hand, will likely recoup the company's entire research budget and then some. And the good thing about Alphabet is that it's so busy that a single project, such as B. quantum computing, will not decide on the entire investment.

I am not going to sit here and say that Google is a quantum computing company because it’s not, but they are ready to pounce if the opportunity presents itself.

 

Quantum Computing (QUBT)

Quantum Computing is an innovative company focused on its namesake. It sees a market opportunity in the ability to create a service that coordinates computing needs.

There are providers of quantum computers, such as IonQ or Rigetti. Then there are customers in large companies, universities, or research laboratories. Quantum Computing sits in the middle, making software to help customers manage their quantum computing needs.

Currently, quantum computing has almost no revenue. Management acknowledges that the company is still in the early stages of market development and understanding customer use cases.

QUBT stock is highly speculative, as are most other companies in the sector. However, as the market for quantum computing vendors and customers grows, a brokerage service that connects the two could represent a fairly profitable niche.

 

IBM (IBM)

Tech analysts like to compare IBM to companies like Radio Shack and Eastman Kodak (KODK) as a dinosaur inevitably heading towards the dustbin of history.

However, the truth is much more nuanced.

IBM still achieves $60 billion a year in total revenue, and that number is actually on the rise again. They also have a PE ratio of 21 as its ongoing operations in consulting, services, and cloud, among others, are very profitable. And IBM continues to invest heavily in research and development, including quantum computing.

IBM's quantum computing division promises to unlock information beyond the reach of even the world's fastest supercomputers. The IBM partnership for quantum computing already involves 160 Fortune 500 companies as well as national laboratories and academic institutions. These partners work in areas such as finance, chemistry, and logistics.

 

Microsoft (MSFT)

Like IBM, Microsoft wants to take the lead in the emerging field of quantum computing. Microsoft has an inbuilt advantage, as its Azure cloud platform already has a massive installed base with a variety of Fortune 500 customers.

Now Microsoft is building its quantum computing capabilities directly into Azure. Microsoft describes this as “the world’s first full-featured, open cloud ecosystem for quantum computing.”

It makes a lot of sense that this would be offered as part of a cloud package. After all, most customers probably don't need their own supercomputer. Rather, they want the ability to buy that computing power only when they need it.

If Microsoft can seamlessly integrate this experience into its native Azure platform, it could be a major win, both for this product and for securing greater market share in cloud computing.

 

Applied Materials (AMAT)

Another approach to betting on quantum computing stocks is to be long on suppliers. Given that the technology is still very new, it can be difficult to determine which companies will ultimately be among the winners in this space. What is certain, however, is that if quantum computing catches on, we will need faster and more powerful semiconductors.

Applied Materials is one of the industry leaders in terms of patents and industry know-how when it comes to manufacturing chips that will be used in quantum computing hardware. During a gold rush, you want to be the one selling the shovels. Applied Materials should be the shovel dealer for the quantum computing industry.

In the meantime, Applied Materials' existing business is extremely profitable.