IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.06 EPS

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported ($0.29) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.35) by $0.06, FiscalAI reports. IonQ had a negative net margin of 553.27% and a negative return on equity of 22.29%. The business had revenue of $173.83 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $141.49 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($3.58) EPS. The company’s revenue was up 336.0% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from IonQ’s conference call:

• IonQ reported record Q3 revenue of $173.8 million, up 336% year over year, including $90.3 million from IonQ Platform and $83.5 million from SkyWater, which contributed two months of results. The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $505–$515 million, from $450–$460 million.
• Demand for quantum computers was strong: IonQ said its Superion 256 capacity for 2027 is sold out and that it is beginning to fill orders into 2028. Combined remaining performance obligations reached $1.2 billion, including approximately $290 million in new IonQ Platform contracts signed during the quarter.
• IonQ advanced to Stage C of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, a program with a potential value of up to $300 million, and announced a Superion deployment at NVIDIA’s research center. Management also said more than 40% of IonQ Platform revenue came from customers buying multiple products.
• Management said the SkyWater acquisition is expanding IonQ’s manufacturing and foundry business: SkyWater’s quantum foundry revenue grew more than 30% year over year excluding IonQ, and the company extended its D-Wave agreement and signed a multi-year agreement with Qolab. Executives expect the expanded capabilities to support scaling and improve margins over time.
• Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $133.6 million, while GAAP operating expenses were $606.9 million; management attributed some costs to acquisition integration and continued investment. IonQ expects Q4 Adjusted EBITDA to improve from Q3 and cited $3.7 billion in pro forma cash, but described profitability as a longer-term goal.

IonQ Price Performance

NYSE IONQ traded up $5.69 on Friday, hitting $32.12. The company had a trading volume of 42,656,594 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,644,404. IonQ has a 12-month low of $24.92 and a 12-month high of $73.65. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $36.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on IONQ. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of IonQ from $80.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their target price on IonQ from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of IonQ from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d-)” rating in a research note on Friday, August 21st. Rosenblatt Securities restated a “buy” rating and issued a $100.00 price objective on shares of IonQ in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of IonQ in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.23.

Key Stories Impacting IonQ

Here are the key news stories impacting IonQ this week:

• Positive Sentiment: IonQ reported record third-quarter revenue of $173.8 million, up 336% year over year and above analyst expectations. Its loss per share was also narrower than forecast. Why IonQ Stock Is Soaring Today
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised its 2026 revenue guidance to $505 million–$515 million. Its backlog reached $1.2 billion, and Superion 256 capacity is booked through 2027—signs of robust demand and future sales visibility. IonQ: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Positive Sentiment: IonQ also advanced to Stage C of DARPA’s quantum benchmarking initiative, while its SkyWater acquisition is expected to strengthen manufacturing capabilities. IonQ Q3 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald and Needham lowered their price targets but kept positive ratings, reflecting a more cautious outlook without abandoning the investment case. Cantor Fitzgerald recommendations
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the growth, IonQ remains loss-making. Investors are also weighing cash burn and potential dilution from its planned capital raise and stock-funded $1.15 billion Elisity acquisition, as well as uncertainty over how quickly quantum computing demand will translate into sustainable profits. IonQ Beat and Raised: Can the Quantum Stock Buck the Tech Selloff?
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks added IONQ to its Strong Sell list, a counterpoint to the earnings optimism and a potential source of investor caution. New Strong Sell Stocks for November 6th

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider John Raymond sold 2,407 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.21, for a total value of $89,564.47. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 77,741 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,892,742.61. This trade represents a 3.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

IonQ Company Profile

IonQ, Inc (NYSE: IONQ) is a quantum computing company that develops full-stack quantum computing systems and related software. Its technology is based on trapped-ion quantum computing, which uses electrically charged atoms as qubits and is designed to support highly accurate quantum operations.

The company provides access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms and direct enterprise and research engagements. Its offerings include quantum computing hardware, cloud-based access, software tools, and professional services intended to help organizations explore applications in areas such as optimization, chemistry, materials science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.