Rigetti Computing (RGTI) has become one of the hottest speculative trades in quantum computing. The stock has seen a surge of activity in recent weeks as investors pile in, betting on upside from its latest milestones.
But analysts warn that owning Rigetti has required “diamond hands,” given just how volatile the name has been over the past year.
Investment analyst Will Meade has flagged unusually large spikes in Rigetti options activity. On Aug. 15, 22, and 29, open interest ballooned, with more than 69,000 contracts added in a single day on Aug. 15.
One week later, three of the four largest changes in options open interest across the market were tied to Rigetti, and another 70,000 contracts piled on by Aug. 29.
(Typically, heavy call option buying reflects bullish bets, and the sheer scale suggests speculators are betting Rigetti shares could climb much higher.)
Rigetti stock is already up more than 12% in the past month.
For all the upside speculation, Rigetti’s swings have been extreme. As stock picker Dr. J Rould put it on X: “RGTI is the craziest stock I have ever owned.” He highlighted the ride from $0.75 to $21, back down to $6, and now back up to $16.
This volatility makes Rigetti a difficult hold for traditional value investors.
Analysts caution that the company still needs to prove commercial viability within the next five years to survive in a space dominated by giants like IBM and D-Wave.
🖥️ Quantum milestone fuels momentum
RGTI stock rallied after the unveiling of its most advanced 36-qubit multi-chip quantum computer.
The design links multiple smaller superconducting chips, positioning the company closer to rivals in the race to commercialize scalable quantum hardware.
Wall Street also welcomed news of a partnership with Montana State University to advance hardware development and quantum R&D.
But it’s not just hype. There’s some comfort in the company’s balance sheet for long-term bulls.
As InvestorsObserver reported, Rigetti is now essentially debt-free with $575 million in cash as of June. That funding should give it runway to push commercialization efforts forward.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are markedmarked