We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
IonQ Strengthens Position With Strategic Government Contracts
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
IONQ expands defense role with AFRL deals and selection for $151B SHIELD IDIQ contract.
IonQ partners with ARLIS on SEQCURE to advance quantum cybersecurity and Zero Trust standards.
IONQ collaborations span Heven AeroTech and DOE for quantum in drones and space networks.
Recognized as an emerging force in defense and aerospace innovation, IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) continues to expand its role in advancing next-generation technologies for national security. The company has a strong track record of supporting U.S. government R&D, collaborating with agencies such as DARPA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL”). This relationship is reinforced by four major approximately $100 million AFRL contracts awarded between 2022 and 2025, highlighting its growing influence in defense and networking initiatives.
IonQ was recently selected for the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (“SHIELD”) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a ceiling of $151 billion, underscoring confidence in its full-stack quantum capabilities across computing, networking, sensing and security.
Further strengthening its position, IonQ partnered with the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (“ARLIS”) on the Securing Experimental Quantum Computing Usage in Research Environments (“SEQCURE”) program to advance quantum cybersecurity, particularly through Zero Trust Architecture aligned with National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) standards.
IonQ’s strategic collaboration with Heven AeroTech integrates its quantum technologies into autonomous aerial systems, enhancing resilience, stealth and operational performance in GPS-denied environments. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) to advance the development and deployment of quantum technologies in space. The agreement outlines IonQ’s role in demonstrating quantum ground-to-orbit-to-ground capabilities.
Peer Update
Emerging as a versatile player in applied quantum technologies, Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi” is steadily expanding its footprint across government, aerospace and commercial sectors. QCi was awarded a contract by the NIST to design and fabricate thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits, reinforcing its capabilities in advanced photonics. QCi was also awarded a subcontract supporting NASA Langley Research Center, focused on developing quantum techniques to remove solar noise from space-based LiDAR data, further demonstrating its role in advancing aerospace innovation.
A pioneer in hybrid quantum-classical computing, Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) has secured a three-year, $5.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to advance superconducting quantum networking. In partnership with QphoX, the project builds on prior success in optical single-shot qubit readout. The collaboration will integrate Rigetti’s superconducting qubits with QphoX’s microwave-optical transducers, enabling the conversion of microwave photons into optical photons while preserving quantum information — an important step toward scalable quantum networks.
IONQ’s Price Performance
In the past year, IONQ’s shares have gained 28.8%, underperforming the industry’s 135.9% growth. The S&P 500 composite has grown 33.9% in the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Expensive Valuation
IonQ currently trades at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) of 39.64X compared with the industry median of 3.87X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IONQ Stock Estimate Trend
In the past 30 days, its loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at $1.57.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
IonQ Strengthens Position With Strategic Government Contracts
Key Takeaways
Recognized as an emerging force in defense and aerospace innovation, IonQ (IONQ - Free Report) continues to expand its role in advancing next-generation technologies for national security. The company has a strong track record of supporting U.S. government R&D, collaborating with agencies such as DARPA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL”). This relationship is reinforced by four major approximately $100 million AFRL contracts awarded between 2022 and 2025, highlighting its growing influence in defense and networking initiatives.
IonQ was recently selected for the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (“SHIELD”) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a ceiling of $151 billion, underscoring confidence in its full-stack quantum capabilities across computing, networking, sensing and security.
Further strengthening its position, IonQ partnered with the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (“ARLIS”) on the Securing Experimental Quantum Computing Usage in Research Environments (“SEQCURE”) program to advance quantum cybersecurity, particularly through Zero Trust Architecture aligned with National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) standards.
IonQ’s strategic collaboration with Heven AeroTech integrates its quantum technologies into autonomous aerial systems, enhancing resilience, stealth and operational performance in GPS-denied environments. The company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) to advance the development and deployment of quantum technologies in space. The agreement outlines IonQ’s role in demonstrating quantum ground-to-orbit-to-ground capabilities.
Peer Update
Emerging as a versatile player in applied quantum technologies, Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT - Free Report) or “QCi” is steadily expanding its footprint across government, aerospace and commercial sectors. QCi was awarded a contract by the NIST to design and fabricate thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits, reinforcing its capabilities in advanced photonics. QCi was also awarded a subcontract supporting NASA Langley Research Center, focused on developing quantum techniques to remove solar noise from space-based LiDAR data, further demonstrating its role in advancing aerospace innovation.
A pioneer in hybrid quantum-classical computing, Rigetti Computing (RGTI - Free Report) has secured a three-year, $5.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to advance superconducting quantum networking. In partnership with QphoX, the project builds on prior success in optical single-shot qubit readout. The collaboration will integrate Rigetti’s superconducting qubits with QphoX’s microwave-optical transducers, enabling the conversion of microwave photons into optical photons while preserving quantum information — an important step toward scalable quantum networks.
IONQ’s Price Performance
In the past year, IONQ’s shares have gained 28.8%, underperforming the industry’s 135.9% growth. The S&P 500 composite has grown 33.9% in the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Expensive Valuation
IonQ currently trades at a forward 12-month Price-to-Sales (P/S) of 39.64X compared with the industry median of 3.87X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IONQ Stock Estimate Trend
In the past 30 days, its loss per share estimate for 2026 has remained unchanged at $1.57.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
IonQ stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.