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Luke Kawa

Quantum computing stocks slump after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announces “AI supercomputers” in partnership with DOE

Quantum computing stocks Rigetti Computing, IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing initially popped when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang unveiled a new architecture called NVQLink to connect quantum computers with GPU supercomputers to aid in error correction, calibration, control, and simulations.

“Working together, the right algorithms running on the GPUs, the right algorithms running on the QPUs, and the two computers working side by side — this is the future of quantum computing,” Huang said.

Two of these stocks, Rigetti Computing and IonQ, were listed as “partners contributing” to this new tech in a press release.

However, the stocks then all reversed course to tumble into the red when Huang said, “Today, we’re announcing that the Department of Energy is partnering with Nvidia to build seven new AI supercomputers to advance our nation’s science.”

There may be some conflation of “AI supercomputer” and “quantum computer” going on here. This is not necessarily a competing product, but rather two things that are supposed to work hand in hand!

“It’s surprising to see the misread here,” said David Williams, who covers quantum computing stocks as an analyst at Benchmark Co. “This should be a positive, the ability for QPUs and GPUs to work together.”

He also flagged how Huang’s remarks from earlier this year about the timeline for quantum computers to be “very useful” prompted a nosedive in pure-play stocks across the industry — comments that were later walked back as those stocks recovered.

As previously discussed, quantum computing stocks spent many a day in recent months going up (often on no news at all!), and now appear to have gone down based on a seemingly imperfect interpretation of what appears on the surface to be fairly good news. And it’s noteworthy in and of itself that there seems to be a bit of a vibe shift, with traders looking for excuses to sell after having spent a long time looking for any excuse to buy.

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SpaceX gets a wave of bullish ratings from Wall Street analysts

SpaceX received more than a dozen positive analyst calls on Tuesday — including from major Wall Street banks — as they initiate coverage on Elon Musk’s space and AI company.

SpaceX went public on June 12 at a $2.2 trillion valuation, the largest debut in history. While the company hasn’t yet posted a profit, it seems to have convinced Wall Street that it will get there and grow its valuation on the way.

Of the at least 17 analysts that gave a rating on Tuesday, all but one gave it a “buy” or “outperform” rating. MoffettNathanson was "neutral."

The ratings come as SpaceX joined the Nasdaq 100 index, a benchmark tech-heavy basket of companies that underpins millions of portfolios. The inclusion adds built-in demand for the stock from index funds and ETFs.

Still, SpaceX fell more than 5% on Tuesday amid a broader sell-off, and is currently effectively flat from its opening price of $150 a share.

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Nike sinks to lowest level since 2014 after warning of “challenged” sales environment in Q4 report

Did Nike do it?

Investors had a mixed reaction after the global sports apparel company reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the bell. Shares initially rose 5% as Nike beat out Wall Street expectations amid a hefty tariff refund bonus. However, the stock then sank to its lowest level since August 2014 in postmarket trading.

Here are the Q4 numbers:

  • Revenue of $11.0 billion (estimate: $10.8 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20 (estimate: $0.12).

Ahead of this report, Nike warned that results would be flattered by a one-time tariff refund (now estimated at roughly $0.52 per share for the bottom line). That gave the company an extra cushion in snapping its streak of seven quarters of year-over-year profit declines.

Over the past year, the company had been punished by tariffs on imported goods, stagnant consumer spending, and increasing competition from other footwear brands like New Balance, Adidas, and Hoka.

Outgoing CFO Matthew Friend deemed it an “increasingly challenging operating environment, where sell-through remains challenged.”

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