Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGTI), a company at the forefront of quantum computing technology, is drawing renewed attention from both institutional investors and Wall Street analysts as 2026 approaches. Over the past year, the company’s stock has experienced dramatic swings, climbing from a 52-week low of $1.28 to a high of $58.15, and opening at $25.48 on November 14, 2025. This volatility, paired with a flurry of recent insider transactions and shifting analyst sentiment, has positioned Rigetti as a potential standout in the ever-evolving tech sector.
According to recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Oak Harvest Investment Services acquired a new position in Rigetti Computing during the second quarter, purchasing 15,000 shares valued at approximately $178,000. The move follows a broader trend among institutional investors who are increasing their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc., for example, raised its position by 20.7% in the first quarter, now owning over 14.1 million shares valued at $112.3 million after purchasing an additional 2.4 million shares. Geode Capital Management LLC also grew its stake by 22.9% in the second quarter, now holding more than 6.4 million shares worth $76.9 million after buying over 1.2 million additional shares.
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. and Northern Trust Corp have similarly increased their holdings, while Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake by an impressive 59% during the second quarter. In total, hedge funds and institutional investors now own 35.38% of Rigetti’s stock, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Yet, it’s not just institutional investors making moves. Company insiders have also been active in the market. Director Michael S. Clifton sold 75,000 shares on September 12, 2025, at an average price of $19.00, totaling $1.43 million and reducing his position by 10.29%. Director Helene Gail Sandford followed suit, selling 62,000 shares on October 17, 2025, at an average price of $44.89, netting $2.78 million and decreasing her position by 34%. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold a total of 454,204 shares valued at $10.3 million. Despite these sales, insiders still retain 1.90% ownership in the company.
Rigetti’s recent financial performance has been a mixed bag, reflecting both the promise and the challenges of quantum computing. On November 10, 2025, the company announced its quarterly earnings, reporting an earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.03), which beat analysts’ consensus estimates by $0.02. However, revenue for the quarter was $1.95 million, down 18.1% year-over-year and below the consensus estimate of $2.17 million. The company’s net margin remains deeply negative at -4,741.49%, and its return on equity stands at -21.98%, underscoring the high-risk, high-reward nature of the quantum computing industry. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Rigetti will post a loss of $0.34 per share for the current fiscal year.
Despite these financial headwinds, Wall Street’s outlook on Rigetti Computing is cautiously optimistic. According to MarketBeat, the company currently holds an average rating of “Moderate Buy,” with five analysts assigning a Buy rating, one a Hold, and one a Sell. The consensus price target sits at $25.43, but some analysts are even more bullish. Alliance Global Partners recently reaffirmed a “buy” rating, while Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from “sell” to “hold.” Benchmark, though lowering its target price from $50.00 to $40.00, maintained a “buy” rating, and Williams Trading set a $40.00 target price as well. B. Riley, on the other hand, decreased its price target from $42.00 to $35.00 and labeled the stock as “neutral.”
Adding a layer of intrigue, The Motley Fool recently highlighted that while Wall Street projects a 55% upside for Rigetti Computing stock in 2026—buoyed by new partnerships and the accelerating quantum revolution—the company was not included in Stock Advisor’s list of the top 10 best stocks to buy now. The Stock Advisor service, known for its impressive 1,035% average return compared to the S&P 500’s 191%, chose to leave Rigetti off its latest recommendation, even as it acknowledged the company’s potential for a breakout. As The Motley Fool noted, “Rigetti may be on the verge of another breakout as the quantum revolution accelerates.”
So, what exactly is fueling this optimism? Rigetti Computing, through its subsidiaries, builds quantum computers and superconducting quantum processors. The company offers access to its quantum processing units, such as the 9-qubit chip and the Ankaa-2 system under the Novera brand, through a quantum computing as a service model. This approach allows clients to leverage cutting-edge quantum technology without the need for massive upfront infrastructure investments—a business model that has attracted attention from both investors and partners in the tech industry.
The company’s market capitalization currently stands at $8.26 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -19.60 and a beta of 1.64, indicating higher volatility compared to the broader market. Rigetti’s 50-day moving average is $34.47, while its 200-day moving average is $20.68, reflecting the stock’s recent rollercoaster ride.
For those tracking insider sentiment, the recent sales by directors Clifton and Sandford might raise eyebrows. However, such transactions are not uncommon among tech executives, especially in rapidly evolving fields like quantum computing where stock-based compensation is prevalent. The fact that institutional investors continue to increase their stakes could be seen as a counterbalance to insider selling, suggesting that the smart money still believes in Rigetti’s long-term potential.
Looking ahead, much of Rigetti’s future may hinge on its ability to convert technological progress into sustained revenue growth and, eventually, profitability. The quantum computing sector is notorious for its lengthy development timelines and high capital requirements, but the potential rewards are enormous. As new partnerships come online and the quantum revolution gathers pace, Rigetti could find itself at the center of a transformative shift in computing power.
For now, investors and analysts alike will be watching closely to see whether Rigetti Computing can turn its promise into performance. With Wall Street projecting a significant upside and institutional investors doubling down, the company’s next moves could determine whether it becomes a leader in the quantum age—or remains one of the tech sector’s most intriguing, but unrealized, stories.
