Rigetti Computing (RGTI) experienced a significant rally on Friday, with shares climbing nearly 20% following the announcement of a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The agreement outlines potential CHIPS Act funding of up to $100 million. Trading concluded at $26.42 per share.
This allocation represents a portion of a comprehensive $2.013 billion federal initiative authorized under the CHIPS and Science Act, distributed among nine recipient organizations. The quantum computing sector dominates the roster with seven companies, including D-Wave, PsiQuantum, Quantinuum, and Infleqtion. The remaining spots went to IBM and GlobalFoundries.
Rigetti’s designated portion — potentially reaching $100 million across three years — targets the advancement and commercialization of cutting-edge superconducting quantum technologies. Key priorities include reducing the physical footprint of readout electronics and enhancing cryostat design efficiency.
CEO Subodh Kulkarni characterized the announcement as a strong endorsement from federal authorities. “This funding enables us to address critical scaling challenges with greater speed and moves us significantly closer to commercially viable quantum computing systems,” he stated.
A notable provision deserves attention: the framework incorporates a potential government equity component linked to the funding magnitude. This distinguishes it from conventional research grants, establishing a direct financial stake for the U.S. government in Rigetti’s advancement. Current shareholders should monitor this aspect, as finalization could result in ownership dilution.
Rigetti’s primary methodology centers on superconducting qubit technology — fundamentally similar to systems deployed by IBM and Alphabet, but with distinctive architectural choices. The company employs a chiplet-based design philosophy, integrating multiple smaller quantum processors into cohesive large-scale systems.
The company’s 108-qubit Cepheus processor exemplifies this strategy, comprising twelve individual 9-qubit chiplets. This modular approach aims to circumvent manufacturing challenges associated with fabricating monolithic large chips. Gate operation speeds range from 50 to 70 nanoseconds, delivering competitive performance relative to alternative quantum methodologies.
This strategy differentiates Rigetti from IonQ, which pursues trapped-ion quantum computing, and from IBM, which commands substantially greater capital resources. Rigetti’s value proposition emphasizes comprehensive vertical integration: maintaining control across the technology stack, delivering high-speed superconducting platforms, and accommodating both cloud-based and on-premises deployment models — particularly appealing to government laboratories requiring air-gapped systems for classified operations.
Analyst sentiment leans cautiously bullish. Among 13 covering analysts, eight recommend buying, four suggest holding, and one advises selling. The consensus 12-month price objective sits near $29–$30, representing approximately 13% appreciation from Friday’s closing price.
Rigetti’s latest quarterly disclosure exceeded analyst projections. The company posted earnings per share of -$0.04, outperforming the -$0.05 consensus estimate. Revenue reached $4.4 million, marking a 198.9% year-over-year increase and surpassing the $4.09 million forecast.
The stock additionally benefited from momentum across the quantum computing sector following the government funding announcement. Competitors IonQ and D-Wave registered gains of 8% and 14% respectively during the same session. RGTI has appreciated approximately 48% over the past week.
Benchmark reaffirmed its buy recommendation while adjusting its price target downward from $35 to $25. Rosenblatt maintains a more optimistic $40 projection. The stock has traded within a 52-week range of $10.30 to $58.15, with the 50-day moving average positioned at $16.82.
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