If everyone only invested in what they fully understood, I suspect quite a few stocks wouldn't exist today. We can probably put quantum computing stocks in that category. The quantum physics used by companies pioneering quantum computing can make your head spin.

Fortunately for many investors, quantum computing stocks do exist. Two of them have been especially big winners -- D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) and IonQ (NYSE: IONQ). D-Wave Quantum has delivered the more impressive performance over the last 12 months. Is it a better quantum computing stock than IonQ?

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The case for D-Wave Quantum

Despite the market turbulence experienced in 2025, D-Wave Quantum has generated a staggering return of nearly 1,200% over the last 12 months. Even with this tremendous gain, though, the company's market cap remains below $5 billion.

D-Wave's financial performance has been impressive, too. The company's revenue soared 509% year over year in the first quarter of 2025. Its cash position totaled $304.3 million at the end of Q1. D-Wave's management believes that's enough to fund operations until the company achieves profitability.

The huge stock gains and strong revenue growth are the result of increasing interest in D-Wave's technology. The company boasts the world's largest quantum computer. D-Wave recently introduced its most advanced system to date, its sixth-generation Advantage2 quantum computer. CEO Alan Baratz said this new system is "so powerful that it can solve hard problems outside the reach of one of the world's largest exascale GPU-based classical supercomputers."

D-Wave has completed more than 20 proof-of-concept engagements over the last 18 months. Its customer base includes Deloitte, Fort Otosan (a Turkey-based automaker owned by Ford and Koç Holding), Lockheed Martin, and Japan Tobacco).

The case for IonQ

IonQ hasn't delivered the kind of gains that D-Wave has over the last 12 months, but it's nonetheless been sizzling hot. The quantum computing pioneer's stock is up roughly 380%. Thanks to this great return, IonQ's market cap now tops $9 billion.

At first glance, you might wonder about IonQ's growth. The company's revenue dipped slightly year over year in Q1. However, IonQ's revenue has increased by a compound annual growth rate of 170% since 2021. The company expects that 2025 revenue will nearly double year over year based on the midpoint of its guidance range.

IonQ believes that its ion trap architecture gives it distinct competitive advantages. Its quantum computers can operate at room temperature instead of requiring cooling to zero degrees Kelvin. The company thinks its error correction process is superior to rivals. IonQ also maintains that its architecture is more modular and scalable than the competition.

All three of the largest cloud platforms offer IonQ's quantum hardware, a claim no other quantum computing company can make. IonQ has a growing customer base that includes big companies such as Ansys, AstraZeneca, and Toyota Tsusho.

Better quantum computing stock?

Both D-Wave Quantum and IonQ could have tremendous growth potential. Quantum computing could transform many areas, including drug discovery, logistics, and materials science. Consulting firm McKinsey & Co. estimates that quantum computing and networking could create up to $880 billion in economic value by 2040.

However, these two companies also face significant risks. Neither D-Wave nor IonQ is profitable yet. Although their respective technological approaches show promise, the competition is intense, with some rivals possessing much greater financial resources.

If I had to pick one of these quantum computing stocks right now, I'd go with IonQ. It's generating more revenue than D-Wave. Its intellectual property portfolio is larger, with 950 patents related to quantum computing and networking that should soon be under the company's control.

I also like IonQ's business development strategy. Recent acquisitions of ID Quantique and Lightsynq position IonQ well in the quantum networking space.

Investing in IonQ isn't for everyone because of the inherent risks with a small company in a fledgling market. However, I think aggressive investors could see market-beating returns from this stock over the long run.

Should you invest $1,000 in IonQ right now?

Before you buy stock in IonQ, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and IonQ wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $868,615!*

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*Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025

Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Ansys, AstraZeneca Plc, and Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shares of Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM) are falling on Wednesday. One of Cathie Wood's largest holdings, the company's stock plummeted 18.7% as of 2:15 p.m. ET. The collapse comes as the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) were mostly flat.

Tempus, a "precision medicine" company that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to better treat patients, was the target of a short report from short-seller Spruce Point Capital Management that alleges the stock has as much as a 60% downside.

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Tempus faces significant allegations

The report, released as the market opened today, outlines Spruce's allegations. The most damning of these include a history of company leadership, especially founder Eric Lefkofsky, creating advanced technology companies that make bold claims they often fail to back up. The report says that the leadership exits the companies, having made millions, early, leaving shareholders with losses or "lackluster" returns.

The report also alleges that Lefkofsky and Tempus leadership are misleading the public as to their use of AI. The report states that just before the company IPO'd, as AI hype was peaking, the company rebranded from Tempus Labs to Tempus AI. Despite its centrality in the company's new name, branding, and public statements, only 2% of its 2024 revenue came from AI applications. The report alleges that Tempus' actual ability to utilize AI is vastly overstated.

Image source: Getty Images.

There is reason to be skeptical

While there are many more allegations -- like accounting irregularities and weakening relationships with core customers like AstraZeneca -- it's important to take it with a grain of salt. The short-seller has a financial stake in seeing Tempus' stock price decline. Still, the report is convincing, and even if most of the allegations prove untrue, I agree with its final assessment that the stock is already overpriced. I would stay away from Tempus, even if it is one of Cathie Wood's favorites.

Should you invest $1,000 in Tempus Ai right now?

Before you buy stock in Tempus Ai, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Tempus Ai wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $653,389!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $830,492!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 982% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025

Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends AstraZeneca Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shares of artificial intelligence (AI) company Tempus AI (NASDAQ: TEM) are down to the tune of 15.6% as of 11:13 a.m. ET on Wednesday, upended by a warning from investment management outfit Spruce Point Capital Management.

Just consider the source, and the fact that Spruce Point has something to gain by Tempus AI stock's pullback.

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Why the name seems familiar

If the name rings a bell, it may be because California Representative Nancy Pelosi disclosed a bullish stake in the company in January of this year, just months after its June 2024 initial public offering. The company's AI-powered platform helps pharmaceutical developers optimize the creation, testing, and commercialization of new drugs, saving time and money.

The potential for such a tool is obvious, as is the reason for Pelosi's interest. Indeed, analysts expect revenue growth of nearly 80% this year and 25% next year, en route to a projected swing to profitability in 2027.

Not every observer is impressed, though, or even convinced. Spruce Point Capital Management publicly cautioned all investors on Wednesday that "Tempus Founder Eric Lefkofsky and his associates have a history of promoting disruptive technology companies, cashing out early, and leaving public shareholders with losses or lackluster returns." All told, Spruce believes Tempus AI stock's value is 50% to 60% below its price prior to Wednesday's plunge.

To be fair, there's some validity to Spruce Point's concerns.

But keep them in perspective. Spruce Point Capital Management and its clients have short positions in Tempus AI stock, meaning they benefit if this ticker loses value. Also bear in mind that one of Spruce's acknowledged focuses is short-selling. In other words, the firm regularly makes such bearish cases for companies, then profits when they decline.

Not a new reason to steer clear

Again, it's not that Spruce's points are incorrect, or that its conclusions are unreasonable. Much of the risk voiced today was already known and accepted, though, and built into this volatile stock's price. Risk is the norm for stocks of this ilk.

That said, it's worth noting that well-established pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Henry Ford Health, and the Mayo Clinic, as well as several universities and research hospitals, are using Tempus AI's technology. Although not all of these partnerships and collaboration efforts will necessarily translate into profitable revenue, the caliber and sheer quantity of organizations interested in Tempus AI's capabilities speak volumes.

Bottom line? There's plenty of risk here, to be sure. But there's no new or additional risk being injected by Spruce Point's warning. If you were willing to take this risk yesterday, nothing's actually changed in the meantime except the stock's price.

Should you invest $1,000 in Tempus Ai right now?

Before you buy stock in Tempus Ai, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Tempus Ai wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $653,389!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $830,492!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 982% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025

James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends AstraZeneca Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Don't let the sell-off in the markets scare you off: Now may be an ideal time to buy stocks. Even if you don't have a lot of money that you can afford to invest, there are many great stocks you can buy for less than $100, and over time you can slowly build up your position.

Three growth stocks that look like fantastic buys for the long haul right now are AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN), Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), and Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET). Here's why these can be great investments to hang on to for years.

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AstraZeneca

Shares of AstraZeneca currently trade at less than $70. This is a stock that can be both a good growth stock and an income-generating investment. Its dividend currently yields 2.3%, which is higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.4%.

But the big reason to invest in AstraZeneca is for its long-term growth potential. The company is investing in growing its pipeline, but it is also using acquisitions to open up new growth opportunities. Last year, it acquired Fusion Pharmaceuticals, a company that develops next-gen cancer treatments involving radiopharmaceuticals, which are more targeted approaches to cancer treatment than chemotherapy.

Through acquisitions and in-house investments, AstraZeneca now has a whopping 191 projects in its pipeline. In addition to oncology, the company has opportunities in rare diseases, respiratory and immunology, cardiovascular, and other therapeutic areas.

AstraZeneca reported more than $54 billion in sales last year, but there's considerably more growth on the horizon. By 2030, it's aiming for $80 billion in sales. This fast-growing stock is a great investment to just buy, put into your portfolio, and forget about.

Uber Technologies

Uber Technologies stock trades at a similar price to AstraZeneca, also below $70. While it doesn't pay a dividend, it also makes for a compelling growth stock. The simplicity and efficiency of its operating model is what makes it an attractive investment.

Investors have been worried that robotaxis will encroach on Uber's turf and eat into its market share, but I'm not convinced they will pose a significant threat to the business. Uber's model relies on its software connecting drivers to customers, rather than on operating a fleet of vehicles, which can be costly and difficult to turn a profit on. That software can work for robotaxis too, so they may prove to be complementary to Uber's growth in the long run. For example, Uber recently partnered with Alphabet's Waymo on the deployment of autonomous vehicles in Austin and Atlanta.

Uber is seeing terrific growth -- sales have more than doubled in three years, going from $17.5 billion in 2021 to just under $44 billion this past year. And over that time, Uber went from being unprofitable to now posting a strong profit margin of 22%. The company may benefit from new opportunities related to robotaxis, as well as by entering more markets to further expand its reach around the globe.

Arista Networks

Another fantastic growth stock to consider buying right now is Arista Networks, which trades at a similar price point to both Uber and AstraZeneca. The tech company provides businesses with networking solutions, helping them upgrade their infrastructure to meet the needs of artificial intelligence (AI) and ensuring they balance their workloads efficiently.

Arista grew its sales by just under 20% last year, to $7 billion; net income also rose by 37% to nearly $2.9 billion. The company can benefit from trends in AI, and while it hasn't generated the sort of returns that chipmaker Nvidia has, there's been a notable correlation in its performance. Over the past three years, while Nvidia's stock has risen more than 300%, Arista has climbed by more than 100%. And as AI stocks have tumbled of late, so too has Arista's valuation.

For investors who are bullish on the opportunities in AI, Arista Networks can make for a compelling buy. With a market cap of around $80 billion and the stock trading at an attractive valuation of 26 times the company's estimated future earnings (based on analyst expectations), it could have a lot of upside in the long run.

Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity

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On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:

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Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 5, 2025

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Arista Networks, Nvidia, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends AstraZeneca Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.