We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Quantum Computing Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stands against the other best quantum computing stocks.
Quantum computing stocks are once again in focus after yesterday’s major breakthrough announcement by one of the biggest players in this field.
Investors have had high expectations from quantum computing firms for many years, but the technology has consistently failed to deliver on the promise. However, a deeper understanding of the tech behind quantum computing is required to fully understand the complexity of the issue. Quantum computers were theorized in the 1980s, but their development has been fraught with challenges due to the fragility of qubits. Unlike traditional computers that use binary bits, like ones and zeroes, quantum computers utilize quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition. Qubit fragility typically leads to higher error rates for quantum computers. Companies have tried to address qubit fragility through innovations — ranging from light particles to trapped ions, but few have been successful. However, latest breakthroughs in this field herald the arrival of quantum supremacy – a term used to explain the processing power of quantum computers compared to traditional ones.
Read more about these developments by accessing 10 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 10 Buzzing AI Stocks According to Goldman Sachs.
Since the latest breakthroughs showcase that quantum computers can accomplish tasks in minutes that would otherwise take ten septillion years – exceeding the age of the universe – it would be reasonable to assume that quantum computers can now move on from accomplishing mundane tasks like generating random numbers or solving specific mathematical problems, towards practical applications in drug discovery, artificial intelligence, and cryptography. This has huge implications for investors who are increasingly frustrated by the plateauing advancement in the field of AI and are actively exploring for emerging opportunities in the tech field that offer explosive growth potential along the same lines. Sylvia Jablonski, the CEO of Defiance ETFs, appeared on news platform CNBC earlier this year to highlight this.
“The way I see markets today is the absolute fervor and interest in all things A.I. and A.I. is the tide that rises all boats. I think quantum is the next generation of A.I. You need it to process data and make changes in all of the sectors we have been talking about that A.I. has been impacting with drug discovery and curing diseases. Just as AI is powering progress in not just the computer industry, but in fields that adopt the use of AI, quantum computing will be used in processing data for sectors already being transformed by AI, such as drug discovery and curing diseases.”
READ ALSO: 12 Best Quantum Computing Stocks To Invest In and Beyond the Tech Giants: 35 Non-Tech AI Opportunities.
For this article, we selected quantum computing stocks by sifting through the holdings of popular quantum computing ETFs. The stocks listed below are also popular among hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A development team working together to create the next version of Windows.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 279
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is a Washington-based technology company. It is one of the best quantum computing stocks according to hedge funds as it offers a range of quantum computing solutions at a scale smaller companies simply cannot match. A major highlight of the quantum business includes the Azure Quantum Platform, a cloud-based quantum computing service, providing access to quantum hardware and software tools. The tech giant has also recently partnered with leading quantum hardware companies like IonQ and Rigetti to integrate diverse quantum technologies into Azure Quantum.
The company is still yet to release a fully operational quantum computer. However, it has focused on building hybrid solutions and cloud accessibility, ensuring that the quantum computing division of the firm remains a pivotal part of the global quantum ecosystem. Some important numbers highlight the Microsoft commitment to quantum computing. Every year, the tech giant spends close to $1 billion in research and development in emerging tech, including quantum computing and AI. This strategy has proved fruitful, with the company holding over 3,000 patents in these domains.
Microsoft has also heavily invested in the quantum programming ecosystem. This is demonstrated by the fact that more than 10,000 developers have engaged with the Quantum Development Kit of the tech giant. The firm is working on quantum solutions for optimization problems, materials science, cryptography, and artificial intelligence. Azure Quantum also supports hybrid quantum-classical workloads to bridge current quantum capabilities with classical computational power.
Overall MSFT ranks 2nd on our list of the best quantum computing stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MSFT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
