B. Riley Ups D-Wave Quantum Target to $13, Keeps Buy

Ahoy, Investors! D-Wave Quantum: Sailing Through Choppy Waters or Riding the Quantum Wave?
Y’all better strap in, because we’re diving into the wild world of D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS), where stock prices bounce like a dinghy in a hurricane and analysts can’t seem to agree if we’re headed for treasure or shipwreck. As your trusty Nasdaq captain (who may or may not have lost a lifeboat’s worth of cash on meme stocks last year), I’ll steer you through the highs, lows, and “what in the quantum superposition is going on?” moments of this fascinating company.
D-Wave’s stock has been doing the cha-cha with Wall Street, thanks to whiplash-inducing price target updates from B. Riley and enough market drama to fuel a Netflix doc. But is this quantum computing pioneer a buy, a hold, or a “jump overboard before the kraken arrives”? Let’s chart the course—complete with bullish waves, bearish undertows, and a splash of Miami-style flair.
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Stock Performance: A Rollercoaster Worthy of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
If volatility were an Olympic sport, D-Wave’s stock would be a gold medalist. B. Riley’s analysts have been busier than a deckhand during spring break, cranking out price target updates like they’re running a quantum-powered printing press. Here’s the play-by-play:
– January 2025: B. Riley slaps a $9 price target on QBTS, waving the “buy” flag like it’s a yacht party invite.
– February 2025: *Plot twist!* Target jumps to $11, with analysts gushing about D-Wave’s “quantum-ready” potential. Cue confetti cannons (and a 15% stock pop).
– March 2025: Upgrade encore! Target hits $12, and suddenly everyone’s humming *”We Are the Champions.”*
But hold the celebratory rum—why the lovefest? Analyst Craig Ellis points to Microsoft’s “Quantum Ready” Azure integration as a tide-lifter for the whole sector. Translation: Big Tech’s betting on quantum, and D-Wave’s got a seat at the table. Still, skeptics like Kerrisdale Capital are side-eyeing the rally, muttering about “fundamentals” like a grumpy first mate.
Pro Tip: Watch for D-Wave’s upcoming investor conferences. If they drop news hotter than a Miami sidewalk in July, those price targets could sail even higher.
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Quantum Computing: The Industry That’s Cooler Than a Margarita at Sunset
Let’s talk about the elephant—or should I say, the *quantum whale*—in the room. Quantum computing isn’t just sci-fi anymore; it’s the next frontier, and D-Wave’s playing tour guide. Here’s what’s fueling the hype:

But Beware the Storm Clouds:
– Profitability? D-Wave’s still burning cash like a bonfire on South Beach. Revenue growth is promising, but until they reel in consistent profits, short sellers will keep circling.
– Competition: IBM and Google’s gate-model quantum computers could steal the spotlight if annealing falls out of fashion.
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Short Sellers vs. True Believers: The Battle for D-Wave’s Soul
Every good pirate story needs a villain, and Kerrisdale Capital’s playing the part with gusto. Their bearish report claims D-Wave’s stock is “divorced from fundamentals,” arguing that quantum’s commercial adoption is years away. Ouch.
Bull Counterpoint:
– D-Wave’s tech is already deployed by heavyweights like Volkswagen and Mastercard. Not exactly “pie in the sky.”
– Government contracts (hello, Pentagon) are padding the revenue lifeboat.
Bear Rebuttal:
– “Early stage” = high risk. Remember Theranos? (Okay, maybe not *that* bad, but you get the point.)
– Stock-based compensation is diluting shares faster than a watered-down mojito.
Captain Kara’s Take: This isn’t a binary “sink or swim” scenario. D-Wave’s a speculative play with explosive upside—if you’ve got the stomach for chop.
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Docking at Port: Final Coordinates for Your Investment Map
So, do we hoist the “buy” flag or batten down the hatches? Here’s the compass check:
– Bull Case: Quantum’s inevitable, D-Wave’s got first-mover cred, and Big Tech’s pouring billions into the space. If they nail commercialization, early investors could retire to that wealth yacht I keep dreaming about.
– Bear Case: Cash burn, competition, and the “when will this actually make money?” question loom large. If the hype fizzles, QBTS could sink faster than my 2023 crypto portfolio.
Final Verdict: D-Wave’s a high-risk, high-reward voyage. Allocate accordingly—maybe with a side of antacids. And remember, in quantum investing, the only certainty is uncertainty. Now, who’s ready to roll the dice? Land ho!
*(Word count: 750, and yes, I counted like a trader watching the ticker.)*