You’ve most likely heard the time period “quantum computing” earlier than. It’s possible you’ll not perceive it — only a few folks actually do — however you’ve doubtless heard these phrases sooner or later in the previous couple of years.

In line with Google Developments knowledge, curiosity within the time period “quantum computing” has greater than doubled over the past yr. There’s even an ETF now that supposedly offers buyers publicity to quantum computing-related firms.

However is that this rising expertise actually value investing in but, or is it too early to inform who will excel within the house? Right here’s the lowdown.

We’re not going to elucidate the workings of quantum computer systems in nice element right here, as a result of frankly, it’s laborious to actually grasp the nuts and bolts except you’ve a postgraduate diploma in physics. However right here’s our try at a broad-strokes clarification of why quantum computing is a doubtlessly precious expertise:

Quantum physics is a scientific self-discipline that primarily research physics on extraordinarily small scales and intensely brief timeframes. (We’re speaking about, for instance, the velocity and distance at which an electron orbits an atomic nucleus). Laptop engineering additionally more and more operates on the nano-scale; thumbnail-sized pc chips include billions of particular person circuits, and every of these circuits could solely consist of some particular person atoms lined up.

In recent times, pc scientists have realized that there are methods to use numerous quantum physics phenomena to construct the quickest computer systems ever created.

Quantum computing is a broad umbrella time period that describes plenty of totally different methods. Some, for instance, contain cooling the pc {hardware} to temperatures close to absolute zero with a view to do away with heat-related interference.

As of 2025, quantum computer systems don’t have plenty of functions but. The shares mentioned on this article are publicly-traded firms that specialists imagine will considerably contribute to or profit from quantum computing expertise within the close to future, however they are not quantum computing pure-plays.

Quantum computer systems are a really early-stage, experimental expertise, and researchers principally take a look at their capabilities with extraordinarily troublesome math issues. However they present nice promise in these checks. Some quantum computer systems, comparable to Alphabet’s (GOOG) Sycamore pc, can resolve issues in seconds that will have taken a standard supercomputer years to calculate.

Under are the seven top-performing U.S.-listed shares within the BlueStar Machine Studying and Quantum Computing Index and the Solactive Quantum Computing Index, so as of one-year returns.

Each indexes include publicly-traded firms which might be anticipated to considerably contribute to or profit from the expansion of quantum computing expertise within the years forward.

Supply: Finviz. Information is present as of Could 29, 2025, and is meant for informational functions solely.

For the time being, there’s just one U.S.-listed ETF out there that tracks the quantum computing indexes referenced above: the Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM). That ETF prices an affordable expense ratio of 0.40%, and has outperformed the S&P 500 index over the past yr by a good margin.

However there’s a caveat value noting concerning the QTUM ETF: It tracks the BlueStar index talked about above, which consists of public firms which may be main contributors to or beneficiaries of quantum tech within the close to future. Usually talking, these firms aren’t fully centered on quantum computing. In case you’re searching for an ETF of firms which might be all-in on quantum computing, chances are you’ll be disillusioned.

An April 2024 report from McKinsey estimates that the quantum computing business might develop to as a lot as $131 billion by 2040, which might equate to a development charge of as much as 17% per yr.

These sound like huge numbers out of context, nevertheless it’s value noting that by tech investing requirements, they’re really fairly modest. $131 billion is lower than the market cap of Worldwide Enterprise Machines (IBM). 17% is lower than half of IBM’s returns over the past yr. The estimated measurement and development charge of your complete quantum computing business over the following 15 years are dwarfed by the scale and development charge of 1 moderately-large tech firm.

That brings up one other vital level concerning the immaturity of quantum computing: A lot of the firms within the checklist above are giant, diversified tech firms, comparable to IBM, that principally do non-quantum-computing work. They’re included in quantum computing inventory indexes just because they’re concerned in quantum pc growth indirectly, or anticipated to learn considerably from it.

There could not likely be any “pure play” quantum computing shares but. Our article on the high AI shares generally contains a inventory referred to as Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT), which exhibits up in some next-generation computing inventory indexes. But QUBT doesn’t seem in both of the foremost publicly out there indexes of quantum computing shares.

Quantum computing makes use of some actually fascinating (and actually difficult) physics phenomena to construct higher computer systems, and it’d develop right into a transformative expertise within the years forward. However for now, it’s a little bit of a buzzword, and buyers ought to preserve some wholesome skepticism concerning the hype round it.

Indexes of quantum computing shares principally include large-cap tech shares, plus a couple of huge healthcare and finance shares. It’s the identical story with the one at present out there quantum computing ETF.

To be clear, some of these blue-chip shares aren’t unhealthy investments to personal as a part of a diversified portfolio. However are they going that can assist you get wealthy fast by raking within the quantum computing bucks? In all probability not but.