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Why IonQ Stock Plummeted 31.5% in October
Key Points
IonQ announced the acquisition of Elisity.
Two firms lowered price targets on IonQ stock.
As of the end of September 2026, IonQ had a $1.2 billion backlog.
After bounding about 12% higher in September, IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) stock headed in the other direction last month. The quantum computing company announced an acquisition that raised investor questions, and analysts took a more bearish stance on IonQ, prompting many to click the sell button.
According to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, IonQ shares dropped 31.5% in October.
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Share dilution following a new acquisition has investors concerned
On Oct. 12, IonQ announced its planned acquisition of Elisity, a company that provides a zero-trust platform, in an all-stock transaction valued at up to $1.3 billion. Heralding the acquisition, IonQ recognized Elisity's allure, noting that it "has a strong track record of doubling its revenue and its customer base year-over-year with zero churn among deployed customers."
Unhappy with the prospect of share dilution following the acquisition, IonQ investors were enthusiastic about trimming -- or exiting, altogether -- their positions. IonQ stock fell 9.1% on Oct. 12 from the previous day's close.
And the fears of share dilution loomed larger when, two days later, the company announced a $2 billion equity offering, including 20,500,000 shares of IonQ’s common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase 29,500,000 shares of IonQ’s common stock.
On Oct. 15, IonQ stock found itself the subject of reduced optimism from Wall Street. Rosenblatt cut its price target on IonQ to $70 from $100, while maintaining its buy rating. According to Thefly.com, Rosenblatt based its action on the recognition of the share dilution related to the Elisity acquisition. While not singling out share dilution, Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore slashed his price target to $43 from $49, opining that the quantum computing industry can reach an annual value of $100 billion by 2040. However, he "remains uncertain" about the industry's commercial adoption.
IonQ is a leader in the quantum computing industry, providing integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. As of the end of September 2026, IonQ had a backlog of $1.2 billion.
IonQ stock is bouncing back
While they turned a cold shoulder to IonQ stock in October, investors have warmed back up to the quantum computing powerhouse in November. As of this writing, IonQ stock has risen more than 18% thanks in large part to the strong third-quarter 2026 financial results that the company released on Nov.5.
Although concerns about share dilution are valid, this quantum computing stock has significant growth potential, making it a worthwhile consideration for long-term investors.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends IonQ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.