IonQ (IONQ) stock was up over 3% on Wednesday after the quantum computing and networking company disclosed plans to acquire Vector Atomic, a firm specializing in quantum sensing technology. The $250 million all-stock deal is expected to accelerate IonQ’s entry into the quantum sensing market and bolster its full-stack quantum platform.
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As part of the deal, all 76 Vector Atomic employees will join IonQ, adding to its growing team of quantum experts.
Strengthening Government and Defense Capabilities
Founded in 2018, Vector Atomic is a national security-grade tech provider with over $200 million in U.S. government contracts, including work on the X-37B orbital test vehicle and submarine-based detection systems.
Its technologies are already trusted by the Department of Defense, making this acquisition a major credibility boost for IonQ’s federal ambitions.
Importantly, the acquisition comes just days after the company launched IonQ Federal, a new division to serve U.S. government and defense needs. These efforts show that IonQ aims to become a trusted quantum partner in national security and quantum sensing, joining peers like Infleqtion.
The Vector Atomic deal adds to IonQ’s recent acquisitions, such as Oxford Ionics, Capella Space, and ID Quantique, as it builds out a strong quantum ecosystem. With sensing now in the mix, IonQ is positioning itself as the only quantum company offering combined solutions across compute, network, and sensing domains.
Is IonQ a Good Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, IONQ has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on six Buys and three Holds assigned in the last three months. At $59.22, the average IonQ stock price target implies 6.31% downside risk.
