Rigetti Computing’s RGTI stated in its latest technology update that the biggest challenge in its quantum roadmap is no longer adding more qubits but improving the performance of its flagship 108-qubit Cepheus system. During the second quarter of 2026 earnings call, management acknowledged that coherence time has become the primary bottleneck limiting two-qubit gate fidelity, even as Cepheus-1-108Q stands among only three generally available gate-based quantum computers with more than 100 qubits. The system currently operates with coherence times of roughly 25-30 microseconds, a level that constrains the reliability of quantum operations and underscores why scaling qubit counts alone is insufficient to unlock practical commercial workloads.
Rigetti is now directing significant engineering efforts toward overcoming this limitation through chip redesigns, fabrication process improvements and the adoption of new materials, including tantalum-capped superconducting contacts aimed at reducing performance degradation. Management expects these initiatives to gradually double or even triple coherence times over the next several years, paving the way for stronger two-qubit gate performance and more dependable quantum computations.
The update reinforces that closing the gap between higher qubit counts and higher-quality quantum operations remains a critical milestone, with improvements in coherence likely to determine how quickly Rigetti can advance toward utility-scale quantum systems and broader commercial adoption.
Peers Updates
Quantum Computing Inc. QUBT recently signed a three-year Framework Agreement with Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar to collaborate on quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communications initiatives. The partnership will support joint academic research, executive education programs, industry-focused projects, quantum application development and co-marketing efforts aimed at accelerating quantum technology adoption across Qatar and beyond. The companies also plan to develop practical quantum solutions for real-world challenges while helping cultivate the next generation of quantum talent and leadership.
IonQ IONQ recently secured an $8.18 million commercial agreement with Congruity360 to integrate quantum-safe networking into the latter's enterprise data management platform. Congruity360 will deploy IonQ's post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution appliances to help protect sensitive enterprise data for U.S. clients. The companies said that the deal ranks among the largest commercial quantum security agreements announced in the United States, underscoring growing enterprise demand for quantum-secure infrastructure.
Rigetti’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of RGTI have lost 25.4% in the year-to-date period against the industry’s growth of 2.2%.
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From a valuation standpoint, Rigetti trades at a price-to-book ratio of 10.26, above the industry average. RGTI carries a Value Score of F.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigetti’s 2026 earnings implies a significant 70.3% improvement from the year-ago period.
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The company currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).