By Mackenzie Tatananni

Quantum-computing stocks spiked Thursday after the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed it planned to award grants to nearly a dozen companies to foster the development of the domestic quantum industry.

As part of the sweeping deal, International Business Machines announced that it would create a new, standalone company called Anderon, styling it as "America's first pure-play quantum foundry." IBM and the Commerce Department each will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, with IBM contributing "significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce."

IBM shares climbed 6.4% in the premarket session. Pure-play quantum stocks also were on the rise, with IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum jumping 6.9%, 14%, and 18%, respectively. Both Rigetti and D-Wave are slated to receive funding, though the size of the commitment has yet to be finalized.

Write to Mackenzie Tatananni at mackenzie.tatananni@barrons.com

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May 21, 2026 07:04 ET (11:04 GMT)

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