Quantum computing has been receiving a lot of attention lately as a handful of companies compete to develop some of the most sophisticated computers on the planet. The potential for these computers to dramatically change everything from weather prediction to cybersecurity encryption is high, though likely years away.
Investors looking to buy into a company that will likely play a huge part in quantum computing's future need to look no further than Alphabet (GOOGL 0.16%) (GOOG 0.20%). Here are two reasons why it might be the best quantum computing stock to buy right now.
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1. Alphabet is making significant advancements
Alphabet made waves recently when the company announced its new quantum computing processor, called Willow. In a blog, Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven said Willow achieved two major achievements:
Error reduction
Quantum computing bits, or qubits, can be in states of zero and one simultaneously, while a traditional computer bit can only be one or the other. This can allow for faster problem-solving, but can also increase errors.
But with Google's Willow chip, the company was able to lower the number of errors. By scaling up the number of qubits, Alphabet was able to "reduce errors exponentially" that have plagued the field for nearly 30 years, the company said.
Benchmark processing achievement
Neven said Willow performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes, which is notable because it would take today's fastest supercomputer 10 septillion years, "a number that vastly exceeds the age of the Universe," to do the same.
Quantum computing could vastly improve the ability to break encryption, develop far more efficient electric vehicle batteries, and create more advanced artificial intelligence (AI), among other things. Research from BCG estimates the quantum computing market will reach $850 billion by 2040. With Alphabet's Willow processor, the company is at the cutting edge of quantum computing, and its lead could be hard to overcome.
2. Alphabet has the money and patience to play the long game
Alphabet said the impressive results from its Willow chip were the culmination of work that began more than 10 years ago. This long-term mindset and a large cash pile should give the company an advantage over competitors.
At the end of the third quarter, Alphabet had nearly $20 billion in cash and cash equivalents and $17.6 billion in free cash flow.
With its strong financial foundation, the company is under far less pressure to see immediate results from its quantum computing investments than its competitors. Some pure-play quantum computing competitors may have shorter timelines for breakthroughs or need to find commercial uses much faster; Alphabet can instead play the long game.
And it will be a long game.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said recently that practical uses for quantum computing could be two decades away. Alphabet itself says it will be many years before there's a commercial use for Willow.
However, with Alphabet's cash and willingness to develop cutting-edge technology over time, owning shares of the company looks like a smart idea. Quantum computing could take a similar path as AI, with companies investing lots of money and time before it finally reaches a tipping point for practical use.
It might be wise to invest in quantum computing now. With Alphabet's stock trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 22, investors can buy this quantum computing leader while it's relatively inexpensive.
