Why Did D-Wave Quantum Stock Fall 16.6% This Week?
Key Points
QBTS stock sank 16.6% over the week ending on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, after CFO John Markovich's abrupt retirement announcement spooked investors.
D-Wave's Q2 2026 operating loss more than doubled year over year, widening from $26.5 million to $54.7 million, even as quarterly sales held flat near $3 million.
The sell-off came against a rising market -- the S&P 500 gained 1.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.8% over the same week.
- 10 stocks we like better than D-Wave Quantum ›
D-Wave Quantum (NASDAQ: QBTS) stock fell this week, finishing down 16.6% by the market's close on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, following the company's announcement that a key C-suite executive would be departing.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are both up this week, gaining 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively.
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D-Wave CFO John Markovich to retire Sept. 2, replaced by Greg Golkov
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, D-Wave announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) John Markovich is retiring, effective Sept. 2, 2026. He will be replaced by Greg Golkov, the company's senior vice president of finance.
CEO Alan Baratz thanked Markovich for his "significant contributions," including the "pivotal role" he played in helping take D-Wave public in 2022.
The company said the resignation wasn't the result of any disagreements "on any matter related to the Company's business, operations, accounting policies, practices, financial statements, disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting."
Image source: Getty Images.
Despite the disclaimer, the sudden announcement of his unusually quick departure spooked investors.
D-Wave's operating loss doubled to $54.7 million in Q2 2026
That's especially true because it comes on the heels of a less-than-stellar earnings report. D-Wave's Q2 sales were flat year over year, coming in once again just above $3 million. At the same time, however, its operating loss more than doubled from negative $26.5 million to negative $54.7 million.
This is a stock with an enormous amount of very uncertain growth baked in. I would avoid D-Wave stock.
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Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
