Toward the end of 2024, shares of quantum computing stocks such as IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, Quantum Computing, and Rigetti Computing all experienced significant run-ups. Curiously, each of these companies was a penny stock at the beginning of 2024 -- only to see its valuation soar well into the billions during a rather short time period.

Valued at a market capitalization of just $116,000, Zapata Computing (ZPTA) may appear tempting to investors. Its business touched quantum computing software solutions, such as through its Orquestra product.

Last year, investors poured into artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, and the biggest players -- from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) to Amazon -- helped the general market soar. Quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems that classical computers can't handle.

Alphabet subsidiary Google recently announced two major technical achievements with its Willow quantum computing chip. In response to the news, shares of Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) and D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) during the next three weeks advanced 280% and 110%,

Following tech giants such as Amazon (AMZN) and Nvidia (NVDA), enterprise software major SAP (SAP) has also joined the voices making a case for quantum computing. Sounding bullish about the technology,