Ticker Reports for September 30th
A Closer Look at D-Wave's Big Gains in September: More in Store?
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) has presented an interesting share price trajectory throughout the first three quarters of 2025. Dipping early in the year and remaining flat for several months, shares climbed in May but leveled off for most of the summer.
Then, in the last month, the price of QBTS increased by an impressive 68%. Investors are likely wondering why shares of one of the hottest quantum computing names available now are moving in fits and starts, with fairly long periods of mostly horizontal trading.
While it's not always possible to pinpoint the exact drivers of share price spikes, there are a number of potential factors at play in D-Wave's latest rally—action by the Federal Reserve, the expectation of a push toward quantum tech development at the federal level, and even a major win for rival Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) all likely played a role. What's less clear, however, is how far elements like these can continue to boost a firm's stock with more than $9 billion in market value but revenues for the latest quarter of only $3 million.
Catalysts for September Price Movement
Despite some critique by short sellers, D-Wave's tech has positioned it solidly compared to many of its rivals, and its Advantage2 system in particular has been a standout. There have been minimal public developments in that area in the last several weeks, suggesting that the company's latest price surge is unrelated.
Perhaps the most likely driver of the rally for QBTS was the Fed's announcement of an interest rate reduction on Sept. 17, the first such cut of 2025. Though that news wasn't surprising for most investors, Chair Jerome Powell's remarks suggesting two further rate cuts this year helped to confirm an environment favorable to growth stocks like D-Wave.
A White House memo identified AI and quantum as two top priority areas for the coming quarters, suggesting that supportive measures for these industries may continue to emerge at a national level.
Also, last month, Rigetti—one of D-Wave's most prominent rivals—announced a major three-year contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop quantum networking.
This is not the only competitor to see a major win in the past several weeks, and it could be that the quantum industry is still in an early enough stage that a bit of company-specific positive news is sufficient to provide a boost across most of the space.
Is It Likely More Gains Are on the Way?
While D-Wave's gains have been impressive, investors should remember that much of this momentum is driven by speculation. Indeed, without consistent profitability and with an astronomical price-to-sales ratio of more than 1,034, one would be hard-pressed to argue that D-Wave is in any way approaching undervalued.
The hype may largely be due to generalized optimism about quantum computing, which could continue to grow as concerns about a possible AI bubble also continue to mount. However, even the major tech firms that have entered the quantum race have not yet achieved the technological breakthroughs necessary to make quantum both broadly affordable and accessible to a retail market.
While analysts seem to agree that this will most likely be the eventual outcome for the quantum industry, it remains to be seen when that achievement may take place as well as which companies might benefit the most.
While bullish investors have poured money into QBTS stock, particularly in the last month, others are sensing an opportunity in the other direction: short interest in D-Wave has also surged, climbing about 10% over the same period. Under 43% of QBTS shares are owned by institutional investors; zealous retail investors are primarily responsible for the company's ascent.
This may explain why Wall Street analysts are uniformly positive about D-Wave—all 11 analysts rating the firm have assigned a Buy. They have also set a consensus price target nearly a quarter below the current level, suggesting sizable downside potential.
Investors would do well to stay cautious about D-Wave, although if the market receives more good news, additional rallies are also possible.
$100 Trillion "AI Metal" Found in American Ghost Town
$100 Trillion "AI Metal" Found in American Ghost Town
Dividend Growth Continues as 3 Big Stocks Raise Payouts
Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN), T-Mobile US (NASDAQ: TMUS), and Target (NYSE: TGT) are three big-name firms in the United States that are giving income investors something to cheer about. All three recently announced dividend increases, helping boost the yield shareholders can expect to receive.
Despite relatively small boosts from Texas Instruments and Target, these two stocks are still some of the highest-yielding in the market. Meanwhile, T-Mobile is lifting its moderately above-average yield in resounding fashion. Let's dive in below to see how much income these names can now offer investors.
TXN Boosts Dividend 4%, Maintains One of the Top Yields in Tech
First up is one of the biggest semiconductor companies in the world, Texas Instruments. The firm is approximately the eighth-largest chip stock in the world, with a market capitalization of $168 billion. On Sept. 19, TXN announced a new $1.42 per share quarterly dividend, a 4% increase from its previous payout. The dividend will be payable on Nov. 12 to stockholders of record on Oct. 31.
Although the increase percentage is relatively small, Texas Instruments continues to hold one of the highest dividend yields in the tech sector. The firm’s indicated yield now moves to just under 3.1%. This gives the company the third-highest yield among large-cap U.S. tech stocks and the second-largest among U.S. large-cap chip stocks. Notably, Texas Instruments has now announced a dividend increase for 22 years in a row.
Despite being one of the largest and most recognizable semiconductor stocks, Texas Instruments has greatly underperformed its industry over the past few years. The stock’s five-year total return of 54% falls way short of the 185% total return of the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX).
T-Mobile Announces Big Dividend Increase Amid CEO Shift
Next up is Big Three telecom stock T-Mobile. On Sept. 18, the company announced a very substantial 16% increase to its quarterly dividend. The new $1.02 per share dividend is payable on Dec. 11 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 26, 2025. This moves T-Mobile’s indicated dividend yield to a solid 1.7%, significantly exceeding the approximately 1.1% yield of the S&P 500 Index.
This dividend increase came just days before T-Mobile announced a change in the company’s top leadership position: Chief Executive Officer (CEO). On Nov. 1, Srini Gopalan will replace current CEO Mike Sievert. Sievert, who first became CEO in May 2020, oversaw an incredible rally in T-Mobile’s share price.
Overall, shares have provided a total return of more than 180% since Sievert took over, adding over $150 billion in market capitalization. T-Mobile says this makes Sievert “the most value-creating CEO in global telecom history," leaving Gopalan a massive pair of shoes to fill. The dividend increase provides a level of confidence that T-Mobile can continue performing well despite the shake-up.
Target: 5.2% Yielder Looks to Turn Performance Around With Fresh Blood in 2026
Lastly, consumer staples giant Target is also sweetening the pot for income investors. On Sept. 17, the $40 billion company declared a new quarterly dividend of $1.14. This is only a 1.8% increase over Target’s previous payment of $1.12 per share; however, the stock's yield is still eye-catching.
Now, Target’s indicated dividend yield stands at approximately 5.2%, clearly positioning it as a high-yield stock. Among U.S. large-cap consumer staples stocks, Target’s yield ranks in the top 10 highest. It is also in the top 25, highest of all stocks in the S&P 500 Index.
Target’s latest dividend comes after the company also recently appointed a new CEO. Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell on Feb. 1, 2026. However, unlike T-Mobile, the change doesn’t come amid a fantastic showing from the company’s previous leader. Since Cornell became CEO on Aug. 12, 2014, Target has achieved a total return of just 109%. That comes in around 30% below the S&P 500 consumer staples sector, and several magnitudes below the overall index. Target is hoping that Fiddelke can turn the tide going forward.
Capital Returns Remain a Priority for These Stocks
Overall, these three stocks are showing their commitment to returning capital to shareholders, regardless of how well they are currently performing. T-Mobile’s increase stands out in particular, adding a lot of juice to its dividend. This is a good way to start off Gopalan’s tenure, signaling strength from the company despite shares returning less than 9% so far in 2025.
REVEALED: Something Big Happening Behind White House Doors
REVEALED: Something Big Happening Behind White House Doors
154% Jump in Bullish Bets: Is Ford About to Hit the Gas?
A recent jump in trading activity around Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) sends a clear message. Call options volume, a direct measure of bullish bets on a stock, recently soared by 154% above its daily average. In a single session, over 208,000 of these contracts represent a wager that the stock's price will rise, changed hands, far outpacing the typical volume of around 82,000.
This activity coincides with Ford’s stock price hitting a new 52-week high of $12.31 and posting a year-to-date gain of over 22%. When sophisticated market signals align with positive price action, it often indicates a fundamental shift in market perception.
This convergence for Ford suggests that a segment of the market views the automaker as undervalued and poised for a sustained upward move.
The Financial Horsepower Driving Ford's Performance
This market optimism is firmly anchored by the exceptional and durable performance of Ford's core business segments. While the electric vehicle (EV) transition captures headlines, the company’s traditional and commercial divisions are the financial bedrock supporting these bullish bets, as evidenced by an excellent second-quarter earnings report that saw revenue climb to a record $50.2 billion.
- The Commercial Powerhouse - Ford Pro: This segment is the company's undisputed growth engine, delivering an impressive $2.3 billion in EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) on a healthy 12.3% margin in the second quarter. Critically for investors, this is becoming a more durable, high-margin business. High-margin software and physical services now contribute 17% of Ford Pro's EBIT, with paid subscriptions climbing 24% year-over-year to 757,000. This successful expansion into recurring revenue makes the business less cyclical and more predictable.
- The Traditional Bedrock - Ford Blue: The foundation of the business remains solid. Profitable icons like the F-Series, Bronco, and Explorer continue to gain market share in their lucrative segments. Demonstrating that Ford is effectively capitalizing on the entire market, consumer demand for its hybrid offerings remains strong, with sales up an impressive 23.6% year-to-date. This strategic diversity provides a powerful hedge against the fluctuating pace of EV adoption.
- Rewarding Shareholders: Management’s confidence is reflected in its commitment to shareholder returns. The company’s consistent dividend yields 4.96%, providing an attractive draw for income-oriented investors. This signals a strong belief from the board in its ability to generate sustainable free cash flow, which stood at a solid $2.8 billion in the second quarter.
The Strategic Shifts Fueling Investor Confidence
Beyond its current financial health, investors should examine Ford’s forward-looking catalysts, reinforcing the company’s investment thesis and suggesting continued momentum.
Ford’s management recently raised its full-year 2025 adjusted EBIT guidance to $6.5 billion to $7.5 billion. This move is particularly powerful because it was made while simultaneously absorbing a newly identified $2 billion net tariff headwind. This signals deep confidence in the company's underlying cost controls and operational performance, suggesting the core business is outperforming previous expectations.
Many investors have been concerned about the long-term path to profitability for the Model e division, which posted a $1.3 billion EBIT loss in Q2. However, Ford is addressing this challenge head-on by pivoting its strategy toward a new, lower-cost universal EV platform to make electric vehicles more affordable. This is a decisive move to create a more precise roadmap for turning the EV segment into a contributor, rather than a drain, on earnings.
While recent vehicle recalls have made headlines, the underlying operational story is an improvement. Many of these recalls are software-related and can be resolved with over-the-air (OTA) updates, which management states cost over 95% less than physical repairs.
More importantly for the long-term financial picture, initial quality metrics for the newest models are the best in over a decade, a key leading indicator that future warranty costs are downward.
The Road Ahead for Ford Stock
The dramatic surge in options trading is a quantifiable signal of bullish conviction. This sentiment is built on a solid foundation: the immense profitability of Ford Pro, the stable cash generation of Ford Blue, and a clear-eyed strategy to navigate the EV transition.
Investors are likely looking past the near-term challenges and focusing on a company with a confident outlook and a demonstrated ability to generate substantial cash flow from its core strengths.
While the broader analyst community remains measured with a Reduce consensus, the options market tells a different, more aggressive story.
The combination of strong market signals, solid fundamentals, and strategic agility makes a compelling case that Ford's stock may be just getting started.
This is the "End of Tesla" as we know it…
This is the "End of Tesla" as we know it…
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