D-Wave Quantum CEO sells shares to cover tax obligations
The quantum computing firm’s chief executive officer executed a sale-to-cover deal on July 14, 2026, to satisfy withholding requirements from restricted stock unit vesting.
Alan Baratz, president and chief executive officer of D-Wave Quantum, sold 52,320 shares on July 14, 2026, to satisfy tax withholding obligations triggered by the vesting of restricted stock units. The transaction was non-discretionary and executed at a weighted average price of $18.66 per share. The sale does not reflect a change in the insider’s investment thesis or a shift in market strategy.
Following the disposition, Baratz retains approximately 3.2 million shares directly, including 1,137,257 unvested restricted stock units. At the market close on July 14, 2026, when the share price stood at $18.95, the post-transaction market value of his holdings was $61.54 million. This substantial equity stake ensures continued alignment with the company’s long-term performance.
D-Wave Quantum reported trailing twelve-month revenue of $12.4 million and a net loss of $368.0 million as of the transaction date. The company maintains a market capitalisation of $7 billion, with shares delivering a 20% one-year total return. Total insider ownership across all reported insiders stands at 0.88%, with Baratz’s holdings forming a primary component of this figure.
The quantum computing sector firm has seen significant operational drivers recently, including a $100 million federal government grant for quantum research and the January acquisition of Quantum Circuits. D-Wave also recorded record first-quarter bookings of $33.4 million, representing a nearly 2,000% year-on-year increase. However, the company remains deeply unprofitable, with an operational loss of $54.7 million in the first quarter compared to $11.3 million in the prior year.
Despite the technology’s promise and market validation, the Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor analyst team did not include D-Wave Quantum in their current list of 10 best stocks to buy. The publication noted that its selected stocks are built for long-term growth, contrasting with D-Wave’s current financial profile of early-stage revenue generation and substantial losses.
