timothy sykes logo

Stock News

Rigetti’s Rollercoaster: Stock Plummets Post Director’s Major Share Sale

Ellis HobbsAvatar
Written by Ellis Hobbs
Reviewed by Jack Kellogg Fact-checked by Tim Sykes

Rigetti Computing Inc.’s stock is experiencing turbulence following reports of operational challenges and investor skepticism about future profitability, aligned with broader market pressures on tech companies; on Tuesday, Rigetti Computing Inc.’s stocks have been trading down by -2.71 percent.

Key Developments in Rigetti’s Market Movements

  • Director Michael Clifton’s recent sale of 125,000 Rigetti shares, costing $750K, turned investor attention sharply.
  • Critics like Citron Research labeled Rigetti’s current valuation ‘ridiculous,’ underlining concerns over recent equity sales and market dilution.
  • Rigetti shares witnessed a declining trend with a 3.5% dip premarket, following previous small losses.

Candlestick Chart

Live Update At 14:32:03 EST: On Tuesday, January 07, 2025 Rigetti Computing Inc. stock [NASDAQ: RGTI] is trending down by -2.71%! Discover the key drivers behind this movement as well as our expert analysis in the detailed breakdown below.

Rigetti Computing’s State: Financial Metrics and Earnings Insights

As millionaire penny stock trader and teacher Tim Sykes says, “Be patient, don’t force trades, and let the perfect setups come to you.” This advice is especially crucial in the world of trading, where emotions can run high and impulsive decisions can lead to significant losses. By exercising patience and waiting for the ideal trading conditions, traders can improve their chances of success and avoid unnecessary risks.

Rigetti Computing’s recent financial report broadened its challenges. Third-quarter figures emphasized operating uncertainties and highlighted financial headwinds. Revenue for the quarter stood at a modest $2.38M, with the company grappling with a negative EBIT margin of -489.4%, indicative of deep operational challenges. The company’s gross margin of 60.6% offers a glimmer of operational viability amid this negative storm.

Funds were strategically directed, with a pronounced $17M invested in short-term instruments. Yet, Rigetti’s key pressures included a formidable free cash flow of -$17.7M, coupled with a negative return on equity spanning -40.8%. Indicators of profitability, notably the frighteningly high price-to-book ratio of 30.54, alarmingly contradict with usual investment parameters.

The third quarter showcased a working capital of $82.4M, signifying Rigetti’s decent liquidity position to meet short-term obligations. Rigetti’s financial health, however, remains laden with intricacies: a current ratio of 4.8 indicates more current assets than liabilities, but doesn’t dismiss the chronic underperformance regarding returns. Heavy capital expenditures and ongoing operating losses pose challenges and question sustainability.

Intriguing Market Picture from Rigetti’s Chart Data

A glance at recent stock performance data for Rigetti underpins investor concerns. Prices showed volatility, with the stock opening at $19.8, reaching a high of $20.1, before closing lower at $18.985. These visible dips align with market sentiment following Clifton’s large share disposal.

More Breaking News

Consistent fluctuations were a hallmark—peaking during pre-opening sessions yet dropping markedly, reflecting investor behavior amid both insider actions and critical analyst evaluations. Pre-market corrections on Jan 2, 2025, insured an unsettling start, echoing troubles embedded in its financial narrative.

Impact and Analysis of Recent News on Rigetti’s Stock

Rigetti Computing’s narrative took an intriguing twist following Michael Clifton’s hefty share sale. Although this insider transaction was partly responsible for declining share forecasts, the broad impact extended farther. Citron Research’s pointed critique concerning the company’s inflated valuation permeated through trading floors and investors’ minds alike.

This sharp critique on valuation comes alongside Rigetti’s performance struggles, as heavy stock dilutions and capital management tactics get unraveled. Investors’ reactions were sweeping, and the shares’ price trajectory—inclusive of a significant premarket drop—mirrored those apprehensions.

The intricate financial body of Rigetti, subtly highlighted by Clifton’s choice to cash out significant shares, rings potential cautionary bells of imminent market corrections or rational realignments. Across trading windows, heightened market sensitivities were noticed—a persuasive assertion unfolding within both retail and institutional circles.

Summarizing Financial Chores and Future Outlook for Rigetti

The recent events paint vividly; Rigetti Computing dances to the beat of sell pressures, fueled by internal and external factors. Quandaries associated with profitability and equity management pave hurdles for Rigetti. With Clifton’s share disposal receiving front-page focus, trader prudence is paramount.

Underpinning this market-in-motion are Rigetti’s challenges in mending operational efficacy while contending with its fiscal load. Balancing act between seizing operational opportunities and responding to valuation discourses remains a loaded chessboard for Rigetti. In essence, traders must critically evaluate this dynamism through objective prisms. As millionaire penny stock trader and teacher Tim Sykes says, “There is always another play around the corner; don’t chase just because you feel FOMO.” This perspective encourages market participants to maintain rationality.

While the tech trajectory of Rigetti continues its exploration, financial narratives hint otherwise—demanding patience and prudent appraisal from stock enthusiasts. A classic tale of turbulence intertwines with the quantum tech pioneer, testing resilience and unraveling futures amid unpredictable horizons.

This is stock news, not investment advice. Timothy Sykes News delivers real-time stock market news focused on key catalysts driving short-term price movements. Our content is tailored for active traders and investors seeking to capitalize on rapid price fluctuations, particularly in volatile sectors like penny stocks. Readers come to us for detailed coverage on earnings reports, mergers, FDA approvals, new contracts, and unusual trading volumes that can trigger significant short-term price action. Some users utilize our news to explain sudden stock movements, while others rely on it for diligent research into potential investment opportunities.

Our traders will never trade any stock until they see a setup they like. Their strategy is to capture short-term momentum while avoiding undue risk exposure to a stock’s long-term volatility. This method is especially useful when trading penny stocks or other high-risk equities, where rapid gains can be made by understanding stock patterns, manipulation, and media hype. Whether you are an active day trader looking for key indicators on a stock’s next move, or an investor doing due diligence before entering a position, Timothy Sykes News is designed to help you make informed trading decisions.

Dive deeper into the world of trading with Timothy Sykes, renowned for his expertise in penny stocks. Explore his top picks and discover the strategies that have propelled him to success with these articles:

Once you’ve got some stocks on watch, elevate your trading game with StocksToTrade, the ultimate platform for traders. With specialized tools for swing and day trading, StocksToTrade will guide you through the market’s twists and turns.
Dig into StocksToTrade’s watchlists here:


How much has this post helped you?


Leave a reply

* Results are not typical and will vary from person to person. Making money trading stocks takes time, dedication, and hard work. There are inherent risks involved with investing in the stock market, including the loss of your investment. Past performance in the market is not indicative of future results. Any investment is at your own risk. See Terms of Service here

The available research on day trading suggests that most active traders lose money. Fees and overtrading are major contributors to these losses.

A 2000 study called “Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors” evaluated 66,465 U.S. households that held stocks from 1991 to 1996. The households that traded most averaged an 11.4% annual return during a period where the overall market gained 17.9%. These lower returns were attributed to overconfidence.

A 2014 paper (revised 2019) titled “Learning Fast or Slow?” analyzed the complete transaction history of the Taiwan Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2006. It looked at the ongoing performance of day traders in this sample, and found that 97% of day traders can expect to lose money from trading, and more than 90% of all day trading volume can be traced to investors who predictably lose money. Additionally, it tied the behavior of gamblers and drivers who get more speeding tickets to overtrading, and cited studies showing that legalized gambling has an inverse effect on trading volume.

A 2019 research study (revised 2020) called “Day Trading for a Living?” observed 19,646 Brazilian futures contract traders who started day trading from 2013 to 2015, and recorded two years of their trading activity. The study authors found that 97% of traders with more than 300 days actively trading lost money, and only 1.1% earned more than the Brazilian minimum wage ($16 USD per day). They hypothesized that the greater returns shown in previous studies did not differentiate between frequent day traders and those who traded rarely, and that more frequent trading activity decreases the chance of profitability.

These studies show the wide variance of the available data on day trading profitability. One thing that seems clear from the research is that most day traders lose money .

Millionaire Media 66 W Flagler St. Ste. 900 Miami, FL 33130 United States (888) 878-3621 This is for information purposes only as Millionaire Media LLC nor Timothy Sykes is registered as a securities broker-dealer or an investment adviser. No information herein is intended as securities brokerage, investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security or fund. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes cannot and does not assess, verify or guarantee the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information, the suitability or profitability of any particular investment, or the potential value of any investment or informational source. The reader bears responsibility for his/her own investment research and decisions, should seek the advice of a qualified securities professional before making any investment, and investigate and fully understand any and all risks before investing. Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes in no way warrants the solvency, financial condition, or investment advisability of any of the securities mentioned in communications or websites. In addition, Millionaire Media LLC and Timothy Sykes accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this information. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis of any investment decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the investment needs of any particular investor. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns.

Citations for Disclaimer

Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. Available at SSRN: “Day Trading for a Living?”

Barber, Brad M. and Lee, Yi-Tsung and Liu, Yu-Jane and Odean, Terrance and Zhang, Ke, Learning Fast or Slow? (May 28, 2019). Forthcoming: Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=2535636”

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101”