We recently published a list of 12 Best Robinhood Stocks to Buy Under $20. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) stands against other best Robinhood stocks to buy under $20.

Stocks priced under $20 have become an attractive option for investors looking to tap into growth without paying the high premiums of blue-chip stocks. These companies often operate in innovative sectors—like quantum computing, autonomous delivery, and clean energy—where technological advancements could lead to significant returns. However, these stocks also come with risks, such as volatility and speculative trading, making it important to separate hype from long-term potential.

Retail trading platforms like Robinhood have made these stocks more accessible, allowing retail investors to drive market movements. In 2023, retail trading accounted for 23% of U.S. equity volumes, according to JPMorgan. This shift has altered the landscape of stock investing, with retail investors now playing a significant role in driving the prices of low-priced stocks. Robinhood, with its commission-free structure and easy-to-use app, has attracted millions of new investors eager to participate in the stock market, often gravitating toward the affordability of stocks under $20.

Low-priced stocks are appealing for a few key reasons. The affordability of these stocks means that investors can diversify their portfolios more easily, mitigating risk by spreading investments across various companies or sectors. For new or retail investors, low-priced stocks can provide an accessible entry point into the market. With a smaller initial investment, it’s easier to dip your toes into stock investing without committing large amounts of capital.

Low-priced stocks often represent companies in the early stages of growth or in industries that are still developing. These stocks may have greater potential for significant price appreciation, particularly if the company experiences a breakthrough. Investors who get in early can sometimes ride the wave of exponential growth. For example, in 2010, Tesla’s IPO price was $17 per share, and for several years, it traded below $20. By 2021, however, the company’s stock price surged to over $1,000 per share, reflecting the company’s transition from an early-stage electric vehicle startup to a global leader in the industry.

However, these stocks also come with risks, such as volatility and speculative trading, making it important to separate hype from long-term potential. According to Saxo Bank, small-cap stocks—often found in the under-$20 price range—tend to be more sensitive to market fluctuations and economic shifts, which can lead to higher volatility and greater price swings.

Our Methodology

For this list, we analyzed stocks that are frequently traded and popular among Robinhood users, focusing on those that are trading under $20. We started by gathering data from multiple trusted financial sources, including popular stock websites and financial news platforms, to identify Robinhood stocks under $20 that are consistently favored by retail investors. Next, we cross-referenced these stocks with Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 hedge fund database to identify which companies had significant institutional backing. The stocks were then ranked according to the number of hedge fund investors holding positions in them.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

A close up of an engineer typing at a quantum computing station in a modern office space.

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 7

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) is a leading full-stack quantum computing company that operates quantum computers over the cloud, offering Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) to global enterprise, government, and research clients. The company also sells custom computing components and offers development contracts to further advance the quantum computing ecosystem.

Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) recently made a breakthrough in optical readout of superconducting qubits, published in Nature Physics. This innovation reduces thermal load and space requirements for scalable quantum systems. The company also plans to launch 36 and 108 qubit systems in 2025, aiming for 40% revenue growth by improving scalability and reducing error rates. With integrations into Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure, these advancements strengthen the company’s competitive position and could attract new partnerships and investor interest.

In Q3 2024, Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) reported a net loss of $14.8 million, an improvement from the $22.2 million loss in Q3 2023. Revenue decreased to $2.4 million, down from $3.1 million in the same quarter last year. Operating expenses were $18.6 million, a slight decrease from $19.1 million in Q3 2023. The company ended the quarter with $92.6 million in cash and equivalents, providing a solid financial cushion for its ongoing development of quantum systems. The stock is up 598.82% over the last year.

Overall, RGTI ranks 11th on our list of best Robinhood stocks to buy under $20. While we acknowledge the potential for RGTI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RGTI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.