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Quantum and Rare Earths? Implications of the Pasqal/USAR Partnership

Submitted by Nathan Reiff. Published: 9/23/2026.

The quantum computing industry is evolving quickly. Hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding are in play, and quantum firms are making rapid pivots into industries ranging from defense to software and beyond.

Newer entrants to the space, such as French firm Pasqal (NASDAQ: PSQL), face a difficult battle against established competitors. As a result, these firms must differentiate themselves, find a niche and seek ways to generate sustainable profits.

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Although it has only been publicly traded since late August 2026, Pasqal has already sought to make a name for itself through a unique partnership with USA Rare Earth Inc. (NASDAQ: USAR), a niche critical-minerals company and one of the leading domestic producers of rare materials such as terbium and neodymium.

Pasqal's recently announced strategic collaboration with USAR—which also includes Riven Systems, a chemistry and industrial AI firm—could have far-reaching implications beyond the quantum space.

How Pasqal May Get Involved in Rare Earth Separation

Mining rare earth minerals is a difficult process, not only because of the challenge of extracting the ore itself. Companies must then separate the different rare earth elements into high-purity individual oxides.

Because rare earth elements often occur together and have very similar chemical properties, isolating them can be challenging. The process involves many—sometimes even hundreds of—solvent extractions. This creates an enormous chemistry problem: How do companies identify a series of solvents that selectively binds to one rare earth element over another?

Solvent and ligand chemistry related to rare earth mining is, therefore, a major combinatorial problem and exactly the type of optimization challenge that quantum computing aims to address. In this way, the partnership between Pasqal and USA Rare Earth is a natural fit. Pasqal will provide quantum machine learning and optimization algorithms, USAR will offer the environment to test and validate the results, and Riven Systems will be responsible for aspects of the chemistry involved in creating the solvents.

Potential Benefits to Pasqal and USA Rare Earth

The success of this partnership could yield significant benefits for all participants, particularly the two publicly traded companies. First, improved separation chemistry could reduce chemical consumption and energy use for USAR, helping lower operating costs and waste production. It may also lead to improved outcomes and higher-quality final products.

Second, for Pasqal, this could be a validation of its neutral-atom quantum technology, demonstrating a real-world application with tangible value for customers in the rare earth mining industry. Although Pasqal is not entering the mining business, it could position itself as a go-to resource for these firms and help establish a critical customer base at a time when quantum companies are competing for clients.

Beyond this, rare earth minerals are also important to quantum technology. They serve as components in quantum memory research, photonic systems, lasers, magnets and other hardware vital to quantum computing.

Pasqal's Financial Situation Remains Murky for Investors

Despite the promise of this rare earth partnership, Pasqal remains a financially murky and highly speculative investment. The company has yet to report earnings since going public in August, and its very limited trading history makes it difficult to assess the stock's performance, although it is down about 24% since its IPO.

Compared with other quantum firms that receive extensive analyst coverage and ratings, Pasqal has only two ratings from Wall Street. Still, both—from Canaccord Genuity and Roth Capital—are highly optimistic Buys that also predict substantial share-price appreciation.

The demand for a domestic rare earth supply chain is significant, even if it is limited by the resources that naturally occur in this part of the world. If Pasqal can help streamline the industry, it could add real value for companies involved in rare earth mining and processing, as well as for other industries that rely on these elements. For the time being, however, investors should keep in mind that this remains a risky bet on a new technology offered by a provider that is largely untested in the public markets.

3 Defense Stocks Riding the High-Energy Laser Boom

Submitted by Nathan Reiff. Published: 9/15/2026.

A science-fiction future is becoming increasingly possible in the present, thanks to rapid advancements in high-energy lasers for military and defense applications. Major gains in fiber laser technology, tracking, optics and thermal management are making these tools a reality as potential counter-drone measures, with other applications on the way.

In September 2026, the U.S. Army signaled just how important this technology may become by awarding a major production contract for a high-energy laser weapon system to AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV). That's a significant boon for AVAV stock and a boost for the company as it continues to expand beyond its drone technology foundations.

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Add in a strong earnings report in the same month, and AeroVironment looks ready for a major recovery, even as the stock remains down 36% year to date (YTD).

Beyond this one company, a new technological opportunity is emerging for laser companies, with several already establishing important footholds.

The Path Forward for AVAV After Laser Contract

Despite its poor stock performance this year, AeroVironment offers several appealing qualities for investors. The $465 million contract from the U.S. Army is one of two significant updates involving the company's high-energy laser program. The company also recently received its first international purchase order for the LOCUST Laser Weapon System, valued at more than $50 million. This may show that AeroVironment is not just a domestic leader in this emerging field but also a key international player.

The company's latest quarter brought record revenue of $480.5 million, up about 6% year over year (YOY), along with a sizable earnings beat relative to expectations. Perhaps even more impressively, AeroVironment's funded backlog climbed 37% YOY to $1.5 billion.

With a stable balance sheet and building momentum in the company's laser technologies, AeroVironment appears to have justified its optimistic ratings. Twenty Wall Street firms have rated AVAV a Buy, compared with just four that see reason to hesitate, carrying Sell or Hold ratings. The question is what might catalyze a reversal in the firm's share price. With analysts projecting nearly 36% earnings growth in the coming year, investors may be anticipating an upswing.

Kratos May Be a Closer Competitor Than Its Financials Let On

Investors might see Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) as a potential rival to AeroVironment in the laser space. While the company has genuine credentials in the field, its laser work is not yet visible as a distinct revenue driver.

Kratos provides not only coherently combined laser systems through its HELEX products but also a variety of other system-integration and subsystem-support tools. The company's participation in the U.S. Navy's previous Laser Weapon System program speaks to its authority in this emerging technology.

For now, Kratos reports high-energy laser activity within the broader weapon systems category, making it difficult for investors to assess how much of the company's recent 30.5% YOY revenue growth in Q2 2026 may have been driven by its laser business.

Still, as Kratos diversifies its offerings and the military relies more heavily on low-cost, rapidly engaging laser tools, the company could be close behind AeroVironment.

KTOS shares have followed a similar downward trajectory this year, falling 37% YTD, but they also share AVAV's broad analyst support.

Red Cat Benefits From Adjacency

Unlike the companies above, Red Cat Holdings (NASDAQ: RCAT) does not have a directed-energy weapons program. Instead, this drone reconnaissance and counter-drone technology company offers supplemental systems that are being deployed alongside laser programs in U.S. military settings. The stock may appeal to investors who anticipate that AeroVironment's success in the high-energy laser space will have repercussions for other companies in the industry, including those not directly involved in the technology.

Specifically, Red Cat's reconnaissance drones may be able to provide target acquisition, battle-damage assessment and other critical support that could make the difference between laser weapons being effectively operational and merely theoretically capable.

Investors may also be drawn to Red Cat because of its performance relative to the other stocks above. RCAT shares are down only about 1% this year, a substantially smaller YTD decline than either of the other companies. Like both of those firms, however, Red Cat is an analyst favorite: Seven of nine Wall Street firms call it a Buy, and the stock has significant upside potential, with a consensus price target of $18, about 130% above its current price.