D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: QBTS) Chief Human Resources Officer Sophie C. Ames sold 23,850 shares of common stock on August 17, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
The shares were disposed of at a weighted average price of $21.17, generating an estimated transaction value of approximately $504,905 for the executive.
The sale reduced Ames’ direct equity holdings by 4%, but the transaction was classified as a non-discretionary disposition tied to tax obligations.
Specifically, the sale was executed to satisfy tax withholding requirements triggered by the vesting of restricted stock units, a standard practice among corporate executives receiving equity compensation.
When RSUs vest, companies or executives typically conduct a “sell to cover” transaction, liquidating a portion of shares solely to meet the resulting tax liability rather than to signal any change in investment outlook.
Following the transaction, Ames retains a direct position of 565,159 shares, of which 536,144 are unvested restricted stock units, keeping her interests closely aligned with those of shareholders.
The post-transaction value of her directly held position stood at approximately $11.79 million based on the August 17, 2026 market close price of $20.87 per share.
D-Wave Quantum carries a market capitalisation of $7.7 billion, despite reporting trailing twelve-month revenue of just $12.4 million and a net loss of $248.7 million over the same period.
In the second quarter, the company generated $3.08 million in sales, a slight decline from the $3.1 million recorded in the same period of 2025, while its operating loss doubled to $53.3 million compared to a $26.5 million loss in the prior year.
D-Wave stock has demonstrated significant volatility, with a beta exceeding two, reflecting the unpredictable revenue environment common to companies operating in early-stage commercial quantum computing markets.
The company develops quantum computing systems, software, and services, including its flagship Advantage quantum computer, the Ocean open-source programming toolkit, and Leap, a cloud-based quantum computing platform.
D-Wave serves enterprise customers, research institutions, and technology companies across sectors including finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and materials science seeking quantum-powered solutions for complex optimisation challenges.
Despite ongoing operating losses, the company has delivered a 23% one-year return as of the August 17, 2026 market close, reflecting investor confidence in the longer-term commercial potential of quantum computing.
Total insider ownership in D-Wave Quantum currently stands at 0.15%, a relatively modest figure for a company at this stage of its technology and commercial development cycle.
