D-Wave, Rigetti Computing and Quantum Computing shares are now down by more than half on the year after critical commentary from tech executives.

Quantum Computing didn't have any news of its own to report, but the company is even smaller than D-Wave, with less than $1 million in revenue over the last four quarters. Its stock has soared even higher than D-Wave's over the last year, a disconnect that could lead to a continued decline in Quantum Computing's shares.

The same stocks rallied earlier this week after Microsoft unveiled an initiative meant to familiarize business leaders with quantum systems.

Quantum computing is still early, experts say. Finding early stock winners is easier than crunching calculations.

This is what's happening on Wednesday, as quantum computing investors cheer some kind words from Microsoft's strategic missions and technologies chief, Mitra Azizirad, who last night urged quantum investors to get ready, because "we are right on the cusp of seeing quantum computers solve meaningful problems and capture new business value."