Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's sobering assessment of quantum computing's timeline sent the space into a tailspin last week. During a question-and-answer session with analysts, Huang suggested that useful quantum computers were likely 15 to 30 years away.

Quantum computing stocks have been losing ever since Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said widespread applications of quantum computing are still decades away. But investors are rewarding these companies once again on Wednesday after Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) made a statement that starkly differs from Huang’s view on quantum computing.

All it took to derail a rally that had sent shares of pure-play quantum computing stocks soaring was a single comment from a tech CEO. When Nvidia's Jensen Huang suggested that a