SoftBank (SFTBY) Stock: OpenAI Windfall Fuels Profit Surge and Growing AI Empire

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TLDR

  • SoftBank’s profit rises following $20 billion in gains from its OpenAI investment
  • AI-focused acquisitions expand SoftBank’s footprint in data and robotics sectors
  • Vision Funds turn losses around as AI assets make up a large share of their portfolio
  • Liquidity increases even with asset sales and focused AI investments
  • Government support for AI enhances SoftBank’s growth prospects

SoftBank Group Corp (SFTBY) shares were trading at $16.06, a 0.69% increase, as the firm reported a strong profit recovery driven by substantial gains from OpenAI. The latest results highlighted growing momentum in its AI-related assets and reinforced renewed trust in its strategic direction. The stock maintained a small intraday gain following early fluctuations and continued to draw significant market interest.

SFTBY Stock Card

OpenAI Gains Strengthen Quarterly Results

SoftBank saw a profit surge after logging nearly $20 billion in investment gains linked to OpenAI in the latest quarter. The company acquired an 11% stake following an investment of around $34.6 billion and is still in talks for additional commitments. The recent earnings put OpenAI among SoftBank’s top holdings, alongside its significant stake in Arm Holdings.

SoftBank attributed the quarterly profit increase to higher valuations across its advanced AI projects. The company noted that these advanced AI projects made up a significant part of its total asset base and continued to assess new investment allocations. Analysts stated that OpenAI’s upcoming funding round could impact SoftBank’s balance sheet value.

SoftBank also reported better group performance, even with losses in other equity investments during the quarter. This marked the company’s fourth consecutive profitable quarter, and management confirmed consistent capital allocation toward data infrastructure and computing. The firm emphasized the increasing importance of AI and artificial general intelligence (ASI)-related assets in its long-term plan.

AI Expansion Accelerates Through Acquisitions

SoftBank grew its portfolio via several major deals that boosted its position in global AI infrastructure. The company reached an agreement to buy DigitalBridge Group for $3 billion and also acquired Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion. It also revealed a significant plan to purchase ABB’s robotics division.

These actions indicated a wider expansion phase centered on data centers, robotics, and next-gen computing hardware. The firm also launched a multibillion-dollar data center project with multiple partners to support advanced AI tasks. SoftBank considered acquiring Switch but paused discussions earlier this year.

SoftBank funded part of these deals through asset sales and expanded credit capacity. It increased its margin loan on SoftBank Corp shares and sold more T-Mobile US stakes. The company also raised liquidity by fully exiting its Nvidia position last year.

Financial Position Strengthens Despite Concentration Risks

SoftBank kept its loan-to-value ratio below its internal limit, which supported its ongoing acquisition plans. The firm emphasized liquidity management discipline and reaffirmed its targets for meeting bond repayments. It reported growing sales and significant year-over-year profit growth over the past nine months.

The Vision Funds achieved strong gains and reversed losses from the previous year. They now hold the majority of SoftBank’s OpenAI investments and are continuing to increase their role in the company’s strategy. SoftBank confirmed that its OpenAI investments were channeled through SVF2 after multiple funding rounds.

SoftBank noted increased activity in its AI programs, backed by stronger political support for domestic technology spending. Its shares rose through early 2026 as new government policies favored AI and semiconductor growth. Market sentiment improved following recent leadership changes in Japan.