Business
February 12, 2026
Japan’s SoftBank posted a $1.6 billion net profit in its fiscal third quarter. This gain was largely powered by a $4.2 billion rise in the value of its OpenAI investment. This surge helped the firm offset losses from stakes in Coupang, Didi, and a markdown on ByteDance, while lifting the overall Vision Fund performance. Yoshimitsu Goto, chief financial officer at SoftBank Group, said:
“We assume OpenAI will be able to lead this industry and this era, and we are quite convinced. So that’s (why) we are making an investment in this company.”
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How SoftBank OpenAI Investment and Vision Fund Gains Drove a $4.2B Profit
It should be noted that SoftBank’s OpenAI investment emerged as the single largest contributor to the group’s quarterly turnaround. The firm’s $1.6 billion profit acted as a full reversal of the loss recorded in the same period last year. Vision Fund’s performance benefited from renewed strength in AI-linked assets, despite volatility concerns.
SoftBank has invested over $30 billion in OpenAI. The firm even holds a 11% stake. SoftBank’s estimated investment gain on OpenAI stood at $19.8 billion during April and December. In addition to its current investments, the firm is in discussions of pouring in another $30 billion in a funding round. This could value OpenAI between $750 billion and $830 billion.
Elaborating on the same, BTIG analyst Jesse Sobelson said:
“(SoftBank) the only real way to directly play OpenAI in today’s public markets. Next OpenAI capital raise could spur re-mark of SoftBank equity ownership.”
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A Look Into Masayoshi Son’s Strategy
Founder Masayoshi Son has made AI the centerpiece of his long-term capital allocation vision. Reports reveal that a staggering 60% of SoftBank’s assets are now aligned with AI or ASI investments.
Masayoshi Son’s strategy is clearly inclining towards the emergence of artificial superintelligence. He even noted how this technology is “10,000 times more intelligent than humans.”
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SoftBank’s growing stake in OpenAI means its results will increasingly move in step with the AI firm’s performance. For now, the numbers look strong. But the industry has an idea about Masayoshi Son’s strategy in placing a substantial share of SoftBank’s future on AI.
