Shares in SoftBank Group experienced a sharp increase on Thursday, rising nearly 20% after Nvidia posted strong quarterly earnings that reinforced positive investor sentiment in the artificial intelligence sector.
The uptick in SoftBank’s share price ended a week-long decline, adding about $35 billion to the company’s market capitalization and signaling a renewed confidence in companies linked to AI growth.
SoftBank’s performance is closely aligned with the expansion of the AI industry, due in part to its significant holdings in Arm Holdings—whose chip architecture underpins many AI-focused data centers—and its substantial investments in OpenAI.
Over the past fiscal year ended in March, returns from OpenAI contributed approximately $45 billion to SoftBank’s investment gains. The group has invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI, further highlighting its exposure to the AI market.
SoftBank’s latest surge in value follows its release of record annual results for the Vision Fund, reporting a $46 billion gain largely attributed to higher valuations for AI assets.
The advance in SoftBank corresponds with strength across Asian semiconductor and technology equities, particularly those linked to Nvidia’s supply network.
Nvidia, in its most recent quarterly statement, reported a rapid 85% increase in revenue year-over-year, as well as an $80 billion share buyback authorization and a higher dividend. However, the stock moderated in after-market trading due to comments from CEO Jensen Huang regarding the company’s diminished presence in China’s AI chip segment.
SoftBank’s rally also reflected positive updates from its energy unit, SB Energy, which confirmed this week that it had confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering. The subsidiary, which develops infrastructure supporting AI and data centers, is seen as another strategic asset within SoftBank’s AI-focused portfolio.
Furthermore, reports that OpenAI is accelerating preparations for a stock listing later this year contributed further to the positive sentiment surrounding SoftBank. As investor interest in AI accelerates, market participants are closely watching for further announcements regarding OpenAI’s path to a public market debut.
