Trending Now - Softbank Sees Profits Surge Driven by AI Investment Boom
WHO:
ABC News - Softbank Group Corp. is a Japanese technology investor.
ABC News - Masayoshi Son is the chief executive and chairman of Softbank.
WHAT:
ABC News - SoftBank received an additional boost from the initial public offering of PayPay, a mobile-payment application in Japan.
ABC News - SoftBank's investment in OpenAI is projected to reach $64.6 billion by October.
Techmeme - SoftBank reported a Q4 net income of approximately $11.6 billion, which is three times higher than the estimated $1.5 billion.
Techmeme - The increase in net income was driven by a $25 billion gain in its OpenAI stake.
Techmeme - By October, SoftBank's investment in OpenAI is projected to reach $64.6 billion.
ABC News - Softbank reported an annual profit of 5 trillion yen ($32 billion) for the fiscal year through March.
ABC News - This profit is nearly five-fold greater than the previous year's profit of 1.15 trillion yen.
ABC News - Sales increased nearly 8% year-on-year to nearly 7.8 trillion yen ($50 billion) from 7.2 trillion yen.
ABC News - Softbank invested $34.6 billion in OpenAI, recording gains of $45 billion.
ABC News - Softbank also invests in Nvidia, Deutsche Telekom, and Arm.
WHERE:
ABC News - Softbank is based in Tokyo, Japan.
WHEN:
ABC News - The fiscal year referenced ends in March.
WHY:
ABC News - The surge in profits is attributed to successful AI investments.
HOW:
ABC News - SoftBank is developing a battery business in Japan to meet growing electricity demand driven by AI use.
ABC News - Softbank's investment strategy includes a diverse portfolio through its Vision Funds.
ABC News - The company is developing a battery business in Japan to support next-generation electric power infrastructure.
ABC News - Softbank is collaborating with Toppan to create lightweight, durable “skin” material for aircraft wings, expected to be used for commercial services in about three years.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 15:53 UTC)
SoftBank has received a significant boost from the initial public offering of PayPay, a mobile-payment application in Japan. The company's investment in OpenAI is projected to reach an impressive $64.6 billion by October. Additionally, SoftBank is working on developing a battery business in Japan to address the increasing electricity demand driven by the use of AI.
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 11:45 UTC)
SoftBank has announced a remarkable fourth-quarter net income of about $11.6 billion, significantly surpassing the estimated $1.5 billion by three times. This impressive increase is largely attributed to a $25 billion gain from its investment in OpenAI. Looking ahead, SoftBank's investment in OpenAI is projected to reach a staggering $64.6 billion by October.
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 09:49 UTC)
Softbank Group Corp., a Japanese technology investor led by CEO Masayoshi Son, has reported an impressive annual profit of 5 trillion yen, or about $32 billion, for the fiscal year ending in March, which is nearly five times greater than last year's profit. The company's sales also saw a nearly 8% increase year-on-year, reaching almost 7.8 trillion yen, driven by successful investments in AI, including a notable $34.6 billion investment in OpenAI that yielded gains of $45 billion. Additionally, Softbank is diversifying its portfolio with investments in Nvidia, Deutsche Telekom, and Arm, while also developing a battery business in Japan and collaborating with Toppan to create innovative materials for aircraft wings, expected to be ready for commercial use in about three years.