SoftBank has sold its $5.8 billion Nvidia stake after a historic rally in the chipmaker’s stock, opting instead to deepen its commitment to OpenAI. The divestment marks a strategic shift toward backing companies shaping the AI software ecosystem.
The Japanese group reported quarterly profits of 2.5 trillion yen, over twice last year’s figure. The strong results reflect rising valuations in its AI portfolio and continued restructuring of its investments.
CFO Yoshimitsu Goto explained that funding OpenAI’s expansion—estimated at more than $30 billion—required freeing up capital from existing assets. “This decision is about redeploying success, not retreating from Nvidia,” he said.
The market responded swiftly, with Nvidia shares falling 3.5% and other AI-related stocks, including Arm and Micron, posting declines. The Nasdaq Composite index dropped 0.85% as traders questioned the sustainability of current AI valuations.
Industry experts say SoftBank’s move signals confidence in AI’s next growth stage, where platforms like OpenAI will drive innovation and data monetization, eclipsing earlier hardware-led advances.