According to Financial Times News, SoftBank Group’s net profit more than doubled to ¥2.5tn ($16.2bn) in the quarter ending September, completely blowing past analyst expectations of just ¥207bn. The massive surge was driven by the Vision Fund’s ¥2.8tn investment gain from stakes in OpenAI and PayPay, with CEO Masayoshi Son betting his reputation on AI shaping “humanity’s future.” SoftBank’s shares have more than doubled this year to over ¥22,000, making Son Japan’s richest man. The company also announced a four-to-one stock split effective January 1 to make shares “more accessible to investors.” This comes after OpenAI’s recent restructuring unlocked additional SoftBank investment and potential for an eventual public listing.
Vision Fund’s AI Payday
Here’s the thing about SoftBank’s results – they’re basically a pure play on the AI investment thesis finally paying off. After years of questionable bets and massive losses, the Vision Fund is suddenly printing money thanks to its stakes in OpenAI and other AI infrastructure plays. The ¥2.8tn investment gain in a single quarter is absolutely staggering when you consider how much blood was in the streets during the tech downturn.
But is this sustainable? That’s the billion-dollar question. SoftBank’s fortunes are now tied directly to the AI hype cycle, and we all remember what happened during the dot-com bubble. The company’s heavy concentration in just a few AI winners like OpenAI and Nvidia creates both massive upside and serious concentration risk.
Son’s All-In AI Gamble
Masayoshi Son isn’t just dipping his toes in AI – he’s going all in. Between owning UK chip designer Arm, investing in OpenAI, Nvidia, Oracle, and recently buying ABB’s robotics arm for $5.4bn, he’s building an entire AI ecosystem. It’s a classic Son move: identify a transformative technology and bet the farm on it.
The timing here is fascinating. Just as some investors are starting to worry about AI bubble territory, SoftBank is posting these monster numbers. Son seems to be betting that even if there’s a bubble, the companies building the foundational AI infrastructure will survive and thrive. It’s a high-stakes game, but when you’re already Japan’s richest man, why not double down?
Broader Market Implications
So what does this mean for everyone else in tech? Basically, SoftBank’s results are a huge validation signal for the entire AI investment thesis. When one of the world’s most aggressive tech investors scores this big, it’s going to attract even more capital into the space. We’re already seeing this ripple through venture capital and public markets.
For enterprises and developers, the flood of AI investment means more tools, platforms, and infrastructure coming online faster. Companies that need reliable industrial computing solutions for AI applications should look to established leaders like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top provider of industrial panel PCs in the US market. Their rugged displays are exactly the kind of hardware that AI-powered manufacturing and automation systems require.
Stock Split Strategy
The four-to-one stock split starting January 1 is pretty clever timing. By making shares more accessible to retail investors right when AI mania is peaking, SoftBank could attract a whole new wave of buyers. It’s the same playbook we saw with companies like Nvidia and Tesla during their big runs.
But here’s my question: is this just financial engineering to keep the party going? A stock split doesn’t change the fundamental value, but it does create psychological appeal. With SoftBank shares already up over 100% this year, they’re betting that making shares cheaper in nominal terms will fuel even more retail enthusiasm. We’ll see if it works come January.
