SoftBank posts ¥109.7 billion profit on ¥112.9 billion OpenAI gain
SoftBank reported a ¥109.7 billion net profit for the nine months ended December, reversing a ¥63.7 billion loss a year earlier, driven by a ¥112.9 billion fair-value gain on its OpenAI stake. The boost in parent profitability may underpin SoftBank’s valuation for its ARM holding.
1. Profit Swing
SoftBank achieved a net income of ¥109.7 billion for the nine months ended December, reversing a ¥63.7 billion loss in the prior year period. This marks the first profitable period for SoftBank since early fiscal 2024.
2. Valuation Gain Detail
The turnaround was driven by a ¥112.9 billion mark-to-market uplift on its 49% OpenAI stake as AI valuations climbed sharply. This fair-value adjustment accounted for the bulk of the quarterly swing into profitability.
3. Implications for ARM
The strengthened balance sheet and higher parent valuation could bolster market confidence in SoftBank’s technology assets, potentially lifting ARM’s market appraisal as SoftBank evaluates strategic options for its chip-design unit.