SoftBank’s ¥48T Valuation Tops Toyota’s ¥46T After 14% Stock Rally
TM•SoftBank’s 14% rally in Tokyo boosted its market value above ¥48 trillion, overtaking Toyota’s roughly ¥46 trillion capitalization for the first time since 2000. Toyota stock has fallen over 10% year-to-date as rising crude prices and electrification costs weigh on vehicle demand.
1. SoftBank Surges Past Toyota
A 14% jump in SoftBank shares lifted its Tokyo market capitalization to over ¥48 trillion, overtaking Toyota’s approximate ¥46 trillion value. This marks SoftBank’s first time leading Japan’s market-cap rankings since the internet bubble peak in 2000.
2. Toyota's YTD Decline
Toyota’s stock has dropped more than 10% since January, pressured by higher crude costs from Middle East tensions and expensive investments in electric powertrains. Weakening global auto demand has further weighed on the automaker’s valuation.
3. AI Investments Power SoftBank
SoftBank shares have nearly doubled year-to-date, driven by a $65 billion commitment to OpenAI for a 13% stake and plans to invest up to $87 billion in AI data centers in France. Chip-design unit Arm Holdings also contributed gains after strong Nvidia results.
4. Market Cap Rankings Shift
Kioxia Holdings climbed to third place with a market cap near ¥40 trillion, surpassing Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. The reshuffling highlights investor appetite for AI-related assets and expectations for major U.S. tech IPOs impacting Japan’s corporate hierarchy.
