SoftBank has exited its $5.8 billion Nvidia position, signaling a decisive pivot toward OpenAI as it ramps up AI investments. The move marks a significant rebalancing within its technology portfolio and has fueled debate over whether AI valuations are reaching their peak.
In its latest earnings report, SoftBank announced profits of 2.5 trillion yen, more than doubling year-on-year. The results were buoyed by valuation gains across its AI-related holdings, including its OpenAI stake.
CFO Yoshimitsu Goto clarified that the Nvidia sale was part of a broader plan to fund OpenAI’s rapid expansion. “This year, our OpenAI commitment exceeds $30 billion. It’s a long-term investment, not a short-term trade,” he said.
Nvidia’s shares fell 3.5% after the news broke, and the broader Nasdaq Composite declined 0.85%. Analysts said SoftBank’s divestment raised fresh questions about whether the AI rally is entering a cooling phase.
Despite short-term volatility, experts believe the decision reflects SoftBank’s strategic focus on where value creation is heading — in AI software, models, and data rather than hardware. Its OpenAI alignment positions it at the center of emerging AI-driven industries.