SoftBank Group reported a fiscal first-quarter profit that exceeded market expectations, driven primarily by a substantial gain on its stake in Intel Corp. The results also benefited from an increase in the valuation of other holdings, helping the conglomerate deliver a stronger-than-anticipated bottom line despite a lack of immediate revenue contribution from its OpenAI investment.
SoftBank Group shares jumped 10% in Asian trading on Wednesday, leading a broad rally across technology stocks in the region.
The surge followed a record-setting session on Wall Street, where major US indexes climbed to new highs, providing a supportive backdrop for the Tokyo-listed tech giant.
The earnings beat highlights the continued importance of SoftBank's investment portfolio in driving profitability, with the Intel stake proving to be a key value driver in the quarter.
While the company's AI ambitions remain a long-term focus, the immediate financial impact came from traditional semiconductor holdings.
Investors will now look to the company's commentary on future capital allocation and the trajectory of its AI investments for further direction.