SoftBank’s Strategic Pivot: Share Consolidation and Major AI Investments Mark New Era

SoftBank Group Corp. is entering the new year with a significant corporate action and a series of high-stakes strategic moves centered on artificial intelligence. The company's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) have begun trading on a post-split basis, coinciding with fresh analyst coverage that paints an optimistic picture for the stock. This activity underscores a broader, multi-billion dollar push into AI, highlighted by a landmark investment in OpenAI and a major infrastructure acquisition.

On January 6, 2026, financial services firm BTIG commenced coverage of SoftBank Group. The analysts issued a "Buy" rating, setting a price target of 5,400 yen per share, which has already been adjusted to reflect the recent stock split. This target implies an approximate upside potential of 22% from recent trading levels.

Key Pillars of the Bull Thesis

BTIG's positive assessment is built on several core arguments:

• AI and Robotics Synergy: The firm is viewed as uniquely positioned to capitalize on the convergence of artificial intelligence and robotics.
• Proven Investment Acumen: Analysts highlighted SoftBank's historical ability to identify and invest in major technological shifts early, citing its past stakes in companies like Alibaba, Yahoo, and Arm Holdings.
• "Physical AI" Focus: The consolidation of robotics operations under the Robo HD unit and a growing portfolio of robotics investments were noted as strategic strengths.
• Core Holdings: SoftBank's substantial stake in Arm Holdings and its newly finalized $41 billion investment in OpenAI are considered central components of its AI strategy.

BTIG also cautioned about potential risks, noting that financial difficulties at OpenAI could negatively impact SoftBank given the scale of its commitment.

Major Capital Deployments in AI and Digital Infrastructure

Under the leadership of CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank is executing a sharply focused AI strategy. Two recent transactions exemplify this direction.

Finalizing the OpenAI Stake

SoftBank formally closed its previously announced investment in OpenAI on December 31, 2025. The total commitment of $41 billion secures the Japanese conglomerate an approximate 11% ownership stake in the creator of ChatGPT.

The funding comprises $30 billion from Vision Fund 2, with an additional $11 billion contributed by co-investors. The position was built through several tranches, with a final payment of $22.5 billion completed at year-end.

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Acquiring Digital Infrastructure Expertise

Further expanding its AI ecosystem, SoftBank announced on December 29, 2025, an agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group, a specialist in digital infrastructure. The all-cash transaction is valued at $4 billion.

The agreed price of $16 per share represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge's closing price prior to the announcement. Subject to regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026. DigitalBridge is slated to continue operating as an independent platform under its current CEO, Marc Ganzi.

Share Split Aims to Broaden Investor Appeal

A 4-for-1 split of SoftBank's ADRs took effect for U.S. trading. This follows a similar adjustment that became effective for the underlying shares in Tokyo on January 1. The corporate action reduces the nominal price per ADR to roughly one-quarter of its pre-split level.

Consequently, the number of outstanding shares increases from 1.43 billion to 5.71 billion. SoftBank's board approved the measure on November 11, 2025, in response to a significant share price appreciation throughout the year. By November 10, 2025, the stock closed in Tokyo at 22,255 yen, nearly quadrupling from its annual low of 5,835 yen on April 7, 2025. The standard trading unit of 100 shares had exceeded 2 million yen in value. The split is intended to enhance accessibility for a broader base of investors.

Ahead of the adjustment, the ADRs closed at $59.20 on the last pre-split trading day, marking a gain of 3.1%.

Forward Calendar and Financial Outlook

The next scheduled milestone is the release of SoftBank's financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, set for February 12, 2026. This report will cover the nine-month period ending December 31, 2025.

The company has maintained its dividend forecast at 5.50 yen per share on a post-split basis. This is equivalent to 22.00 yen per share on a pre-split basis for the fiscal year ending March 2026.

With the completed share split, the finalized OpenAI investment, and the pending DigitalBridge acquisition, SoftBank is positioning itself as a distinctly AI-focused entity for 2026, aiming to become a central player in the global infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence.