SoftBank Exits Nvidia After Record Run to Fund OpenAI Push

SoftBank has sold its $5.8 billion Nvidia stake to strengthen its balance sheet and fund future investments in OpenAI. The move demonstrates the company’s evolving focus from chip hardware to software platforms that power artificial intelligence.
The announcement came alongside a strong quarterly performance, with SoftBank reporting profits of 2.5 trillion yen — more than double last year’s. The surge was fueled by rising valuations in its AI-related assets.
CFO Yoshimitsu Goto said the decision was a matter of capital discipline. “Our investment in OpenAI requires substantial funding, exceeding $30 billion this year,” he said. “Divesting from Nvidia allows us to pursue this growth without additional leverage.”
Nvidia shares fell 3.5% after the sale was disclosed, leading declines across the broader tech market. Analysts noted that even a modest divestment from such a high-profile investor can trigger ripple effects in sentiment.
While Nvidia remains a dominant force in AI chips, SoftBank’s reallocation underscores a broader market trend: investors shifting from infrastructure suppliers toward the developers and platforms driving next-generation AI innovation.