SoftBank reports $11.6 billion quarterly profit driven by $25 billion in OpenAI valuation gains

SoftBank Group earned a net income of ¥1.83 trillion ($11.6 billion) in its fiscal fourth quarter, compared with the average analyst estimate of ¥295.2 billion, with the profit attributable entirely to $25 billion in valuation gains on OpenAI.

The OpenAI gains outweighed lackluster investment gains elsewhere in SoftBank's portfolio during a period when war in the Middle East roiled markets, demonstrating growing reliance on the U.S. startup.

OpenAI faces rising competition from Anthropic and Google and is reportedly trailing its highest internal targets.