SoftBank Executes Strategic Pivot with Major Asset Sale

SoftBank Group Corp. is actively implementing a sweeping strategic realignment. In a decisive move to fund its colossal investment in OpenAI and sharpen its focus on artificial intelligence, CEO Masayoshi Son is divesting from legacy holdings. The recent sale of a substantial stake in Indian electric vehicle manufacturer Ola Electric Mobility underscores this directional shift, though equity markets have responded with initial caution.

A significant reduction in SoftBank's holding in Ola Electric Mobility has been disclosed through recent regulatory filings. The Japanese technology conglomerate, via its subsidiary SVF II Ostrich, decreased its stake from 15.68% to 13.53%. This transaction involved the market sale of approximately 94.6 million shares. This divestment is a component of a broader capital reallocation strategy, termed the "Masayoshi Son Doctrine" for 2026, which pivots away from capital-intensive hardware ventures toward foundational AI models.

The catalyst for this shift is the historic $41 billion investment in ChatGPT creator OpenAI, which SoftBank finalized on December 26, 2025. This transaction secured the group an approximate 11% ownership stake. Capital unlocked through partial exits from more mature sectors, like the Ola sale, is being redirected to meet the immense computational power and energy demands of building new AI infrastructure.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying SoftBank?

Market Performance and Valuation Considerations

Shares on the Tokyo exchange edged down slightly by 0.70% to 4,270 yen on Friday. Investors are accounting for a 4:1 stock split that took effect on January 1, 2026. On a pre-split basis, the current price would equate to roughly 17,080 yen. This level reflects the valuation premium the market has awarded the company since initial speculation regarding the OpenAI partnership emerged. While the long-term vision is clear, the sheer scale of the $41 billion commitment and associated debt concerns are prompting short-term investor hesitancy.

Upcoming Financial Scrutiny

Market attention now turns to February 12, 2026, when SoftBank is scheduled to release its third-quarter earnings. Investors anticipate these results will provide the first concrete details on how the OpenAI transaction impacts the net asset value (NAV) of the Vision Funds. From a technical analysis perspective, the equity faces a test in defending a support zone at 4,250 yen; a breach of this level could trigger a test of the psychologically significant 4,000-yen threshold.