SoftBank and Microsoft reap billions from OpenAI

SoftBank’s profits soared on OpenAI gains, with its Vision Fund posting a $46B annual gain. Microsoft’s 26.79% OpenAI stake is now valued at $228B, fueling bullish analyst targets for MSFT stock.

SoftBank Group reported a significant rise in quarterly profit, posting a net profit of 1.9 trillion yen ($12.05 billion) for January–March 2026. This surge was primarily driven by substantial gains from its investment in OpenAI. The Vision Fund unit recorded an investment gain of 3.1 trillion yen during the quarter, with most of the increase attributed to OpenAI. This contributed to a $46 billion annual gain for the fund. SoftBank has invested over $30 billion in OpenAI and pledged an additional $30 billion, bringing its total commitment to $64.6 billion and an ownership stake of about 13%. OpenAI’s valuation soared to $852 billion after a record $122 billion funding round in February 2026. Meanwhile, Microsoft owns a 26.79% stake in OpenAI, now valued at $228 billion, representing a 17.6x return on its original $13 billion investment. Microsoft’s Azure cloud momentum, AI business growth, and a $627 billion revenue backlog support analysts’ consensus price target of $569.46 for MSFT stock, with forecasts of continued strong revenue and margin growth. Despite a year-to-date share decline, Microsoft’s OpenAI stake is seen as a transformative asset for its future growth.