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SoftBank Group Corp. (JP:9984)
:9984

SoftBank Group (9984) AI Stock Analysis

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JP:9984

SoftBank Group

(9984)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
¥4,805.00
▲(17.51% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/18/26
The score is primarily held back by weak TTM cash flow (negative operating and deeply negative free cash flow) and elevated leverage, despite a strong rebound in reported profitability. Valuation is a major positive with a low P/E and very high dividend yield, while technical indicators are neutral-to-mildly constructive.
Positive Factors
Asset-management business model
SoftBank's core model is durable: recurring management fees, potential performance fees, and co-investment upside from Vision Funds. This generates diversified, non-operating revenue streams and allows capital recycling through strategic disposals, supporting cash inflows over multiple years.
Revenue growth and profitability rebound
A multi-year revenue uptrend and a return to strong net income indicate improving portfolio realizations and operating performance. If sustained, this underpins fee income, strengthens retained earnings and provides a foundation for repeatable monetizations and future investment funding.
Strategic, high-quality holdings (Arm)
Owning Arm provides long-term exposure to semiconductor IP royalties and licensing economics, which are structurally attractive given global semiconductor demand. A high-quality core holding reduces reliance on one-off trades and supports recurring value creation and strategic optionality.
Negative Factors
Weak cash generation (TTM)
Earnings-to-cash conversion is currently poor: negative operating and free cash flow in the TTM period raises sustainability concerns. Persistent cash burn limits ability to self-fund investments, forces asset sales or external financing, and increases liquidity and refinancing risk over the medium term.
Elevated leverage
Consistently high debt relative to equity amplifies sensitivity to market shocks and valuation swings in the investment portfolio. Elevated leverage raises interest and refinancing exposure, constrains strategic flexibility, and heightens downside risk if asset realizations deteriorate or rates rise.
Volatile earnings history
Large swings from multi-year losses to strong reported income imply reliance on timing of realizations and fair-value movements. This volatility weakens predictability of fee/carry outcomes and complicates capital planning, making long-term forecasting and risk assessment more uncertain.

SoftBank Group (9984) vs. iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

SoftBank Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSoftBank Group Corp. provides telecommunication services in Japan and internationally. It operates through five segments: Investment Business of Holding Companies, SoftBank Vision Funds, SoftBank, Arm, and Latin America Funds. The company offers mobile communications, broadband, and fixed-line communications services; and sells mobile devices. It is also involved in the internet advertising marketing, online advertising distribution, and e-book distribution services; planning and operation of fashion e-commerce website; mail-order sale of stationery and services; and design and development of mobile robots. In addition, the company designs microprocessor intellectual property and related technology; sells software tools; and generates, supplies, and sells electricity from renewable energy sources, as well as offers related services. Further, it provides alternative investment management, smartphone payment, PC software downloads, and banking services, as well as solutions and services for online businesses; distributes video, voice, and data content; manufactures, distributes, and sells IT-related products, as well as IT-related services; and manages funds. Additionally, the company operates a professional baseball team; and ITmedia, an IT information site, as well as manages and maintains baseball stadium and other sports facilities. It also plans and operates ZOZOTOWN, ZOZO, and ZOZOBASE websites. The company was formerly known as SoftBank Corp. and changed its name to SoftBank Group Corp. in July 2015. SoftBank Group Corp. was incorporated in 1981 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
How the Company Makes MoneySoftBank generates revenue through a combination of its telecommunications services, investments in technology companies, and management fees from its Vision Fund. The core revenue streams include subscription fees from telecommunications services, sales of devices, and value-added services. The Vision Fund also contributes significantly to earnings by taking equity stakes in high-growth tech companies and generating returns through exits, dividends, and management fees. Additionally, SoftBank benefits from strategic partnerships and joint ventures, which help in expanding its investment reach and fostering innovation across its portfolio companies.

SoftBank Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
Next Earnings Date:May 07, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflected a positive sentiment overall, with significant financial recovery and strategic investments in AI and technology sectors. However, ongoing market volatility and increased leverage were noted as challenges. Despite these, the company's strategic direction and financial achievements outweighed the concerns.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Profitability
SoftBank Group reported a net income of JPY 1.15 trillion, marking its first profit in four years and an increase of JPY 1.38 trillion year-over-year.
Strong Net Asset Position
Net asset value at the end of March was JPY 25.7 trillion, and JPY 27.4 trillion as of the latest pro forma, indicating a recovery and strong financial positioning.
Significant Investments in AI
Announced a commitment of up to $40 billion in OpenAI, with a strategic focus on AI and ASI advancements, including the acquisitions of Ampere for $6.5 billion.
Vision Fund Performance
Vision Fund 1's performance reached $113 billion on $90 billion investments, with Vision Fund 2 showing potential growth despite current lower returns.
Successful IPO Preparations
SoftBank is preparing for the IPO of PayPay, with strong market presence and growth metrics such as a GMV of JPY 15.4 trillion, up 23% year-on-year.
Negative Updates
Market Volatility and Challenges
Weaker performance of tech stocks led to significant market volatility, impacting net asset value down by JPY 2.1 trillion year-over-year.
Increased Loan-to-Value Ratio
Loan-to-value increased to 18% from 8.4% the previous year, indicating higher leverage, although still within safety guidelines.
Significant Fluctuations in Cash Position
Cash position decreased from JPY 4.7 trillion to JPY 3.4 trillion due to active investments, reflecting liquidity management challenges.
Company Guidance
During the earnings results announcement for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, SoftBank Group Corp. highlighted several key metrics and strategic initiatives. The company reported a net asset value of JPY 25.7 trillion, a decrease of JPY 2.1 trillion year-over-year, but noted a recovery to JPY 27.4 trillion based on current share prices. The loan-to-value ratio increased to 18.0% from 8.4% the previous year, remaining below the 25% safety threshold. SoftBank achieved a net income of JPY 1.15 trillion, marking its first profit in four years, and net sales rose to JPY 7.2 billion, up JPY 487 billion year-on-year. The company is focused on advancing its AI strategy, including a significant investment commitment of up to $30 billion in OpenAI and the acquisition of Ampere for $6.5 billion. Additionally, SoftBank is preparing for the IPO of PayPay, which achieved an EBIT of JPY 45 billion and a GMV of JPY 15.4 trillion, reflecting a 23% year-on-year increase.

SoftBank Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Income statement shows strong revenue growth and a sharp profitability rebound in 2025/TTM, but earnings durability is reduced by prior multi-year losses. Balance sheet leverage is consistently high (debt above equity), raising risk. Cash flow is the biggest concern, with TTM negative operating cash flow and deeply negative free cash flow despite high net income (weak earnings-to-cash conversion).
Income Statement
72
Positive
Revenue is growing steadily in the annual periods (from 2022 to 2025) and jumps sharply in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Profitability is volatile: annual results swung from large losses (2022–2024) to a return to solid profitability in 2025, and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows very strong net income. Margins are generally strong at the gross level, but operating and net profitability have been inconsistent year-to-year, which lowers confidence in the durability of earnings.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
The balance sheet is asset-heavy, but leverage is meaningfully elevated, with debt running above equity across all periods (debt-to-equity roughly 1.4–1.8x). Equity has improved versus earlier years, and returns on equity rebound strongly in 2025 and TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) after negative returns in 2022–2024. The key weakness is the consistently high leverage profile, which increases sensitivity to market and funding conditions.
Cash Flow
34
Negative
Cash generation is uneven and recently weak: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows negative operating cash flow and deeply negative free cash flow, despite very high reported net income—an unfavorable conversion of earnings into cash. Annual cash flow was healthier in some years (notably 2022 and 2025 positive free cash flow), but free cash flow has swung between positive and negative multiple times. The main risk is the current cash burn profile in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), which can pressure liquidity if sustained.
BreakdownTTMMar 2026Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue7.66T7.24T6.76T6.57T6.22T5.63T
Gross Profit3.95T3.75T3.54T3.33T3.27T2.87T
EBITDA5.16T1.60T1.47T980.26B365.37B1.45T
Net Income3.68T1.15T-227.65B-970.14B-1.71T4.99T
Balance Sheet
Total Assets55.56T45.01T46.72T43.94T47.54T45.75T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments6.65T3.71T6.19T6.93T5.33T5.32T
Total Debt25.21T18.91T16.19T16.05T17.79T16.46T
Total Liabilities37.44T31.06T33.49T33.29T35.84T33.79T
Stockholders Equity15.45T11.56T11.16T9.03T9.98T10.21T
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-2.10T118.98B-372.06B107.53B1.89T-89.64B
Operating Cash Flow-773.41B973.15B250.55B741.29B2.73T557.25B
Investing Cash Flow-5.56T-1.71T-841.46B547.58B-3.02T-1.47T
Financing Cash Flow5.70T-1.81T-606.22B191.52B602.22B2.19T

SoftBank Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price4089.00
Price Trends
50DMA
4302.69
Negative
100DMA
4734.05
Negative
200DMA
3911.82
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-35.36
Positive
RSI
44.89
Neutral
STOCH
10.63
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For JP:9984, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 4089 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4317.85, below the 50-day MA of 4302.69, and above the 200-day MA of 3911.82, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -35.36 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 44.89 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 10.63 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for JP:9984.

SoftBank Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
¥10.10T15.1313.75%2.85%3.34%20.36%
66
Neutral
¥23.34T6.3624.50%0.25%7.31%44.73%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
60
Neutral
¥410.56B17.9915.67%1.31%12.48%18.38%
60
Neutral
¥10.18T18.013.99%7.79%5.53%
56
Neutral
¥312.57B19.0217.97%1.36%4.75%17.02%
56
Neutral
¥13.07T11.7610.59%3.36%2.10%-9.29%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
JP:9984
SoftBank Group
4,089.00
2,014.64
97.12%
JP:9449
GMO Internet
2,997.00
122.63
4.27%
JP:3774
Internet Initiative Japan
2,278.00
-248.44
-9.83%
JP:9433
KDDI
2,671.00
280.28
11.72%
JP:9432
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
153.30
11.16
7.85%
JP:9434
SoftBank Corp.
213.80
4.22
2.01%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 18, 2026