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SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO: 9984) surged to a record high on Monday, driven by growing investor confidence in the artificial intelligence sector and the company’s expanding exposure to AI-related technologies. The Japanese technology conglomerate climbed more than 13% to reach 8,546 yen per share, helping lift the Nikkei 225 index by approximately 1%.
The sharp rally pushed SoftBank’s market capitalization to a record 48 trillion yen (around $305.8 billion), allowing it to surpass Toyota Group and become Japan’s most valuable publicly traded company. The company’s stock has gained more than 80% during 2026, reflecting strong market enthusiasm surrounding AI investments and semiconductor-related opportunities.
A major factor behind the latest surge is SoftBank’s substantial ownership stake in Arm Holdings (NASDAQ: ARM), the British chip designer that plays a critical role in the global semiconductor industry. SoftBank currently owns roughly 90% of Arm, making the company one of its most valuable assets.
Investor sentiment received an additional boost after NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) unveiled new Arm-based processors designed for Windows-powered devices in collaboration with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Because Arm generates revenue primarily through licensing its chip architecture and technology, broader adoption of Arm-based processors could significantly increase its earnings potential. Arm shares have already more than tripled in value during 2026, extending gains accumulated over the previous two years amid the ongoing AI boom.
SoftBank has also benefited from the growing value of its investments in artificial intelligence companies. The group recently reported substantial gains tied to its stake in OpenAI, further strengthening confidence in its AI-focused strategy.
Adding to its ambitious global expansion plans, SoftBank announced over the weekend that it will invest €75 billion ($87.3 billion) in artificial intelligence infrastructure projects across France over the next five years. The commitment highlights the company’s long-term vision of becoming a dominant force in the global AI ecosystem.
With its strong position in AI infrastructure, semiconductor technology, Arm Holdings, and strategic investments in leading AI companies, SoftBank continues to attract investor attention as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence market in 2026.
