SoftBank Group shares surged 19.8% on Thursday, May 21, 2026, breaking a five-session losing streak, after Nvidia reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings late Wednesday, reinforcing optimism in the artificial intelligence sector.
Nvidia, a key supplier of AI chips, posted revenue of $39.3 billion for the fiscal first quarter ended April 27, 2026, exceeding analyst estimates of $38.1 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company also forecast second-quarter revenue of approximately $42.5 billion, above the average analyst projection of $41.2 billion.
SoftBank, which holds a significant stake in Arm Holdings and has invested heavily in AI startups through its Vision Fund, benefited from the positive sentiment. The stock rose to 12,450 yen in Tokyo trading, adding about $12 billion to its market capitalization.
Analysts at Jefferies noted that Nvidia's results 'reinforce the strong demand for AI infrastructure,' which bodes well for SoftBank's portfolio companies. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has been pivoting the conglomerate toward AI investments, including a reported $500 million stake in OpenAI earlier this year.
