SoftBank Group Weighs PayPay US IPO And OpenAI Gains For Investors

Simply Wall St

Sun, February 15, 2026 at 10:07 AM GMT+9 3 min read

In this article:

SFTBF

-2.35%

9984

OPAI.PVT

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SoftBank Group's PayPay unit has filed for a US IPO, aiming to tap international capital markets with its digital payments business.

The proposed listing could be one of the largest US offerings by a Japanese company, drawing fresh attention to SoftBank's portfolio.

SoftBank's substantial investment in OpenAI has contributed to a return to profitability and reinforced its position as an AI focused holding company.

For investors tracking TSE:9984, these moves come as the share price stands at ¥4,390.0, with a 1 year return of 82.9% and a 3 year return that is a little more than triple. The stock is up 9.8% over the past week and 8.4% over the past month, while year to date it shows a 4.9% decline. That mix of strong multi year gains and a softer recent stretch forms the backdrop for how the market may interpret the PayPay IPO and OpenAI exposure.

SoftBank’s push to list PayPay in the US and its role as a proxy for AI growth through OpenAI may influence how investors think about its long term profile as a technology and capital allocation platform. The combination of a payments IPO candidate and a large AI related stake gives the group multiple levers that markets are likely to watch closely.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for SoftBank Group by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on SoftBank Group.

TSE:9984 Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

📰 Beyond the headline: 4 risks and 4 things going right for SoftBank Group that every investor should see.

Quick Assessment

**⚖️ Price vs Analyst Target**: At ¥4,390, the price is roughly 19.5% below the ¥5,456 analyst target, suggesting room relative to consensus but not a clear outlier.

**❌ Simply Wall St Valuation**: Shares are described as trading at a very large premium, around 1,541% above the modelled fair value.

**✅ Recent Momentum**: A 30 day return of about 8.4% shows the stock has had a positive short term run into this news.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold SoftBank Group. Head to Simply Wall St’s company report for the latest analysis of SoftBank Group’s fair value.

Key Considerations

📊 The PayPay US IPO filing and OpenAI exposure sharpen SoftBank Group's profile as a mix of digital payments and AI related assets on top of its telecom base.

📊 Watch how IPO pricing, any stake sales, and changes in OpenAI related marks feed through to earnings, given the current P/E of 6.8x and forecast revenue growth of 5.34% a year.

⚠️ Simply Wall St flags earnings forecast declines, interest coverage pressure and share price volatility, which could matter more if sentiment around AI or PayPay cools.

 






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Dig Deeper

For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete SoftBank Group analysis. Alternatively, you can check out the community page for SoftBank Group to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company’s narrative.

_ This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned._

Companies discussed in this article include 9984.T.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly._ Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com_

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