SoftBank’s $20 Billion Tech Stock Portfolio: The Information’s Tech Briefing

SoftBank is expanding its investor presence in the tech world. In addition to playing a major role as a backer of startups through its Vision Fund, the Japanese investment firm is now playing the market—by buying major tech stocks.

The firm’s profit report for the six months to Sept. 30 on Wednesday gave new details about its public tech stock portfolio, which at Sept. 30 amounted to $20.3 billion, including $6.3 billion held in Amazon, $2.2 billion in Facebook, $1.8 billion in Zoom, $1.4 billion in Alphabet and $1 billion in Netflix. It suggests that SoftBank’s near-death experience after Covid began—outlined in a Wall Street Journal report on Wednesday—has not changed CEO Masayoshi Son’s appetite for risk. The Journal report said Son is personally directing stock traders making bets “on daily moves” in tech stocks. During an investor presentation for its earnings report, he said he’s buying the stocks because they’re part of the “AI revolution” that informs his startup investment strategy as well.