SoftBank Group to Report Third-Quarter Results

SoftBank Group is set to announce its third-quarter results on Thursday. Here are the key details:

Net Profit Forecast

According to a poll of analysts by Quick, SoftBank Group is expected to report a net profit of 247.25 billion yen ($1.67 billion) for the three months ending on December 31. This would mark the company's first quarterly profit after four consecutive quarters of losses. In the same period last year, SoftBank Group recorded a net loss of 783.415 billion yen.

Revenue Forecast

The Quick poll estimates that third-quarter revenue has increased by 1.9% to 1.726 trillion yen.

Stock Performance

So far in 2024, SoftBank Group shares have gained 5.8%. In the October-December period, there was a slight decline of 0.7%, with shares closing at 6,658 yen on Tuesday.

What to Watch

Vision Funds Business

In the second quarter, SoftBank Group's Vision Funds business reported a loss of 258.86 billion yen, compared to a loss of 1.020 trillion yen in the same period last year. Investors are closely observing signs of a turnaround in the tech funds business, considering the global moderation of inflation and many central banks finalizing rate increases.

Potential for Larger Investments

Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto stated in November that SoftBank Group could pursue larger investments if it identifies lucrative opportunities. After a period of caution amidst a global tech selloff and investment losses in recent quarters, the company has shown interest in new investments. Investors are keenly monitoring the pace of these fresh investments.

Additional Stake in T-Mobile US

As a result of T-Mobile US's strong performance following its merger with former SoftBank unit Sprint in 2020, SoftBank Group is set to receive 48.8 million new shares worth $7.59 billion. This contingent consideration has piqued investors' interest in how the increased stake in T-Mobile will impact SoftBank's investment portfolio and risk profile.