Fact based stock research
SoftBank (TSE:9434)

JP3732000009

How to read the free ranks

For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

SoftBank stock research in summary

softbank.jp

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with investment alternatives), SoftBank (Wireless Telecommunication, Japan) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of SoftBank are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 52 (better than 52% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 81) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 14), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation based on SoftBank's financial characteristics. As the company SoftBank's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 52) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 81), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 14) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	52
Growth Rank	81
Safety Rank	14
Combined Rank	45

Country	Japan
Industry	Wireless Telecommunication
Index	TOPIX 100, Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunications
Size class	XX-Large

10-Apr-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.

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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: SoftBank

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	61	65	49	52
GROWTH
GROWTH	39	61	78	81
SAFETY
SAFETY	14	14	15	14
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	51	57	63	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	23	54	51	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 10-Apr-2025. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better SoftBank is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	61	65	49	52
GROWTH
GROWTH	39	61	78	81
SAFETY
SAFETY	14	14	15	14
COMBINED
COMBINED	20	42	50	45

Last update of combined financial performance: 10-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of SoftBank the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 52 (better than 52% compared with alternatives), SoftBank shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for SoftBank. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 56, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 56% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning SoftBank's revenue size. The same is valid for dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 65, which means that dividends are expected to be higher than for 65% of comparable investments. On the other hand, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is less favorable than for 95% of alternatives (only 5% of peers have an even higher ratio). The same is valid for the Price-to-Profit (or Price / Earnings, P/E) ratio, which is higher than for 55% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 52, is a buy recommendation based on SoftBank's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. This is a somewhat surprising picture, because it means that profits are low while dividends are high. One interpretation could be that profits are expected to increase, justifying the high dividend payments. But it could also mean that the company desperately keeps the high dividends to avoid a collapsing share price. This would be a rather dangerous constellation. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is especially important in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	64	63	50	56
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	55	58	45	45
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	12	12	5	5
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	83	82	64	65
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	61	65	49	52

Last update of Value Rank: 10-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of SoftBank; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 81 (better than 81% compared with alternatives) for 2025, SoftBank shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators above average for SoftBank. Sales Growth has a value of 59, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 59% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 64 and for Capital Growth with 66. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 55, which means they have been higher than 55% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 81, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, SoftBank exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	45	52	59	59
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	37	34	53	64
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	33	49	69	66
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	59	77	61	55
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	39	61	78	81

Last update of Growth Rank: 10-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of SoftBank.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 14 (better than 14% compared with alternatives), the company SoftBank has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of SoftBank is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for SoftBank. Liquidity is at 67, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 67% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 3, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 97% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 10, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 90% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 14 (worse than 86% compared with alternatives), SoftBank has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	14	10	10	10
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	3	7	1	3
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	77	65	69	67
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	14	14	15	14

Last update of Safety Rank: 10-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of SoftBank and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2022	2023	2024	2025
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	29	66	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	50	78	50	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	90	73	78	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	15	22	30	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	51	57	63	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 10-Apr-2025. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for SoftBank.
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