AI Hardware Stocks Surge as SoftBank and Lenovo Hit Record Highs
AI Hardware Stocks Surge as SoftBank and Lenovo Hit Record Highs
Artificial intelligence-driven hardware stocks rallied sharply across Asian markets on Tuesday, with SoftBank Group and Lenovo reaching record highs amid growing investor enthusiasm for AI infrastructure companies.
SoftBank shares jumped 13% to a historic 8,000 yen, becoming the top-performing stock on Japan’s Nikkei 225 index. The rally extended the company’s four-day winning streak, fueled by optimism surrounding AI investments and gains in Arm Holdings.
Investors also reacted positively to strong earnings from NVIDIA last week, which reignited interest in companies tied to AI infrastructure and chip development.
Meanwhile, Lenovo surged 18% to a record HK$18.7 after reporting strong quarterly earnings driven by booming AI server demand. The company said revenue from its AI-related server business more than doubled year over year, helping boost overall profit growth.
According to company data, Lenovo’s infrastructure solutions division — which produces AI servers and data-center products — grew 37% and became the firm’s strongest-performing segment. AI-related revenue climbed 105% and now contributes roughly one-third of Lenovo’s total sales.
SoftBank’s gains were also linked to its growing exposure to OpenAI. Reports estimate the company’s OpenAI stake is now valued at nearly $80 billion, generating around $45 billion in paper gains and significantly improving quarterly profits.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son continues to expand investments in semiconductors, AI data centers, and frontier AI model developers, positioning the conglomerate as a major player in the global AI infrastructure race.
Beyond industry giants, investors are also turning attention to emerging AI infrastructure firms such as Astera Labs, Marvell Technology, and Credo Technology.
Astera Labs reported revenue growth of 93% year over year in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, while Marvell projected major revenue expansion supported by custom chip partnerships linked to NVIDIA. Credo Technology also posted triple-digit revenue growth fueled by rising demand for AI connectivity products.
The rally highlights how investor interest in AI is expanding beyond chipmakers into servers, connectivity systems, holding companies, and broader infrastructure providers, as markets continue to bet heavily on long-term AI spending growth.
