SoftBank and Oracle Shares Fall Amidst Doubts Over OpenAI IPO Plans

By Patricia Miller

Apr 28, 2026

2 min read

SoftBank and Oracle shares drop after OpenAI missed targets, signaling reduced confidence in its IPO prospects before 2027.

SoftBank and Oracle shares faced a decline following reports indicating that OpenAI did not meet its internal sales and user growth targets. This news is raising concerns about OpenAI's potential initial public offering, which now has only a 15% chance of happening before 2027, according to predictions on Polymarket.

The recent market reflects a significant decrease in confidence. OpenAI's internal goal of reaching 1 billion weekly ChatGPT users has not been achieved, and revenue has been affected partly due to competitive pressure from Google’s Gemini AI. Additionally, delays in IPO plans are compounding these issues. Although no trades were recorded in the last 24 hours, the current 15% YES pricing reflects a notable downgrade in market expectations among traders.

Why should investors pay attention to this situation? A 15% YES pricing implies robust skepticism regarding OpenAI’s ability to go public before 2027. Missing simultaneous targets for user growth and revenue suggests that the company's progress may not align with optimistic projections set during previous fundraising rounds. The impact of these missed targets has also been felt among partner companies, as seen with the declines in stocks such as SoftBank and Oracle.

What factors should investors monitor? With approximately 251 days remaining until the prediction market resolution, there is still time for circumstances to shift. The YES share, priced at 15 cents, offers a $1 payout if OpenAI successfully completes an IPO before 2027, providing a substantial 6.5 times return on investment. For this price point to increase, traders will be looking for tangible indicators such as new partnerships, a rebound in ChatGPT user metrics, financial restructuring efforts, or an official timeline for the IPO from OpenAI’s management.

Important Notice And Disclaimer

This article does not provide any financial advice and is not a recommendation to deal in any securities or product. Investments may fall in value and an investor may lose some or all of their investment. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.