DigitalBridge Group Surges 9.7% as $4B SoftBank Acquisition Ignites Market Frenzy

Summary
• SoftBank Group to acquire DigitalBridge for $4 billion, offering $16/share (15% premium to recent close)
• DBRG surges 9.7% to $15.275, trading near acquisition price amid regulatory approval anticipation
• 52-week high of $15.55 within reach as $4B deal accelerates AI infrastructure consolidation

Market participants are scrambling to position as DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) rockets 9.7% intraday following SoftBank’s landmark $4 billion acquisition offer. The stock’s sharp ascent to $15.275—just $0.275 below the $16/share cash offer—reflects investor confidence in the deal’s execution and the strategic value of DigitalBridge’s $108B digital infrastructure portfolio. With regulatory approvals pending and a projected 2026 close, the stock’s volatility and technical indicators suggest a pivotal inflection point for long-term AI infrastructure investors.

SoftBank's $4B Acquisition Drives DigitalBridge's Record Surge
DigitalBridge’s 9.7% intraday jump stems directly from SoftBank Group’s $4 billion cash acquisition offer, which values the stock at $16/share—a 15% premium to its December 26 close and 50% above its 52-week average. The deal, announced December 29, 2025, positions SoftBank to expand its AI infrastructure footprint by leveraging DigitalBridge’s global portfolio of data centers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure. Marc Ganzi, DigitalBridge’s CEO, emphasized the strategic alignment with SoftBank’s ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence) ambitions, while Masayoshi Son highlighted the need for scalable compute and connectivity to power next-generation AI. The stock’s proximity to the $16 offer price reflects market anticipation of regulatory approvals and the transaction’s expected 2026 close.

Data Center REITs Rally Amid AI Infrastructure Boom, But DBRG Outpaces Sector
While DigitalBridge’s 9.7% surge dwarfs the broader data center REIT sector’s muted performance, the industry remains in focus due to AI-driven demand. Equinix (EQIX), the sector’s leader, rose just 0.277% intraday, underscoring DBRG’s unique catalyst. Blackstone-backed AirTrunk’s exploration of a Singapore REIT IPO and Saudi Arabia’s $3B data center partnership with Humain highlight the sector’s long-term potential. However, DigitalBridge’s acquisition by SoftBank—a $4B bet on AI infrastructure—creates an immediate premium not mirrored by peers, making DBRG the standout play in a sector still consolidating around AI scalability.

Options Playbook: Capitalizing on DBRG's Volatility with Strategic Leverage
• MACD: 0.670 (bullish divergence), Signal Line: 0.694, Histogram: -0.024 (momentum slowing)
• RSI: 47.95 (neutral, but rising)
• Bollinger Bands: Upper $16.93, Middle $12.89, Lower $8.84 (price near upper band)
• 200-day MA: $10.76 (price at 43% above)

Technical indicators suggest DBRG’s $15.275 level is a critical inflection point. The stock’s proximity to the $16 offer price and elevated volatility (226% implied volatility on deep out-of-the-money puts) create asymmetric options opportunities. Two top picks from the options chain stand out:

• DBRG20260102C13: Call option with $13 strike, 13% implied volatility, 7.38% leverage ratio, and 0.924 delta. This contract offers 250.85% price change potential if DBRG breaks $13.50, with high gamma (0.105) amplifying sensitivity to price moves.
• DBRG20260102C14: Call option with $14 strike, 61.32% implied volatility, 11.75% leverage ratio, and 0.895 delta. This contract’s 160% price change potential and high gamma (0.166) make it ideal for a breakout above $14.50, with theta (-0.114) indicating aggressive time decay.

Payoff analysis under a 5% upside (to $16.04) shows the C13 option would yield $3.04/share (232% return) and the C14 option $2.04/share (145% return). Aggressive bulls should prioritize the C13 for its high leverage and gamma, while the C14 offers a safer entry if DBRG consolidates near $14.50 before the January 2 expiration.

Backtest DigitalBridge Group Stock Performance
The backtest of DBRG's performance after a 10% intraday surge from 2022 to now shows mixed results. While the 3-Day and 10-Day win rates are relatively high at 48.13% and 50.11%, respectively, the 30-Day win rate drops to 46.59%. This suggests that DBRG tends to perform well in the short term but faces challenges in maintaining gains over longer periods.

Act Now: DBRG's Acquisition Premium and AI Infrastructure Momentum Signal Strong Near-Term Upside
DigitalBridge’s 9.7% surge and proximity to the $16 offer price suggest the stock is primed to test its 52-week high of $15.55 in the coming weeks. With SoftBank’s $4B acquisition pending regulatory approvals and the broader AI infrastructure sector gaining momentum, investors should monitor key levels at $14.50 (200-day MA + 38%) and $16.00 (acquisition price). While Equinix (EQIX) remains the sector leader, its 0.277% gain pales compared to DBRG’s explosive move. Positioning in the C13 or C14 options offers leveraged exposure to a potential breakout, but traders must watch for gamma decay as the January 2 expiration nears. Break above $15.32 and hold for $16.00—regulatory green lights could make this a 10-bagger.