Nintendo Co., Ltd. is a publicly traded entertainment and video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Nintendo is famous for iconic game franchises and hardware platforms such as Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
It trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker 7974 and is also part of index benchmarks such as the Nikkei 225.
Founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, Nintendo originally produced handmade playing cards before diversifying into toys and eventually video games.
Over the decades, Nintendo evolved from a small domestic business into a globally recognized leader in the gaming industry, with operations spanning hardware, software, digital services, and intellectual property licensing.
As of the latest data, Nintendo’s leadership includes Shuntaro Furukawa as President (CEO) among its executive officers.
Ownership Status of Nintendo
Because Nintendo is a publicly traded company, there is no single “owner” in the sense of a majority private holder. Ownership is distributed among various shareholders: institutional investors, investment funds, other companies, and individual investors.
Nintendo itself also holds treasury shares, which are shares the company has repurchased and retains. These are excluded when calculating ownership percentages for external shareholders.
Major Shareholders & Breakdown
Here are some of the largest known shareholders and ownership breakdowns (based on recent disclosures and financial data):
| Shareholder / Entity | Approximate Ownership | Notes / Context |
|---|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. | ~ 7.0 % | One of the largest institutional investors in Nintendo. |
| Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia) | ~ 4–8 % (varied over time) | This sovereign wealth fund has been cited as a significant external investor. |
| Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd. | ~ 4.1 % | One of the prominent institutional shareholders in Japan. |
| Kyoto Financial Group, Inc. | ~ 3.7–3.8 % | A regional financial group based in Kyoto, which holds a stake in Nintendo. |
| MUFG Bank Retirement Benefit Trust | ~ 3.2 % | A pension/trust fund under the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group umbrella. |
| Amova Asset Management Co., Ltd. | ~ 2 % | Another institutional investor. |
| Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Treasury shares) | 10.35 % (of total, held as treasury) | Nintendo’s own treasury holdings, excluded from calculations of outside ownership. |
According to Marketscreener, the breakdown by shareholder type is:
- Institutional investors: ~ 14.7 %
- Nintendo (treasury shares): ~ 10.35 %
- Other specified entities (like Kyoto Financial, DeNA, etc.): smaller single-digit stakes
- The remainder—“Unknown / Others”—accounts for a large share of holdings among retail investors, smaller funds, and entities not disclosed in top-100 lists
Thus, while no single investor controls Nintendo outright, some large stakeholders do wield influence through significant minority positions.
Key Shareholder Highlights
- BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest institutional investor in Nintendo, with an ownership stake around 7 %.
- The Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia) has been actively increasing its stake, and at one point held ~ 8.26 %, making it one of the biggest external shareholders.
- Japanese institutions and financial groups (e.g. Nomura Asset Management, Kyoto Financial Group, MUFG) also hold noteworthy positions, reflecting domestic investor participation.
- Nintendo’s own treasury holdings (the company’s repurchased shares) are significant (~10.35 %) but do not confer external control and are excluded when calculating share percentages among external shareholders.
Because of this spread of ownership, Nintendo’s corporate governance must balance the interests of institutional shareholders, domestic Japanese stakeholders, and global investors.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- In 2022, it was reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had purchased a ~ 5 % stake in Nintendo; by early 2023, this stake reportedly rose to ~ 8.26 %, making it a top external investor.
- Later, by November 2024, public filings showed that PIF’s stake was around 6.3 %, suggesting some fluctuations or partial reduction of its holdings.
- Nintendo continues to disclose its treasury share holdings and use share repurchases as part of its capital policy.
These developments show that large institutional and sovereign investors are dynamically adjusting their positions in Nintendo, but none appear to be seeking controlling stakes at present.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Nintendo?
There is no single owner. Nintendo is a publicly traded company. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, other companies, and individual shareholders. Major holders include BlackRock, Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), Nomura, Kyoto Financial, and others.
2. Is Nintendo publicly traded or privately owned?
Nintendo is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 7974.
3. Who founded Nintendo?
Nintendo was founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi in 1889 in Kyoto, Japan.
4. Has Nintendo’s ownership changed recently?
Yes. Particularly, the Saudi Public Investment Fund has increased and then adjusted its holdings over recent years, making it one of Nintendo’s largest external investors. However, there is no change in overall control.