Apple Fined Over €115 Million for Alleged Monopoly Practices
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 01 2026
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Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: Benzinga
- Fine Announcement: Italy's antitrust authority has imposed a fine of €98.6 million (approximately $115.53 million) on Apple for alleged monopolistic practices in the mobile app market, reflecting a stringent regulatory stance towards tech giants.
- Market Impact: This fine could significantly impact Apple's market strategy, compelling the company to reassess its App Store policies to mitigate further legal risks and potential financial losses.
- Industry Reaction: The ruling may trigger scrutiny of Apple and similar companies in other countries, especially against the backdrop of tightening antitrust regulations, potentially leading to increased compliance costs globally.
- Future Outlook: The regulatory pressure faced by Apple may drive the company to accelerate its innovation and diversification strategies to maintain market competitiveness and adapt to the evolving legal landscape.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise
27 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 272.950
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 272.950
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- New Product Development: Apple is developing new smart devices, including AI glasses, expected to launch in 2026, which could provide new growth opportunities for its Wearables, Home, and Accessories segment that currently accounts for only 8% of total revenue.
- Market Potential: According to Bloomberg, Apple's AI smart devices will be based on a concept called 'Visual Intelligence,' allowing users to gather real-world information through sensors and computer vision, potentially enhancing user experience and competitive positioning.
- Competitive Advantage: Apple's AI glasses are poised to compete strongly against Ray-Ban Meta's products, which sold 7 million pairs in 2025, indicating a robust market demand; if Apple can design stylish and functional products, it could solidify its leadership in the wearable tech market.
- Stock Performance: Apple's shares have risen 17% over the past six months, significantly outperforming the Nasdaq-100's 5.5% increase, and if it successfully launches attractive new AI smart devices, it may further strengthen its leadership position in the tech industry.
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- Apple's Strong Earnings: Apple reported a 16% revenue increase to $144 billion in Q1, driven by double-digit growth in iPhone and services, with a notable 38% surge in iPhone 17 sales in Greater China, indicating robust market demand despite rising memory chip prices.
- Microsoft's Solid Performance: Microsoft achieved a 17% revenue growth to $81 billion in the December-ended fiscal quarter, with non-GAAP net income rising 24% to $4.14 per share, showcasing strong momentum in commercial software and cloud services, exceeding expectations according to the CFO.
- Thiel's Exit Reasons: Peter Thiel liquidated his positions in Apple and Microsoft in Q4, despite analysts deeming them undervalued, primarily due to concerns over shrinking margins for Apple products from rising memory chip costs and potential AI disruptions impacting Microsoft's software sector.
- Future Outlook: While Thiel has exited these stocks, both Apple and Microsoft maintain strong market positions and growth potential, particularly Microsoft's investments in cloud computing and AI, which could yield significant returns in the coming years.
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- Apple's Strong Performance: Apple reported a 16% revenue increase to $144 billion in Q1, driven by double-digit growth in iPhone and services, with a notable 38% surge in iPhone 17 sales in Greater China, indicating robust market demand, although Thiel's reduction suggests concerns over future margins.
- Microsoft's Solid Financials: Microsoft achieved a 17% revenue growth to $81 billion in the December-ended fiscal quarter, with non-GAAP net income rising 24% to $4.14 per share, reflecting strong momentum in enterprise software and cloud services, despite increasing market worries about AI investment returns.
- Market Analysis and Target Prices: Analysts set a median target price of $303 for Apple, implying an 11% upside, while Microsoft's target is $600, indicating a 49% upside; despite Thiel's exit, investors should reassess the investment potential of both stocks.
- AI Strategic Development: Apple plans to leverage Alphabet's Gemini models for future AI features, which, although not a major selling point currently, is expected to bring significant changes in upcoming product updates, including a revamped Siri anticipated in 2026, enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
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- Market Trend Analysis: Major indexes are currently below their 50-day moving averages, indicating potential short-term downward pressure on the market, prompting investors to approach market fluctuations with caution.
- Underlying Strength Signals: Despite the weak performance of major indexes, there remains significant strength beneath the surface, suggesting that certain sectors or stocks may exhibit strong resilience, warranting investor attention.
- Investor Sentiment: Market sentiment is affected, with investor confidence in future trends diminishing, which could lead to short-term capital outflows and increased market uncertainty.
- Strategy Adjustment Recommendations: Investors are advised to reassess their portfolios in the current environment, focusing on stocks that demonstrate resilience during market corrections to capitalize on opportunities during future rebounds.
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- Market Share Dominance: As of Q3, Taiwan Semiconductor holds a commanding 72% market share in the pure foundry market, significantly outpacing its nearest competitor Samsung at 7%, which solidifies its long-term profitability in the AI hardware sector.
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q4 2025, Taiwan Semiconductor reported net revenue of $33.75 billion, a 25.5% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share rising by 35%, reflecting strong demand in high-performance computing and AI chip markets.
- Strategic Expansion Investment: Taiwan Semiconductor has committed $100 billion to expand its manufacturing facilities in the U.S., a move that not only enhances its competitive edge in the global market but also aligns with the strategic goals of the U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement.
- Robust Cash Flow: By the end of Q4 2025, Taiwan Semiconductor's cash and cash equivalents totaled $97 billion, significantly exceeding total liabilities of $78.2 billion, indicating a strong financial position that supports future investments and expansions.
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- Market Dominance: Taiwan Semiconductor holds a commanding 72% market share in the pure foundry market, significantly outpacing its nearest competitor, Samsung, at 7%, which solidifies its critical role in the surging demand for AI hardware globally.
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q4 2025, Taiwan Semiconductor reported net revenue of $33.75 billion, a 25.5% increase year-over-year, with earnings per share rising by 35%, showcasing its robust profitability in the advanced chip market and reinforcing its market position.
- Expansion Investment Plans: The company has committed $100 billion to expand its manufacturing facilities in the U.S., a strategic move that not only enhances its production capacity but also demonstrates a long-term commitment to the American market, expected to drive future revenue growth.
- High-Growth Segment: The high-performance computing segment, which includes AI chips, emerged as Taiwan Semiconductor's fastest-growing revenue source, increasing by 48% and accounting for 58% of total revenue in 2025, indicating the company's forward-looking positioning in future technology trends.
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