Supreme Court Rules Against Trump's Tariffs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: Benzinga
- Tariff Policy Shift: The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against Trump's tariffs led to an immediate increase in global import tariffs from 10% to 15%, which could directly impact companies like Apple by raising their operational costs significantly.
- Apple's Response Strategy: In response to tariffs exceeding 40%, Apple has shifted some production to India to mitigate costs, while CEO Tim Cook has actively lobbied the government for product exemptions, demonstrating the company's adaptability in a complex trade environment.
- Increased Market Uncertainty: The implementation of the new tariff policy has heightened uncertainty for Apple and other tech companies, particularly regarding how to manage tariffs already collected and the ongoing changes in tariff policies, which could affect their investment decisions and supply chain management.
- Analyst Insights: Wedbush analyst Dan Ives noted that Cook's ability to navigate tariff issues could be his “Hall of Fame moment” at Apple, emphasizing that the ruling has left global trading partners in confusion and highlighting the urgent need for more policy information to adapt to the new trade 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: 298.210
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 298.210
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, Wearables, Home and Accessories. 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 wearables include smartwatches, wireless headphones, and spatial computers. 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.
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- Gross Margin Enhancement Potential: Analyst Amit Daryanani highlighted that the structurally higher margins of the Services segment will elevate Apple's overall gross margins, as long as Services maintains double-digit growth, even if segment-level margins remain stable.
- Earnings Per Share Growth Expectations: Daryanani projects that Apple's earnings per share could reach between $12 and $13 in the next couple of years, representing a 50% increase from the $7.49 earned in 2025, indicating that Services will be crucial for sustaining healthy double-digit EPS growth.
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- Revenue Growth in Services: Apple's Services business generated over $30 billion in revenue in the latest quarter, showcasing strong performance across the App Store, iCloud, and Apple Music, and is expected to continue driving overall gross margin improvements.
- Gross Margin Enhancement Potential: Analyst Amit Daryanani highlighted that the structurally higher margins of the Services segment will elevate Apple's overall gross margins, as long as Services maintains double-digit growth, even if segment-level margins remain stable.
- Earnings Per Share Growth Expectations: Daryanani projects that Apple's earnings per share could reach between $12 and $13 in the next couple of years, representing a 50% increase from the $7.49 earned in 2025, indicating that Services will be crucial for sustaining healthy double-digit EPS growth.
- AI Potential Unleashed: With Apple's plans to launch Apple Intelligence this fall, analysts believe this could unlock multiple monetization avenues without requiring the capital expenditure intensity of hyperscalers, further enhancing Apple's competitive position in the market.
See More
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- Pricing Strategy: Apple has reduced the prices of some iPhone 17 Pro models by 1,000 yuan to 6,999 yuan in China, aiming to boost sales ahead of the upcoming 618 shopping festival, which is expected to enhance consumer purchasing willingness and strengthen market competitiveness.
- Promotional Impact: By leveraging trade-in programs and other promotional strategies, consumers can enjoy a lower effective price when purchasing the iPhone 17 Pro, which will further drive sales growth and enhance brand loyalty.
- Increased Market Competition: The price cuts are not exclusive to Apple, as competitors like Huawei and Xiaomi have also lowered their smartphone prices, indicating intensified market competition that may lead to an overall price war in the smartphone sector.
- Stock Market Reaction: Following the price cut announcement, Apple shares rose by 0.5%, reflecting a positive market response to this strategy and indicating investor optimism regarding Apple's sales prospects in the Chinese market.
See More
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- Trump's Visit Outcomes: Following his meetings with Xi, Trump announced that China agreed to purchase U.S. crude oil, although Beijing has not confirmed this plan, leading to a rise in oil prices and indicating potential improvement in U.S.-China trade relations.
- Cerebras IPO Performance: Cerebras surged 68% on its Nasdaq debut, reaching a market cap of approximately $95 billion, marking the largest IPO in the U.S. tech sector in years, which made its founders billionaires and reflects strong market demand for emerging technologies.
- Market Dynamics Recap: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged back above 50,000, while the S&P 500 closed above 7,500 for the first time, showcasing a robust rebound driven by surging demand for AI infrastructure, particularly with Cisco's stock rising over 13%.
- Automotive Industry Layoffs: Legacy automakers have collectively cut over 20,000 U.S. salaried jobs, about 19% of their workforce, as they adapt to technological changes, raising concerns among lawmakers about the impact of Chinese car manufacturers entering the U.S. market.
See More
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- Fed Chair Transition: Jerome Powell's last day as Fed Chair coincides with falling stock futures, indicating investor uncertainty regarding future monetary policy, which may lead to increased market volatility in the short term.
- Cerebras IPO Success: Cerebras shares surged 68% on their Nasdaq debut, pushing the company's market cap to approximately $95 billion, marking the largest IPO in the U.S. tech sector in years and reflecting strong demand and renewed investor confidence in high-tech firms.
- Automotive Industry Layoffs: The Detroit Three automakers—GM, Ford, and Stellantis—have collectively cut over 20,000 U.S. salaried jobs, about 19% of their combined workforce, highlighting the industry's struggle to adapt to AI and technological changes, which could impact future production capabilities.
- Crypto Regulation Progress: The Senate Banking Committee approved the Clarity Act, providing a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry despite opposition from banks and law enforcement, indicating lawmakers' recognition of the crypto market's significance and potential compliance challenges ahead.
See More
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- High-Level US-China Meeting: The meeting between US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted tech cooperation, with executives from Nvidia, Tesla, and Apple present, indicating a strong American interest in the Chinese market.
- Absence of Chip Export Controls: Despite Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's presence, discussions on chip export controls were notably absent, which could impact the sales of Nvidia's H200 chips in China, reflecting the complexities of US-China relations in high-tech sectors.
- Rare Earth Minerals Negotiations: Both sides expressed a willingness to cooperate on access to rare earth minerals, where China holds a dominant market position, with hopes to extend existing trade agreements to ensure the US secures critical resources and enhances supply chain resilience.
- Future Negotiation Outlook: Ongoing negotiations on sensitive topics like rare earth minerals are expected to continue into the summer, and if Xi visits the US in September, these issues may resurface, highlighting potential opportunities for economic collaboration between the two nations.
See More
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- Meeting Overview: The Trump-Xi talks did not address chip export controls, although critical minerals and market access for U.S. tech companies were expected focal points, indicating ongoing tensions in the tech sector between the two nations.
- U.S. Executive Participation: High-profile executives including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, Tesla's Elon Musk, and Apple's Tim Cook were part of the U.S. delegation, reflecting America's interest in the Chinese market, yet the lack of consensus on chip exports may hinder future collaboration opportunities.
- Rare Earth Minerals Issue: China's dominance over critical and rare earth minerals remains a sensitive topic in U.S.-China relations; while the U.S. has seen improvements in accessing these resources, uncertainty over the extension of future agreements could impact America's competitiveness in high-tech industries.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Despite the absence of concrete agreements, President Xi's statement about further opening China's market may provide opportunities for U.S. businesses, but the practical implications remain to be seen, potentially affecting market confidence in future collaborations.
See More
