Trump's Tax Reform Fuels Stock Market Rally
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: Fool
- Tax Reform Impact: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by Trump in 2017 lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, allowing companies to retain more earnings, which spurred hiring and innovation, thereby driving stock market gains.
- Buyback Surge: Since 2018, S&P 500 companies have repurchased nearly $7 trillion in stock, with an estimated $1.2 trillion in buybacks expected in 2025, a trend that not only boosts earnings per share (EPS) but also attracts value-seeking investors.
- Market Valuation Risks: As of early 2026, the S&P 500's CAPE ratio has risen to 40, exceeding 99% of historical valuations, and historical data indicates that CAPE ratios above 30 often precede declines of 20% to 89%, suggesting limited investor tolerance for premium valuations.
- AI Bubble Concerns: Despite rapid advancements in AI technology attracting significant investment, historical trends show that every major technological revolution has faced bubble bursts, and if an AI bubble forms and bursts, even $1 trillion in annual buybacks may not stabilize the market.
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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.
Apple's Services Business Continues Strong Growth
- 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
Apple Cuts iPhone 17 Prices Ahead of 618 Holiday
- 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
Berkshire's 13-F Filing Under New CEO Reveals Strategic Investment Shifts
- Stable Apple Holdings: Berkshire maintained its stake in Apple at approximately 228 million shares, which, while below the historical peak of over 900 million shares, still represents 22% of its equity portfolio, reflecting confidence in Apple's long-term value.
- Significant Google Investment: Berkshire's share count in Alphabet surged from about 17.85 million to roughly 58 million, pushing the position's value to nearly $17 billion, indicating CEO Abel's strong confidence and willingness to invest in tech stocks.
- Exploration of New Investment Areas: The new $2.65 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and a minor position in Macy's signal Abel's readiness to enter sectors previously avoided by Buffett, further diversifying the investment portfolio.
- Aggressive Sell-offs: Berkshire exited positions in Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and others, while slashing its stake in Constellation Brands by 95%, indicating Abel's intent to reshape the investment strategy and reinforce his personal style.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Major Portfolio Overhaul Under Greg Abel
- Portfolio Restructuring: Under Greg Abel's leadership, Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio underwent significant changes in the first three months, adding Delta Air Lines and Macy's, indicating a renewed focus on the airline and retail sectors.
- Massive Alphabet Stake Increase: Berkshire increased its stake in Google's parent company Alphabet by 224% in Q1, making it the company's seventh-largest holding with a market value of $16.6 billion, and the stock has rallied 38% since, showcasing the success of this decision.
- Reduction in Holdings: Abel dramatically cut the number of companies in the portfolio, selling off major stakes including Amazon and Visa, with Amazon's shares reduced from 10 million to 2.3 million, reflecting a significant strategic shift in investment focus.
- Return to Delta Airlines: Berkshire purchased 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines in Q1, currently valued at $2.8 billion, marking the company's first return to airline stocks since 2020, demonstrating confidence in the recovery of the airline industry.
See More
Trump and Xi Reignite US-China Relations
- Historic Visit: President Trump made his first visit to China in nearly a decade, engaging in multiple friendly interactions with Xi Jinping, which may pave the way for future trade negotiations and strengthen bilateral ties.
- Business Banquet: During a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People, Trump referred to Xi as “my friend” and invited him and First Lady Peng Liyuan to visit the White House in September, signaling positive economic cooperation that could boost bilateral trade.
- Tech Leaders Gather: Tesla's CEO Elon Musk mingled with Chinese business leaders like ByteDance's Liang Rubo, with social media buzz around Musk's selfie with Xiaomi's Lei Jun reflecting vibrant US-China tech exchanges that may enhance collaboration in the tech sector.
- Future Relationship Framework: Both sides agreed to work towards a more stable bilateral relationship framework over the next three years, with the Trump administration indicating that China would increase purchases of Boeing aircraft and American agricultural products, although the Taiwan issue remains a potential source of conflict.
See More
Nvidia and Alphabet Compete for Market Valuation Supremacy
- Valuation Comparison: Nvidia's market cap reaches $5.5 trillion, making it the world's largest company, while Alphabet's market cap stands at $4.8 trillion, highlighting the intensifying competition between the two tech giants.
- Cloud Service Growth: Alphabet's total revenue increased by 22% year-over-year to $109.9 billion in Q1, with cloud sales soaring 63% to approximately $20 billion, indicating strong demand and market potential in the cloud computing sector.
- Investment Plans: Alphabet plans to ramp up capital expenditures in 2027 to meet surging demand for cloud services, with its backlog nearly doubling quarter-over-quarter to $460 billion, showcasing robust growth momentum ahead.
- Nvidia's Outlook: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang projects $1 trillion in purchase orders for its AI systems by 2027; while some market success may be priced in, Nvidia still has strong performance potential amid ongoing AI demand growth.
See More
Apple's Services Business Continues Strong Growth
- 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
Apple Cuts iPhone 17 Prices Ahead of 618 Holiday
- 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
Berkshire's 13-F Filing Under New CEO Reveals Strategic Investment Shifts
- Stable Apple Holdings: Berkshire maintained its stake in Apple at approximately 228 million shares, which, while below the historical peak of over 900 million shares, still represents 22% of its equity portfolio, reflecting confidence in Apple's long-term value.
- Significant Google Investment: Berkshire's share count in Alphabet surged from about 17.85 million to roughly 58 million, pushing the position's value to nearly $17 billion, indicating CEO Abel's strong confidence and willingness to invest in tech stocks.
- Exploration of New Investment Areas: The new $2.65 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and a minor position in Macy's signal Abel's readiness to enter sectors previously avoided by Buffett, further diversifying the investment portfolio.
- Aggressive Sell-offs: Berkshire exited positions in Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and others, while slashing its stake in Constellation Brands by 95%, indicating Abel's intent to reshape the investment strategy and reinforce his personal style.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Major Portfolio Overhaul Under Greg Abel
- Portfolio Restructuring: Under Greg Abel's leadership, Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio underwent significant changes in the first three months, adding Delta Air Lines and Macy's, indicating a renewed focus on the airline and retail sectors.
- Massive Alphabet Stake Increase: Berkshire increased its stake in Google's parent company Alphabet by 224% in Q1, making it the company's seventh-largest holding with a market value of $16.6 billion, and the stock has rallied 38% since, showcasing the success of this decision.
- Reduction in Holdings: Abel dramatically cut the number of companies in the portfolio, selling off major stakes including Amazon and Visa, with Amazon's shares reduced from 10 million to 2.3 million, reflecting a significant strategic shift in investment focus.
- Return to Delta Airlines: Berkshire purchased 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines in Q1, currently valued at $2.8 billion, marking the company's first return to airline stocks since 2020, demonstrating confidence in the recovery of the airline industry.
See More
Trump and Xi Reignite US-China Relations
- Historic Visit: President Trump made his first visit to China in nearly a decade, engaging in multiple friendly interactions with Xi Jinping, which may pave the way for future trade negotiations and strengthen bilateral ties.
- Business Banquet: During a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People, Trump referred to Xi as “my friend” and invited him and First Lady Peng Liyuan to visit the White House in September, signaling positive economic cooperation that could boost bilateral trade.
- Tech Leaders Gather: Tesla's CEO Elon Musk mingled with Chinese business leaders like ByteDance's Liang Rubo, with social media buzz around Musk's selfie with Xiaomi's Lei Jun reflecting vibrant US-China tech exchanges that may enhance collaboration in the tech sector.
- Future Relationship Framework: Both sides agreed to work towards a more stable bilateral relationship framework over the next three years, with the Trump administration indicating that China would increase purchases of Boeing aircraft and American agricultural products, although the Taiwan issue remains a potential source of conflict.
See More
Nvidia and Alphabet Compete for Market Valuation Supremacy
- Valuation Comparison: Nvidia's market cap reaches $5.5 trillion, making it the world's largest company, while Alphabet's market cap stands at $4.8 trillion, highlighting the intensifying competition between the two tech giants.
- Cloud Service Growth: Alphabet's total revenue increased by 22% year-over-year to $109.9 billion in Q1, with cloud sales soaring 63% to approximately $20 billion, indicating strong demand and market potential in the cloud computing sector.
- Investment Plans: Alphabet plans to ramp up capital expenditures in 2027 to meet surging demand for cloud services, with its backlog nearly doubling quarter-over-quarter to $460 billion, showcasing robust growth momentum ahead.
- Nvidia's Outlook: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang projects $1 trillion in purchase orders for its AI systems by 2027; while some market success may be priced in, Nvidia still has strong performance potential amid ongoing AI demand growth.
See More
