U.S. Trade Judge Rules Apple Watch Does Not Infringe Masimo Patents
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 19 2026
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Should l Buy AAPL?
A redesigned Apple Watch doesn't infringe two Masimo (MASI) patents, a U.S. trade judge found in an early win for Apple (AAPL) that could allow imports of the device if the full agency agrees it falls outside a 2023 ban, Bloomberg's Christopher Yasiejko reports. Apple's Redesign 2 Watch doesn't directly infringe asserted claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,912,502 and 10,945,648 and doesn't induce infringement when used with an iPhone in the U.S., according to Administrative Law Judge Monica Bhattacharyya's enforcement initial determination issued Wednesday at the U.S. International Trade Commission.
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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: 246.630
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 246.630
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.
- Market Milestone: Apple achieved a $4 trillion market cap by the end of 2025, joining a select group of companies, although its stock has declined by 14% from its peak, reflecting investor concerns over tech stocks.
- Sales Growth Driver: The successful launch of the iPhone 17 has propelled Apple's latest quarterly year-over-year revenue growth to nearly 16%, marking the highest growth rate in over three years, indicating that devices remain a crucial revenue source for the company.
- Service Business Outlook: With over 2.5 billion active devices and paid accounts reaching an all-time high, Apple's services segment shows significant growth potential, expected to comprise a larger share of total sales in the future, thereby enhancing profits and margins.
- Investment Value Assessment: Although Apple's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 28.8, above the industry average of 20.9, its strong brand, cash flow, and growth opportunities suggest the stock remains attractive, especially after a 14% pullback, making it a buy on the dip.
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- Market Milestone: Apple reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion in August 2018 and is projected to hit $4 trillion by October 2025, demonstrating its significant influence and sustained growth potential in the global market.
- Product Innovation and Challenges: While Apple has made strides in wearables and services, its generative AI strategy has lagged behind competitors, and consumer skepticism regarding the slower upgrade pace of phones and computers may impact future sales.
- CEO Tenure and Performance: Tim Cook has completed 15 years as CEO, the longest tenure in Apple's history, during which he has launched key products like Apple Pay and the Apple Watch, enhancing the company's revenue streams.
- Historical Reflection and Future Outlook: In his 50th anniversary letter, Cook emphasized that Apple is more focused on building the future than reminiscing about the past, indicating the company's commitment to innovation and excellence in response to market changes.
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- Strong U.S. Crude Performance: U.S. crude for May also increased by 1.5% to $102.92 per barrel, with a 51% rise in March, representing the best performance since May 2020, reflecting concerns over supply disruptions.
- Escalating Geopolitical Risks: Iranian drones targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport, causing a massive fire and exacerbating global economic fears over reliance on Middle Eastern oil, especially with shipments through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted.
- Trump's Withdrawal Statement: Trump indicated that U.S. forces are expected to leave Iran in two to three weeks, dismissing the need for a negotiated deal to end the conflict, which could lead to further oil price volatility and impact global market stability.
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- Market Performance: Despite Chevron's stock lagging the S&P 500 by over 10% in 2025, Buffett's average purchase price of about $132 per share reflects his commitment to value investing principles.
- Future Potential: The capture of Venezuelan President Maduro may open new long-term opportunities for Chevron, which is the only U.S. oil major actively drilling in the country, although the situation remains unpredictable.
- Substantial Returns: With global energy prices soaring, Chevron's stock has risen 37% in 2026, resulting in a 58% return on Berkshire's latest investment, marking a final masterstroke by Buffett that is likely to yield dividends in the years to come.
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- Chevron Stake Increase: In his final quarter as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett added over 8 million shares of Chevron, raising his total investment in the company to $19.8 billion, reflecting his ongoing confidence in the oil and gas sector.
- Timely Investment: Despite Chevron's stock lagging the S&P 500 by more than 10% in 2025, Buffett purchased shares at an average price of about $132, demonstrating his keen eye for value investment opportunities.
- Market Rebound Potential: With global energy prices skyrocketing due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Chevron's stock has risen 37% year-to-date in 2026, allowing Berkshire to realize a 58% return on this investment in less than six months, further solidifying Buffett's investment strategy.
- Venezuelan Opportunities: Buffett's investment may also benefit from the changing situation in Venezuela, as Chevron is the only U.S. oil major actively drilling in the country, potentially positioning the company for long-term opportunities in the region.
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- Flat Revenue Performance: Nike reported total revenue of $11.28 billion for Q3 FY2026, which, while exceeding Wall Street's expectation of $11.24 billion, reflects no year-over-year growth, leading to a 9% drop in after-hours trading and highlighting the slow progress of the company's turnaround efforts.
- Declining Profitability: Earnings per share (EPS) fell to 35 cents, a 35% decrease from the previous year, although it beat the consensus estimate of 29 cents, indicating challenges in inventory clearance that impacted overall profitability and heightened market concerns about future performance.
- Chinese Market Recovery: Despite a 7% year-over-year decline in sales in China, the region's revenue of $1.62 billion surpassed analyst estimates by $100 million, suggesting a gradual recovery after a significant 17% drop in the prior quarter, yet the outlook remains bleak for future quarters.
- Bleak Future Guidance: Nike's guidance for Q4 FY2026 is disappointing again, forecasting a revenue decline of 2% to 4% and a year-over-year drop in gross margins by 25 to 75 basis points, indicating substantial challenges in the recovery process and further eroding market confidence.
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