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Bull of the Day: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

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Key Takeaways

  • Intuitive Surgical rallies after a strong Q3 earnings beat and raised guidance.
  • Global adoption of da Vinci and Ion systems drives growth and higher estimates.
  • Analysts lift price targets as system upgrades and clinical advances gain traction.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) is a Zack Rank #1 (Strong Buy) that develops, manufactures, and markets advanced medical technologies that allow physicians to perform minimally invasive procedures with greater precision and efficiency.

The company is best known for its da Vinci Surgical System, a robot-assisted platform that provides surgeons with 3-D high-definition vision, enhanced dexterity, and minimally invasive access to target tissue, reducing the trauma of traditional open surgery.

ISRG recently posted a big EPS beat, helping the stock rally back to summer highs. Now the question is how the stock will close out the year and if it can see all-time highs before the year ends.

About the Company

Beyond the operating room, Intuitive offers the Ion endoluminal system, a flexible, catheter-based platform that enables minimally invasive lung biopsies and extends the company’s presence into diagnostic procedures.

ISRG also produces a wide range of instruments and accessories, including EndoWrist tools like forceps, scissors, and electrocautery devices that mimic natural wrist movements, as well as vision products and sterile drapes to support surgical workflows.

The company complements its hardware offerings with comprehensive services, including installation, repair, 24/7 technical support, proactive system monitoring, and training programs to optimize usage.

Its products are sold through dedicated capital and clinical sales teams across the United States and internationally, and operations are organized into three segments: Instruments and Accessories, Systems, and Services.

ISRG is valued at $200 billion and has a Forward PE of 64. The stock has Zacks Style Scores of “F” in Value, but “A” in Momentum.

Q3 Earnings Beat

Investors were rewarded with a 15% move higher on a 20% EPS beat. Intuitive Surgical reported adjusted earnings of $2.28 per share, beating estimates of $1.99, on revenue of $2.51 billion versus $2.41 billion expected.

The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance, now projecting worldwide da Vinci procedures to grow 17–17.5%, up from the prior 15.5–17%, and raising pro forma gross margin to 67–67.5%.

Global da Vinci procedures increased 20%, with 427 systems placed versus 379 a year ago, and the installed base grew 13%. Adoption of the da Vinci 5 system drove an upgrade cycle, with 240 placements in Q3 and strong utilization gains across multiport, SP, and Ion platforms, while international expansion continues, including early Da Vinci 5 placements in Japan and Europe.

The company highlighted clinical advances, including improved diagnostic yield for Ion and gentler surgery with force feedback in thoracic procedures, alongside digital enhancements that enable remote deployment and AI-ready intraoperative guidance.

Estimates Head Higher

Analysts have been quick to lift estimates after the stellar earnings report.

For the current quarter, estimates have gone from $2.16 to $2.25 over the last 7 days. For next quarter, we see a similar move, going from $2.02 to $2.11.

For the current year, estimates have gone from $8.16 to $8.66, a jump of 5%.

The longer-term looks solid as well, with estimates for next year going from $9.16 to $9.55, an increase of 4%.

Price targets have been going higher with those estimates:

Truist went from $525 to $620 with a Buy rating.

UBS went from $585 to $600 with a Neutral.  

Raymond James has an Outperform and $603 target.  

The Technical Take

ISRG was trending lower since the summer months, but the move higher after earnings changed that trend. While the stock could pull back, all-time highs are in sight.

Let’s look at some moving averages and upside targets

21-day: $468

50-day: $461

200-day: $512

That stock has shot above any Fibonacci resistance and the 161.8% extension targets are at $650, which would be an all time high for the stock.

In Summary

Intuitive Surgical’s combination of strong fundamentals, innovative technology, and robust earnings momentum makes it a standout in the healthcare and robotics space.

The company continues to expand its da Vinci and Ion platforms globally, drive system utilization, and deliver clinical advancements that support adoption and long-term growth.

With estimates and price targets moving higher, along with strong technical signals pointing toward all-time highs, ISRG remains well-positioned for investors seeking growth in the medical technology sector. For those looking at momentum plays, the stock’s recent surge and continued upgrades make it a compelling bull case heading into year-end.


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