ISRG AI Stock Analysis – Buy, Hold, or Avoid?
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG)
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) remains a fundamentally strong, market-leading MedTech company with robust growth, profitability, and a fortress balance sheet, but its technical setup is currently bearish and valuation is demanding. Near-term downside risk is elevated due to weak momentum and recent product recalls, yet long-term prospects remain attractive for patient investors. The stock is best held or accumulated on further weakness, with a focus on monitoring regulatory and competitive developments.
Fundamentals
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) demonstrates outstanding fundamentals marked by robust revenue and earnings growth, consistently strong profitability, and a proven record of beating market expectations. The company maintains high margins and impressive earnings quality, but its premium valuation warrants scrutiny, especially given pressure from competition and broader market volatility.
Financial Highlights
- Revenue
- Net Income
- Net Margin (%)
Revenue
22.96% YoY
Q1 2026
Net Income
17.63% YoY
Q1 2026
Net Margin
Q1 2026
Growth Metrics
Revenue Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Net Income Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Revenue Per Share Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
EPS Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Book Value Per Share Growth YoY
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2.8B | 2.9B | 2.5B | 2.4B | 2.3B | 2.4B | 2.0B | 2.0B |
| Revenue Growth YoY | +22.96% | +18.76% | +22.91% | +21.40% | +19.19% | +25.16% | +16.88% | +14.47% |
| Net Income | 821.5M | 794.8M | 704.4M | 658.4M | 698.4M | 685.7M | 565.1M | 526.9M |
| Net Income Growth YoY | +17.63% | +15.91% | +24.65% | +24.96% | +28.17% | +13.11% | +35.94% | +25.21% |
| EPS | $2.31 | $2.24 | $1.98 | $1.84 | $1.95 | $1.92 | $1.59 | $1.48 |
| EPS Growth YoY | +18.46% | +16.67% | +24.53% | +24.32% | +26.62% | +11.63% | +34.75% | +23.33% |
Profitability Metrics
Gross Margin
TTM
Operating Margin
TTM
Net Margin
TTM
Return on Equity
TTM
Return on Assets
TTM
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 66.06% | 66.44% | 66.36% | 66.31% | 64.69% | 68.04% | 67.41% | 68.30% |
| Operating Margin | 30.87% | 30.15% | 30.33% | 30.47% | 25.65% | 30.45% | 28.33% | 28.23% |
| Net Margin | 29.65% | 27.73% | 28.12% | 26.98% | 30.99% | 28.41% | 27.73% | 26.22% |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 4.70% | 4.46% | 4.16% | 3.69% | 4.08% | 4.17% | 3.63% | 3.58% |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | 4.25% | 3.92% | 3.71% | 3.33% | 3.70% | 3.71% | 3.25% | 3.24% |
Technical Analysis
ISRG is currently in a strong downtrend phase, evidenced by its position below key moving averages and a death cross confirmation. Momentum is weak with RSI in a neutral zone, and ADX showing a lack of strong trend strength, indicating potential for continued range-bound or declining price action. Key resistance near $470 (50 SMA) is significant overhead, while support is close to the 52-week low near $427.
No extreme reading
Price in downtrend
Trend developing
50 below 200 - bearish
Key Technical Values
Price with Moving Averages
50-day, 150-day and 200-day simple moving averages
Relative Strength Index
Momentum oscillator measuring speed and magnitude of price changes
RSI (14)
Earnings
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) demonstrates outstanding fundamentals marked by robust revenue and earnings growth, consistently strong profitability, and a proven record of beating market expectations. The company maintains high margins and impressive earnings quality, but its premium valuation warrants scrutiny, especially given pressure from competition and broader market volatility.
Latest Earnings
Q1 2026 Earnings (Mar 31, 2026)
Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Actual
$2.50
Estimated
$2.12
Surprise
+$0.38
Surprise %
+17.92%
Revenue
Actual
$2.77B
Estimated
$2.62B
Surprise
+$152.05M
Surprise %
+5.81%
Historical Earnings
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Per Share | ||||||||
| EPS (Actual) | $2.50 | $2.53 | $2.40 | $2.19 | $1.81 | $2.21 | $1.84 | $1.78 |
| EPS (Estimated) | $2.12 | $2.27 | $1.99 | $1.93 | $1.74 | $1.76 | $1.63 | $1.54 |
| EPS Surprise | +$0.38 | +$0.26 | +$0.41 | +$0.26 | +$0.07 | +$0.45 | +$0.21 | +$0.24 |
| % Diff | +17.9% | +11.5% | +20.6% | +13.5% | +4.0% | +25.6% | +12.9% | +15.6% |
| Revenue | ||||||||
| Revenue (Actual) | $2.77B | $2.87B | $2.51B | $2.44B | $2.25B | $2.41B | $2.04B | $2.01B |
| Revenue (Estimated) | $2.62B | $2.76B | $2.41B | $2.35B | $2.19B | $2.25B | $2.01B | $1.97B |
| Revenue Surprise | +$152.05M | +$103.57M | +$98.71M | +$88.75M | +$67.59M | +$164.64M | +$32.62M | +$38.31M |
| % Diff | +5.8% | +3.7% | +4.1% | +3.8% | +3.1% | +7.3% | +1.6% | +1.9% |
Valuation
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) trades at a premium valuation relative to its healthcare equipment peers but shows signs of being fairly valued or slightly undervalued against its own historical multiples given strong growth prospects. Analysts broadly support a positive outlook with consensus price targets well above current prices, reflecting confidence in continued procedural adoption and earnings growth.
Valuation Metrics
Price to Earnings
TTM
Price to Sales
TTM
Price to Book
TTM
Enterprise Value to EBITDA
TTM
Enterprise Value to Revenue
TTM
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price to Earnings | 49.79 | 63.22 | 56.60 | 73.97 | 63.38 | 67.82 | 77.33 | 73.48 |
| Price to Sales | 59.05 | 70.13 | 63.66 | 79.84 | 78.57 | 77.08 | 85.76 | 77.05 |
| Price to Book | 9.36 | 11.28 | 9.42 | 10.92 | 10.35 | 11.32 | 11.22 | 10.53 |
| Enterprise Value to EBITDA | 188.90 | 182.40 | 170.36 | 212.98 | 242.68 | 214.22 | 248.57 | 223.57 |
| Enterprise Value to Revenue | 58.31 | 69.06 | 62.54 | 78.45 | 77.43 | 76.30 | 84.58 | 75.54 |
Sentiment & Analyst Ratings
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) currently shows generally positive market sentiment supported by strong 2026 Q1 financial results, procedure growth, and raised full-year guidance. While analysts mostly recommend buying the stock due to its strong fundamentals and innovation pipeline, some caution exists around valuation and regional growth headwinds. Social media sentiment is bullish yet tempered by technical signals suggesting some caution near support levels.
Analyst Recommendations
Risk Assessment
Intuitive Surgical demonstrates a robust financial position characterized by exceptional liquidity and negligible debt, enabling strong operational flexibility. However, regulatory challenges including a serious product recall and cybersecurity incidents introduce potential near-term volatility. Competitive pressures, especially in emerging markets like China, alongside premium valuation metrics, suggest a cautiously optimistic risk profile from an investor perspective.
Liquidity & Solvency
Current Ratio
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Quick Ratio
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Debt-to-Equity
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
Debt-to-Assets
Latest Quarter: Q1 2026
| Q1 2026 | Q4 2025 | Q3 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q1 2025 | Q4 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquidity Metrics | ||||||||
| Current Ratio | 6.03 | 4.87 | 4.73 | 5.17 | 4.98 | 4.07 | 4.30 | 5.15 |
| Quick Ratio | 5.01 | 3.96 | 3.74 | 4.18 | 3.97 | 3.22 | 3.42 | 4.22 |
| Solvency Metrics | ||||||||
| Debt-to-Equity | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Debt-to-Assets | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Liquidity Assessment
Current Ratio: 6.03(Strong)
Quick Ratio: 5.01(Strong)
The company has strong liquidity with sufficient short-term assets to cover liabilities.
Solvency Assessment
Debt-to-Equity: 0.000
Debt-to-Assets: 0.000
The company has conservative debt levels, indicating low financial risk and strong long-term solvency.
Frequently Asked Questions about ISRG
AI Answers: Common Questions About ISRG
Get AI-powered answers to the questions investors ask most about Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
ISRG is not an ideal buy right now for short-term traders due to a bearish technical setup (death cross, price below $470 SMA, RSI ~42), but long-term investors may consider accumulating on further weakness given strong fundamentals, accelerating EPS (24.5% YoY in 2025), and a fair valuation (P/E 54.75, below historical highs). Waiting for a technical reversal or stabilization near $427 support is prudent.
Selling is not recommended unless your horizon is short-term, as the fundamental outlook remains robust and analyst targets are above current levels. However, if you are risk-averse to near-term volatility from recalls or technical breakdowns, trimming may be justified; otherwise, holding through volatility is supported by the long-term growth story.
The biggest risks include recent Class I product recalls with severe safety implications, cybersecurity incidents, and intensifying competition in China. While ISRG's liquidity is exceptional (current ratio >6, negligible debt), these operational and regulatory risks could cause near-term volatility and margin pressure.
Short-term downside target is near $427 (52-week low support), with resistance at $470 and $498; most analyst price targets remain well above $450, reflecting confidence in earnings growth and innovation. A sustained break above $470 could signal technical recovery, while further recall news could test $427 support.
ISRG trades at a P/E of 54.75 and high EV/EBITDA, well above sector averages but below its own historical peaks, suggesting it is fairly valued given its growth profile. The premium is justified by industry-leading margins and recurring revenue, but leaves little room for execution missteps.
ISRG is fundamentally strong, with 20.5% revenue growth, 24.5% EPS growth, gross margins of ~66%, net margins near 28%, and a debt-free balance sheet. Recurring revenue and high customer retention support earnings quality and sustainability.
Technical analysis is bearish: ISRG is below all major moving averages, a death cross is active, RSI is neutral (41.76), and volume is elevated on declines. Key support is at $427, with resistance at $470 and $498; no bullish reversal patterns are present, so further downside or range-bound trading is likely.
Key catalysts include resolution of recent product recalls, upcoming earnings reports (with ISRG consistently beating estimates), FDA approvals for new instruments, and continued innovation in the da Vinci platform. Macro factors like hospital capital spending and regulatory changes also bear watching.
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