Intuitive(ISRG) The Motley Fool·2024-08-30 13:00Core Viewpoint - The healthcare industry is highlighted as a resilient sector during economic turbulence, with specific companies like UnitedHealth Group and Intuitive Surgical presenting strong investment opportunities due to their profitability and growth potential [1]. Group 1: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group is a leading healthcare company with a diversified business model, including insurance services and specialty pharmacy solutions [2]. - The company faced challenges from a cyberattack, resulting in over 31 billion at the end of Q2 [2]. - UnitedHealth has a history of increasing its dividend, with a 94% increase over the last five years and a current yield of around 1.4%, alongside a reasonable payout ratio of about 51% [3]. - In Q2, overall revenue rose 6.5% year over year to 6.7 billion, indicating strong financial health [4]. - The company has increased its dividend by 12% in Q2, marking 2024 as its 15th consecutive year of double-digit percentage increases [4]. Group 2: Intuitive Surgical - Intuitive Surgical is a leader in robot-assisted surgery, with its da Vinci surgical systems used for over 2.2 million procedures in 2023 [5]. - The company launched the da Vinci 5 system, which features advanced computing power and AI capabilities, approved by the FDA in March [5]. - In Q2, revenue totaled 527 million [6]. - Over 80% of Intuitive Surgical's revenue is recurring, derived from sales of replacement instruments, operating leases, and service contracts [6]. - Leases accounted for 51% of surgical system placements in Q2, with expectations for growth in this area [7].