Reasons to Retain Intuitive Surgical Stock in Your Portfolio Now

Core Viewpoint - Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) is positioned for growth due to its strength in robotics and advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), despite facing procedure adoption risks and competition [1] Upsides - Strength in Robotics: The da Vinci surgical system is driving a shift from conventional surgery to minimally invasive procedures, with a notable increase in system placements and demand for the new da Vinci 5 system [2][3] - Strong Q2 Results: The company reported a 14% year-over-year increase in the installed base of da Vinci systems and a 2% increase in utilization rate, with expectations for procedure volume growth of 14-17% in 2024 [3][5] - Progress on the AI Front: The integration of AI in medical technologies is enhancing Intuitive Surgical's product offerings and operational efficiency, indicating a positive trend in the MedTech space [4] Downsides - Macro Challenges Continue: The company may face slower procedure growth due to soft demand for bariatric procedures and challenges in Asia, which could negatively impact top-line growth by nearly three percentage points in 2024 [6] - Supply Chain Issues: Ongoing geopolitical tensions may lead to disruptions in system placements and sales of the Ion modulation system [6] Estimate Trend - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings remains stable at $6.67 per share, with revenue expectations of$8.10 billion, reflecting a 13.7% improvement from the previous year [7]