Group 1: Intuitive Surgical - Intuitive Surgical is the global leader in robotic surgery with a compound annual growth rate of about 15%, and the market is expected to exceed 2 billion, with an installed base growth of 15% to more than 9,500 systems [4] - The company has a strong competitive advantage due to surgeon familiarity with the da Vinci platform and the significant investment hospitals make in the robots, which encourages continued use [5] - Despite trading at over 75 times forward earnings estimates, the company's leadership, competitive moat, and recurrent revenue model justify the valuation [6] Group 2: Abbott Laboratories - Abbott Laboratories is a well-diversified healthcare company with four distinct units: medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition, and established pharmaceuticals, allowing for overall growth even if one unit faces challenges [9] - In the recent quarter, Abbott reported a 5% increase in revenue to 1.6 billion in the recent quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of about 20% [11] - The company has a strong pipeline of innovations, including the recent launch of Lingo, a continuous glucose monitoring platform for wellness, and shares trade at about 23 times forward earnings estimates, which is considered reasonable given its growth track record [12]
2 No-Brainer Healthcare Stocks to Buy With $1,000 Right Now