ISRG vs BSX: Which Medical Device Stock Has More Room to Run?

Core Insights - The healthcare landscape is increasingly influenced by technology, with Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Boston Scientific (BSX) recognized for their innovation and long-term potential in minimally invasive procedures [1][2] - Investors are considering these companies as attractive long-term investments due to growing demand for advanced surgical solutions and an aging global population [2] Price Performance - Intuitive Surgical has experienced a year-to-date decline of 1.9%, while Boston Scientific has seen a gain of 13.9%, attributed to BSX's diversified business and strong U.S. demand [4] - ISRG is characterized as a high-growth, high-premium investment in robotic-assisted surgery, while BSX offers broader exposure to medical device innovation with more moderate valuation [3] Market Position & Core Offerings - Intuitive Surgical leads the surgical robotics market with its da Vinci system, achieving a 17% year-over-year increase in procedures [5] - Boston Scientific operates across various interventional medical devices, with notable success in cardiovascular sales, which increased by 26% in the first quarter of 2025 [5] Growth & Performance - ISRG reported a 19% revenue growth to $2.25 billion and a 22% increase in adjusted net income to $767.5 million in Q1 2025 [6][8] - BSX also posted strong earnings with adjusted EPS of $0.75 and sales of $4.66 billion, driven by its cardiovascular and medical-surgical divisions [9] Estimates Comparison - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ISRG's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS indicates a year-over-year improvement of 15.6% and 6.8%, respectively [10] - For BSX, the estimates imply a year-over-year improvement of 16.4% in sales and 15.9% in EPS for 2025 [12] Cash & Cash Flow - Intuitive Surgical has a strong balance sheet with $4.51 billion in cash and no debt, generating free cash flow of approximately $465 million [15] - Boston Scientific reported $725 million in cash and $11.31 billion in total debt, but still generated $541 million in operating cash flow [16] Investment Considerations - ISRG is seen as a superior choice for investors seeking explosive growth in surgical robotics, while BSX may appeal to those preferring balanced exposure across med-tech segments [18] - Both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), but BSX has a better Zacks Style Score of 'C' compared to ISRG's 'D', indicating better growth potential for BSX [20]