3 Healthcare Stocks to Buy Hand Over Fist in October

Core Viewpoint - Intuitive Surgical, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson are highlighted as potential healthcare stock investments as October ends, each offering unique advantages for investors [1] Group 1: Intuitive Surgical - Intuitive Surgical specializes in surgical robots, a growing medical device technology that enhances patient outcomes through precision and less invasive techniques [2] - The installed base of Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system increased by 13% in Q3 2025, while the Ion endoluminal system saw a 30% increase, leading to a 20% year-over-year rise in procedures using its robots [3] - Approximately 75% of Intuitive Surgical's revenue comes from services and instruments, creating a strong annuity-like income stream, with shares down about 15% from their 52-week highs, indicating potential for growth [4] Group 2: Merck - Merck is a major pharmaceutical company with a long history, currently facing some company-specific and industry-wide challenges but expected to maintain its 3.7% dividend yield [5] - The company is approaching a patent cliff with some drugs losing patent protection, raising concerns about its ability to replace lost revenue with new drugs, although this is viewed as a short-term issue [6] Group 3: Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson is recognized as a Dividend King, operating in both medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and is noted for its strong performance alongside Intuitive Surgical and Merck [7]