Can Intuitive Surgical Still Be A Good Buy?

Core Insights - Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) stock is considered a solid investment due to high margins and cash generation capabilities at a discounted price [2] - The stock has increased by 11% this year, while its Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio is 11% lower compared to the previous year [3] Company Performance - In Q3 2025, global procedure volume rose by 20%, driven by strong adoption of da Vinci and Ion platforms, with 240 new placements of the da Vinci 5 system [4] - The installed base of da Vinci systems is nearing 10,800, leading to steady demand for high-margin instruments and accessories, which also grew by 20% [4] - Despite tariff pressures on gross margins, management's focus on operational optimization and cash generation has provided resilience, raising full-year procedure growth guidance to 17-17.5% [4] Financial Metrics - ISRG maintains a high Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio as investors anticipate long-term growth, operating under a razor–razorblade model that ensures recurring revenue from instrument sales [5] - Recent profitability metrics include an operating cash flow margin of 30.8% and an operating margin of 29.3% over the last twelve months [9] - Revenue growth for ISRG was 22.2% over the last twelve months and 16.3% on average over the last three years [9] Valuation - ISRG stock is currently available at a P/S multiple of 21.5, representing an 11% discount compared to one year ago [9] - The company is characterized by a market capitalization greater than $10 billion and high cash flow margins [10]