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Intuitive Surgical vs. Stryker: Which MedTech Stock Has More Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-12-24 13:06
Core Business Focus - Intuitive Surgical is a leader in robotic-assisted soft-tissue surgery with its da Vinci platform supporting over 10,800 systems globally and achieving over 20% growth in procedure volumes [2][9] - Stryker operates a diversified MedTech portfolio including orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and neurotechnology, with robotics playing a smaller role through the Mako system focused on joint replacements [3][5] Robotics Exposure - Robotics is the core growth engine for Intuitive Surgical, generating 85% of total revenues from recurring sources, with high switching costs and a durable competitive moat [4][9] - Stryker's Mako system has performed over 2 million robotic procedures but is limited to orthopedic applications, with growth tied to implant sales rather than a standalone robotics ecosystem [5][6] Revenue Model & Visibility - Intuitive Surgical employs a razor-and-blade model, with recurring revenue growth exceeding 20% supported by procedure growth and utilization, maintaining pro forma operating margins near 39% [7][9] - Stryker's revenue mix includes capital equipment and consumables, with consistent gross and operating margin expansion, but lower margins compared to Intuitive Surgical [8][9] Growth Profile - Intuitive Surgical's growth is driven by deeper penetration in general surgery and geographic expansion, with procedure growth in the high-teens to 20% range [12] - Stryker's growth is steadier, tracking high single digits to low double digits, supported by aging demographics and broad product launches [13] Earnings Estimates - Intuitive Surgical's earnings estimates for the current year are projected at $8.61, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 17.30% [14] - Stryker's earnings estimates for the current year are projected at $13.56, with a year-over-year growth estimate of 11.24% [16] Price Performance & Valuation - Over the past year, Intuitive Surgical has gained 7.5%, while Stryker has declined by 4.3% [17] - Stryker's shares trade at a forward price/earnings ratio of 23.7, significantly lower than Intuitive Surgical's 60.45 [19] Bottom Line - Intuitive Surgical offers greater upside potential due to concentrated robotics exposure and higher margins, while Stryker's diversification and consistent execution make it suitable for stability-oriented investors [23][24]