Intuitive Surgical is Set to Release its Quarterly 2024 ResultsIntuitive Surgical is set to release its Quarterly 2024 results, highlighting its significant impact on the healthcare industry. The company's innovative robotic systems have transformed surgery, leading to a remarkable 22,000% increase in stock price over its lifetime.
Now an industry giant with a market capitalization of $161 billion, questions about Intuitive Surgical's long-term growth and stock investment potential abound.
Intuitive Surgical, founded in the mid-1990s, provides robotic systems that enhance minimally invasive surgeries, helping surgeons reduce errors, improve mobility, and achieve better patient outcomes with smaller incisions. Over 60,000 surgeons have trained on its da Vinci system, and as of Q2 2024, the company has over 9,800 installed systems, with a 14% year-over-year growth in installations.
Investors value two main aspects of Intuitive Surgical's business: the reliance on system maintenance, which has increased recurring revenue from 71% in 2016 to 83% last year, making cash flow more predictable, and substantial growth potential outside the U.S., with only 3,818 of an estimated 165,000 global hospital sites currently using their systems.
However, the stock's substantial rise poses concerns about whether this growth is already accounted for in its valuation. Over the past decade, Intuitive Surgical shares ( NASDAQ:ISRG ) have appreciated nearly 800%, resulting in heightened market expectations that may lead to a difficult reset if future results fall short.
Analysts anticipate average earnings growth of 17% annually over the next three to five years, which may not be sufficient to justify the stock’s forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 69. With a PEG ratio nearly at 4, this suggests that the stock is overvalued relative to its expected growth.
Despite its recent upward trend since November 2023, indicated by a balanced Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 53, the stock is presently deemed too expensive for investors seeking strong returns. Therefore, while Intuitive Surgical ( NASDAQ:ISRG ) shows promising long-term growth potential, it may be wise to consider it as a target for investment when shares drop below current levels.
