Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi Pat: I would very much appreciate your opinion on Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISRG). Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Intuitive Surgical Inc., $540.75, symbol ISRG on Nasdaq, (Shares outstanding: 114.2 million; Market cap: $60.6 billion; www.intuitive.com), develops, manufactures and markets the da Vinci Surgical System along with related accessories, training, and services. Intuitive Surgical is based in Sunnyvale, California. Da Vinci is a computerized surgical system that translates a surgeon’s hand movements into corresponding micro-movements of instruments positioned inside a patient through small incisions. The process is safer and less invasive than regular surgery and reduces recovery time, scarring, and risk of infection. Sales of new systems account for around 29% of revenue. Instruments and accessories account for 53% and service revenue accounts for 17%. U.S. sales account for roughly 73% of revenue while International sales account for 27%. Over the five years from 2014 to 2018, Intuitive Surgical’s overall revenue rose steadily, up 74.6%, from $2.13 billion to $3.72 billion. Earnings jumped 212.8%, from $418.8 million, or $3.70 a share, to $1.31 billion, or $10.99. In the three months ended December…