Intuitive Surgical Stock Slumps 29%, but Analysts See Bright Prospects

Intuitive Surgical's stock has taken a hit this year, plummeting roughly 29% year to date. The company behind da Vinci surgical robots is facing several challenges, including slowing procedure growth and increased competition from rivals like Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic.

The slowdown in da Vinci procedure volumes can be attributed to the increased use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. In the fourth quarter of 2025, da Vinci procedure volumes rose 17%, but this growth rate has slowed down to 15% in Intuitive's latest quarter. The company projects full-year da Vinci procedure growth of 13.5% to 15.5%.

CFO Jamie Samath acknowledged the impact of expiring subsidies for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans on Q2 U.S. da Vinci procedure growth, calling it 'a modest adverse impact.' CEO David Rosa also mentioned increased competition in China and other markets.

Despite these challenges, many analysts believe that Intuitive Surgical's stock has significant upside potential. Of the 32 analysts surveyed by S&P Global in September, 24 rated Intuitive Surgical's stock as a 'buy' or 'strong buy.' The average 12-month price target indicated a potential 18% upside.