Q4 Earnings Review: Surgical Equipment & Consumables - Specialty Stocks Led by Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG)

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Q4 Earnings Review: Surgical Equipment & Consumables - Specialty Stocks Led by Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG)

As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the surgical equipment & consumables - specialty industry, including Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) and its peers.

The surgical equipment and consumables industry provides tools, devices, and disposable products essential for surgeries and medical procedures. These companies therefore benefit from relatively consistent demand, driven by the ongoing need for medical interventions, recurring revenue from consumables, and long-term contracts with hospitals and healthcare providers. However, the high costs of R&D and regulatory compliance, coupled with intense competition and pricing pressures from cost-conscious customers, can constrain profitability. Over the next few years, tailwinds include aging populations, which tend to need surgical interventions at higher rates. The increasing integration of AI and robotics into surgical procedures could also create opportunities for differentiation and innovation. However, the industry faces headwinds including potential supply chain vulnerabilities, evolving regulatory requirements, and more widespread efforts to make healthcare less costly.

The 4 surgical equipment & consumables - specialty stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 12.3% since the latest earnings results.

Best Q4: Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG)

Pioneering minimally invasive surgery since its first da Vinci system was FDA-cleared in 2000, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) develops and manufactures robotic-assisted surgical systems that enable minimally invasive procedures across various medical specialties.

Intuitive Surgical reported revenues of $2.41 billion, up 25.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 6.5%. Overall, it was an incredible quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ sales volume and EPS estimates.

Intuitive Surgical Total Revenue
Intuitive Surgical Total Revenue

Intuitive Surgical achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 17.9% since reporting and currently trades at $499.06.