Intuitive Surgical Stock Plunges Amid Procedure Growth Slowdown and Competitive Pressures
Intuitive Surgical's stock has dropped nearly 29% year to date in 2026, driven by slowing growth in procedures using its da Vinci surgical robots. In the latest quarter, procedure volume grew at a slower rate of 15%, down from 17% in Q4 2025, with full-year projections between 13.5% and 15.5%. The slowdown is attributed to increased use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs reducing bariatric procedures and the expiration of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans. The company also faces growing competition in China and from U.S.-based rivals like Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic, which are developing their own robotic surgical systems. Despite these challenges, many analysts remain optimistic about Intuitive Surgical's long-term prospects due to its large potential market of over 20 million procedures annually suitable for minimally invasive surgery using robotics. With a current price target suggesting an average upside of around 18%, and some analysts projecting gains as high as 70%, the stock’s recent decline is seen by many on Wall Street as presenting buying opportunities rather than signaling long-term trouble.
Topics: competition da Vinci surgical robots GLP-1 drugs impact Intuitive Surgical procedure growth slowdown