Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) Stock on December 7, 2025: Earnings Beat, Da Vinci 5 Momentum and What Wall Street Expects Next

Intuitive Surgical stock today: where things stand

Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), the robotics and minimally invasive surgery leader behind the da Vinci and Ion platforms, continues to trade near the top of its 52‑week range as of December 7, 2025.

Last regular-session close (Friday, December 5, 2025): $575.34
1‑day move: +1.18%
52‑week range: roughly $425.00–$616.00
30‑day trading range: about $536–$582 per share ^[1]

Specialist services that track Intuitive Surgical’s price history also show a strong rebound over the last three months, with shares approaching their late‑January 2025 high around $616. ^[2]

Year to date, ISRG is up high single digits, according to recent analyst commentary, after a volatile first half of 2025 and a strong move following third‑quarter earnings. ^[3]

The very latest headlines (December 7, 2025)

Fresh filings and commentary around institutional positioning and trading strategy are shaping today’s conversation around Intuitive Surgical stock:

Big institutions are still accumulating shares.
- California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) increased its stake by about 7% in Q2, bringing its holdings in ISRG to well over $100 million in value. ^[4]
- DNCA Finance more than doubled its position (up 111.6% in Q2), now owning just over 21,000 shares, worth roughly $11.4 million at recent prices. ^[5]
- Jump Financial LLC initiated or increased a tactical position of 8,815 shares, according to a filing also published on December 7. ^[6]
Some profit-taking from other institutions.
Federated Hermes trimmed its ISRG holdings by around 3% in Q2, even as the firm’s note cited a backdrop of mostly constructive analyst commentary and price-target increases. ^[7]
Technical and trading outlook: “wait‑and‑see” from some quants.
A trading-focused report released today describes Intuitive Surgical as sitting in “neutral” volatility zones, arguing that there is no decisive technical trigger for either aggressive buying or short‑term bearish positioning and framing this as a wait‑and‑see phase for active traders. ^[8]
Shares outperformed peers on Friday.
Market recaps note that ISRG’s 1.18% gain on December 5 outpaced large medtech peers like Medtronic and Stryker, even on relatively light volume versus its 50‑day average. ^[9]

Insider activity: a $13 million stock sale from the executive chair

On December 1, 2025, Executive Chair Gary Guthart sold 22,806 ISRG shares at an average price just under $571, for proceeds of roughly $13 million. At the same time, he exercised options on 25,500 shares at a strike price of $139.52 as part of a pre‑set Rule 10b5‑1 trading plan. ^[10]

Key points investors are watching from this filing:

Intuitive Surgical’s market capitalization is now in the $200+ billion range, and the stock is trading at a rich valuation — one data provider pegs the trailing P/E ratio around 75x and revenue growth over the past year at about 22%. ^[11]
Because the sale was paired with an option exercise and executed under a 10b5‑1 plan through April 2026, many analysts view it more as planned diversification than a signal on near‑term fundamentals. ^[12]

Insider selling at elevated valuations is not unusual in long‑running growth stories, but it does reinforce the perception that ISRG is a high‑expectations stock where execution needs to stay strong.

Q3 2025 earnings: a big beat and a guidance raise

The core fundamental story behind Intuitive Surgical’s recent stock strength remains its third‑quarter 2025 results, reported on October 21, 2025.

According to the company’s earnings release and subsequent commentary:

Total revenue: $2.51 billion, up about 23% year over year. ^[13]
GAAP net income: roughly $704 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, versus $565 million or $1.56 a year earlier. ^[14]
Non‑GAAP EPS:$2.40, well ahead of analyst expectations near $1.99. ^[15]
Segment breakdown for the quarter:
- Instruments and accessories revenue: about $1.52 billion
- Systems revenue: about $590 million
- Services revenue: about $396 million ^[16]

Operational metrics were equally strong:

Procedures performed with da Vinci and Ion systems grew around 19–20% year over year, reflecting rising adoption across multiple specialties. ^[17]
The installed base of da Vinci systems increased by 13%, reaching more than 10,700 systems worldwide. ^[18]
Ion bronchoscopy procedures grew more than 50%, though system placements for Ion dipped year over year, suggesting some lumpiness in capital spending even as procedure demand accelerates. ^[19]

On the back of this performance, management raised 2025 guidance:

Global da Vinci procedure growth is now expected in the 17–17.5% range, up from a prior 15.5–17%. ^[20]
Non‑GAAP gross margin guidance was also nudged higher, to roughly 67–67.5%, indicating that tariff headwinds and manufacturing costs are being managed better than previously expected. ^[21]

The beat‑and‑raise quarter triggered a double‑digit percentage jump in the share price immediately after the report, with some coverage calling it proof that Intuitive can sustain “bellwether medtech growth” despite macro noise. ^[22]

Product and technology momentum: da Vinci 5, Ion and AI

Beyond the headline numbers, Wall Street’s enthusiasm is fueled by new platforms and software capabilities that aim to deepen Intuitive’s competitive moat.

Da Vinci 5: next‑generation flagship

Intuitive is in the midst of a full commercial rollout of the da Vinci 5 surgical system. Management has outlined 2025 as the year of broad regional clearances and follow‑on feature releases, with the system already accounting for more than half of system placements in recent quarters. ^[23]

Highlights from Intuitive’s product materials:

The da Vinci 5 platform incorporates more than 150 design innovations and dramatically upgraded computing hardware – marketed as roughly 10,000x the processing power of earlier generations. ^[24]
New Force Feedback instruments and a Force Gauge display give surgeons a visual representation of relative force on tissue in real time, which could improve consistency and safety in delicate procedures. ^[25]
The system is designed for better OR workflow, enabling faster room turnover and more efficient use during off‑peak hours — a factor several analysts say could support sustained procedure growth even when hospital budgets are tight. ^[26]

Ion endoluminal system: AI and advanced imaging

On October 8, 2025, Intuitive announced an FDA‑cleared software release that broadens AI and advanced imaging integration in its Ion endoluminal platform, used primarily for lung biopsy procedures. ^[27]

The software update:

Enhances navigation and targeting deep in the lung, aiming to improve diagnostic yield.
Expands access to advanced imaging modalities for a wider set of hospitals, potentially reducing barriers to adoption. ^[28]

Combined, da Vinci 5 and the upgraded Ion platform underpin Intuitive’s vision of the “future of surgical robotics,” tying together robotics, imaging, and data analytics to better support surgeons and care teams. ^[29]

Analyst ratings and price targets for ISRG stock

Sell‑side analysts remain broadly positive on Intuitive Surgical, though there is an emerging debate around how much growth is already priced in.

Consensus views

MarketBeat coverage:
- 29 analysts currently cover ISRG.
- Overall rating: “Moderate Buy” (19 Buy, 2 Strong Buy, 7 Hold, 1 Sell).
- Average 12‑month price target: about $608.92 per share. ^[30]
TipRanks:
- 19 analysts over the last three months.
- Consensus rating: Strong Buy.
- Average price target: about $622, with a range from roughly $540 to $700. That implies around 8% upside from recent prices near $575. ^[31]
StockAnalysis.com:
- 14 analysts, consensus rating “Buy.”
- Average target: roughly $592, implying a more modest ~3% expected upside. Targets range between $440 and $675. ^[32]
Danelfin AI model:
- Assigns ISRG an AI Score of 6/10 (Hold) based on its probability of outperforming the market over the next three months.
- Aggregates analyst targets to an average around $604 for the coming year. ^[33]

Taken together, Wall Street expects low‑ to mid‑single‑digit percentage upside over the next 12 months from current levels, with most firms recommending Buy or equivalent ratings but acknowledging that the stock already trades at a premium.

Fair value estimates and long‑term forecasts

Some research platforms go beyond 12‑month price targets to model Intuitive’s earnings profile out to 2028:

One narrative widely cited in recent commentary projects revenue of around $13.4 billion and earnings of $3.7 billion by 2028, implying ~13.5% compound annual revenue growth from today’s roughly $7.2 billion year‑to‑date run rate. ^[34]
That same analysis derives a fair value near $592.96 per share, only about 3% above recent trading levels, suggesting that much of the expected growth may already be reflected in the price. ^[35]

Meanwhile, some fundamental analysts taking a more conservative stance argue that:

ISRG’s P/E multiple in the mid‑60s to mid‑70s represents a high bar relative to peers and even to its own historical average. ^[36]
The company’s strong balance sheet, recurring‑revenue mix, and dominant share in robotic surgery deserve a premium, but that premium may already “bake in” a long runway of double‑digit growth. ^[37]

In short, valuation‑focused research tends to agree that Intuitive Surgical is a great business, but differs on whether today’s share price leaves enough margin of safety.

How smart money and technical analysts are reading ISRG

Recent letters from institutional managers and trading services show a mix of enthusiasm and caution:

A large‑cap growth manager highlighted Intuitive’s strong procedure growth in Q2 and Q3 and raised gross‑margin guidance, but noted that management’s cautious commentary on tariffs and capital budgets contributed to short‑term volatility in the stock. ^[38]
Some quantitative and technical services point out that ISRG has risen roughly 25–30% over the last three months, pushing momentum indicators into extended territory and suggesting that new buyers might prefer pullbacks rather than chasing the rally. ^[39]
On the other hand, Investor’s Business Daily recently named Intuitive Surgical its “Stock of the Day,” citing a 30% earnings increase, 23% sales growth, and a bullish chart pattern (cup‑with‑handle) with a buy point around $552.50 — a level the stock has now cleared. ^[40]

Altogether, institutional ownership remains high — over 80% of the float is in institutional hands, according to recent filings — and the latest batch of 13F reports shows more large buyers than sellers. ^[41]

Key risks investors are watching

Even in a strong fundamental story like Intuitive Surgical’s, several risks are front‑of‑mind for analysts covering the stock:

Valuation risk
- With trailing P/E ratios in the 60–75x range, even a small disappointment in procedure growth or margins could trigger a sharp pullback. ^[42]
Tariffs, supply chain, and manufacturing concentration
- Intuitive manufactures a significant portion of its instruments and accessories in Mexico, many endoscopes in Germany, and sources some materials from China. The company’s own risk disclosures highlight that changes in tariffs and trade rules affecting these regions could pressure margins. ^[43]
Hospital capital budgets and reimbursement pressure
- Several analyses point out that budget constraints in Europe and other regions could eventually slow system placements, even if procedures per installed system continue to grow. ^[44]
Competitive landscape in surgical robotics
- While Intuitive remains the clear leader today, competition from large medtech players (like Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson) and newer robotic platforms is rising. Recent coverage notes that da Vinci 5 adoption has been strong enough to offset softer performance outside the U.S., but this is an area the market is watching closely. ^[45]
Regulatory and product‑safety risks
- As with any medical‑device maker, Intuitive emphasizes in its filings that regulatory setbacks, adverse clinical events, or litigation could materially affect growth. ^[46]

These risks don’t negate the long‑term opportunity but help explain why some valuation‑oriented investors remain on the sidelines despite impressive numbers.

What to watch next for Intuitive Surgical stock

Looking ahead from December 7, 2025, investors tracking Intuitive Surgical stock are focused on a few key themes:

Sustained double‑digit procedure growth
- Can da Vinci procedure volumes continue to grow in the high‑teens or better, as implied by the raised 2025 guidance? Watch for any indication that procedure growth is normalizing toward low‑teens — that would matter a lot for the multiple. ^[47]
Da Vinci 5 rollout metrics
- System placements, mix shift toward da Vinci 5, and surgeon adoption of new capabilities like Force Gauge and enhanced analytics will be important leading indicators of revenue and margin trends. ^[48]
Ion growth and AI‑driven features
- The market is watching whether the combination of AI navigation, better imaging, and strong procedure growth can turn Ion into a second major revenue pillar alongside da Vinci. ^[49]
Tariff and macro commentary on future calls
- After revising its financial outlook amid tariff concerns earlier this year — and then raising guidance again on the back of strong Q3 results — management’s tone on costs and global demand will be closely scrutinized. ^[50]
Evolution of analyst targets
- With current targets clustered only a few percentage points above the current price, any upward revisions would signal increased confidence that growth can stay elevated; downward revisions might signal the opposite. ^[51]

Bottom line: a high‑quality leader priced for continued excellence

As of December 7, 2025, Intuitive Surgical stock sits at the intersection of strong fundamentals and a demanding valuation:

The company is delivering 20%+ top‑line growth, expanding margins, and rolling out next‑generation robotic platforms that deepen its moat in minimally invasive care. ^[52]
Institutional investors continue to accumulate shares, even as some trim positions and insiders take profits at elevated levels. ^[53]
Analysts are broadly bullish, but their 12‑month price targets point to only modest upside from here, reflecting how much good news is already in the price. ^[54]

For traders, ISRG is a momentum‑driven name coming off a powerful earnings‑fuelled rally. For long‑term investors, it represents a category‑defining franchise in robotic surgery — but one where future returns will depend on whether Intuitive can keep growing procedures, expanding indications, and managing costs fast enough to justify its premium multiple.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.