Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) heads into the Friday, December 26, 2025 U.S. trading session with investor attention split between strong operating momentum in robotic-assisted surgery and a fresh mix of regulatory and corporate updates that could shape near-term sentiment.
After the last regular U.S. session ahead of today’s open, ISRG shares were around $577.15.
Below is what investors and traders typically want on their radar before the bell—from the most recent FDA-related headlines and recall database entries to analyst forecasts, technical levels, and the next major catalyst on the calendar.
Where ISRG stock stands heading into Dec. 26
ISRG has been trading near the mid-to-high $500s in late December, reflecting a year in which the company continued to benefit from expanding procedure volumes and a steady upgrade cycle across its da Vinci surgical platforms. The most recent price action also matters because the post-holiday session can bring uneven liquidity, with sharper intraday moves possible on thinner volume than a typical week.
As of the last close before today’s open, ISRG was about $577.15.
The headline driver: FDA clearance expands da Vinci SP procedure opportunities
One of the most market-relevant “real world adoption” signals for Intuitive is how quickly it can broaden approved procedure categories—because broader indications can increase utilization (procedures) and strengthen the case for new system placements.
On Dec. 10, 2025, Intuitive announced that the FDA cleared expanded indications for its da Vinci SP (Single Port) system, including use in procedures such as abdominal hernia repair, gallbladder removal, and appendectomy—areas where single-port access and tight anatomical workspaces can be meaningful clinically and operationally. [1]
Why this matters for ISRG stock:
- More addressable procedures can translate into higher system utilization.
- Higher utilization tends to drive recurring revenue (instruments, accessories, services).
- It may also improve the ROI argument hospitals use when deciding on new systems.
Safety and recall watch: what the FDA recall database shows for da Vinci 5
Investors in surgical robotics watch recalls closely—not only for potential financial impact, but because they can influence hospital confidence and administrative workload.
Two open Class II recall entries for da Vinci 5 are visible in the FDA database
The FDA’s recall database shows open Class II recall records tied to components of the da Vinci 5 system:
- Surgeon Console Column Motor Connector (da Vinci 5)
- Date posted: Dec. 19, 2025
- Quantity in commerce: 144
- Issue summary (FDA database): an error condition tied to a connector/ergonomics mechanism that can lock certain ergonomic adjustments until the system is restarted and/or the motor is replaced—potentially contributing to delays, aborted procedures, or use of alternate approaches. [2]
- Foot Tray Pedals (da Vinci 5 console)
- Date posted: March 12, 2025
- Quantity in commerce: 439
- Issue summary (FDA database): complaints tied to a foot pedal spring failing, which can result in the pedal remaining pressed; the action described includes replacement of the affected foot tray assembly. [3]
What “Class II” means (and what it doesn’t)
The FDA defines a Class II recall as a situation where use or exposure may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. [4]
Important context for investors:
- A recall entry can involve a correction rather than pulling systems out of hospitals.
- The database entries above describe specific components and corrective actions, but the market may still react depending on perceived scope, customer disruption, or reputational impact. [5]
A quiet but notable corporate update: the Dec. 18 SEC filing
Corporate governance changes don’t always move ISRG on their own, but they can matter when they touch product strategy—especially around software, data, and AI.
In an 8-K dated Dec. 16, 2025 (filed Dec. 18, 2025), Intuitive disclosed that effective Jan. 1, 2026, Brian E. Miller, Ph.D. will transition from Chief Digital Officer to Head of Digital and AI Strategy, and in the new role will no longer report directly to the CEO. [6]
For investors, this is worth noting mainly because digital capabilities (system data, workflow software, analytics, training, optimization tools) are increasingly part of Intuitive’s competitive moat—alongside hardware leadership.
The fundamental backdrop: Q3 results, procedure growth, and raised outlook
Even with the latest regulatory headlines, the core of the ISRG story remains procedure growth and installed-base economics.
Q3 performance: strong growth and an upbeat read-through
In the third quarter, Intuitive reported results that beat expectations and reinforced demand for robotic-assisted procedures:
- Revenue: about $2.51 billion
- Adjusted EPS: about $2.40
- Growth was driven by higher procedure volume and continued system activity across the installed base. [7]
Operational metrics that stood out in coverage of the quarter:
- da Vinci procedures up ~19–20% globally year over year
- Ion procedures up ~52% (lung biopsy platform), though Ion placements were noted as lower year over year in some reporting [8]
- The da Vinci 5 launch was highlighted as a meaningful contributor to placements in the quarter, with reporting noting it accounted for a large share of system placements. [9]
Guidance: procedure growth outlook moved higher
Following Q3, Intuitive raised its full-year da Vinci procedure growth outlook to 17%–17.5%, and improved its gross margin guidance range as reported in financial coverage. [10]
For ISRG stockholders, this matters because procedure growth is a key driver behind:
- recurring instruments/accessories revenue,
- service revenue,
- and the longer-term case for hospitals to add capacity (new systems).
Product cadence: why software and capability upgrades still matter
Intuitive has continued to position da Vinci 5 not just as a hardware upgrade, but as a platform for iterative improvements.
Examples from 2025 announcements include:
- Real-time surgical insights features for da Vinci 5—such as Force Gauge and in-console video replay—introduced as FDA-cleared software capabilities intended to improve efficiency and decision-making. [11]
- FDA-cleared software advancements for the Ion endoluminal system to enhance navigation and expand access to advanced imaging in lung biopsy workflows. [12]
The investment angle: in surgical robotics, software upgrades can help defend the installed base, expand use cases, and strengthen switching costs—even when competitors improve their own platforms.
Wall Street forecasts: raised targets, a downgrade, and what it implies
Analyst actions in December have been mixed, reflecting a familiar tug-of-war: strong fundamentals versus valuation discipline.
Recent analyst moves
- RBC Capital raised its price target to $650 from $625 and maintained an Outperform rating (reported Dec. 17, 2025). [13]
- Citigroupdowngraded ISRG to Neutral from Buy and adjusted its price target to $635 from $650 (reported Dec. 11, 2025). [14]
- Coverage aggregations also flagged additional target adjustments across the Street during December (including mentions of targets in the mid-$600s). [15]
Consensus targets and ranges
One aggregation of analyst forecasts pegged the average one-year price target around $613.44, with a wide range (low-to-high) that underscores how differently analysts value the durability of ISRG’s growth and margins. [16]
How to read this going into the open:
- Bulls will point to procedure momentum, pipeline expansion, and the installed base.
- Skeptics will focus on valuation, capital spending cycles, and any signal that growth could normalize from elevated levels.
Technical levels investors are watching into the Dec. 26 session
ISRG has been monitored closely by growth and momentum investors, and several widely followed technical reference points are in play.
- Investor’s Business Daily coverage this week noted ISRG nearing a buy point around $582.41, while also referencing a broader consolidation with an official breakout level around $616. [17]
- Another IBD technical read-through described ISRG forming a base with a buy point cited around $552.50 in a separate pattern discussion. [18]
- MarketWatch noted ISRG’s 52-week high around $616 and contextualized recent trading versus that level. [19]
Why this matters before the bell: when a stock is hovering near widely cited trigger levels, pre-market and early-session order flow can become self-reinforcing—especially around holiday-thinned sessions.
The next major catalyst: Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings date
The next “hard catalyst” that can reset expectations is the next earnings report.
Intuitive has an investor-relations event posting indicating it will report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results on Jan. 22, 2026. [20]
What investors will likely look for on that call:
- 2026 procedure growth framing (and whether growth normalizes or stays elevated),
- da Vinci 5 rollout pace and conversion mix,
- Ion utilization and placements,
- commentary on margin drivers (including manufacturing cadence and cost trends),
- and any updates on regulatory progress or competitive pressures.
A practical “before the open” checklist for ISRG stock
If you’re watching ISRG into the Dec. 26 session, here are the main items likely to shape the tape:
- FDA/recall narrative: whether market participants re-price risk based on the two open Class II recall entries for da Vinci 5 components. [21]
- Procedure-growth durability: the company’s raised full-year procedure outlook remains a key support pillar, and investors will keep mapping news flow back to utilization. [22]
- Analyst target signaling: RBC’s $650 target and Citi’s neutral stance ($635) frame the near-term tug-of-war between fundamentals and valuation. [23]
- Technical positioning around the mid-$500s to low-$600s levels cited by growth-oriented coverage. [24]
- Calendar: Jan. 22, 2026 is the next scheduled information reset. [25]
Bottom line for Dec. 26: strong story, but watch the headlines
Intuitive Surgical remains one of the most closely followed names in medtech and surgical robotics because the investment case is driven by a powerful engine: more procedures, more instruments and service revenue, and a platform that hospitals build around over time.
But going into today’s open, sentiment could be influenced by two parallel threads:
- Positive demand and expansion signals (FDA clearance expanding da Vinci SP use; strong Q3 trends), [26]
- Operational/regulatory housekeeping (FDA recall database entries for da Vinci 5 components; an SEC-filed digital leadership transition). [27]
As always with single-name stocks—especially into a holiday-adjacent session—price can move on positioning as much as fundamentals. This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
References
1. www.globenewswire.com, 2. www.accessdata.fda.gov, 3. www.accessdata.fda.gov, 4. www.fda.gov, 5. www.accessdata.fda.gov, 6. www.sec.gov, 7. www.investopedia.com, 8. www.investopedia.com, 9. www.investors.com, 10. www.investopedia.com, 11. www.globenewswire.com, 12. www.globenewswire.com, 13. www.tipranks.com, 14. www.marketscreener.com, 15. www.marketscreener.com, 16. fintel.io, 17. www.investors.com, 18. www.investors.com, 19. www.marketwatch.com, 20. isrg.intuitive.com, 21. www.accessdata.fda.gov, 22. www.investopedia.com, 23. www.tipranks.com, 24. www.investors.com, 25. isrg.intuitive.com, 26. www.globenewswire.com, 27. www.accessdata.fda.gov
