Team Rule Breakers
Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) has improved surgical outcomes for millions while enriching investors, Rule Breakers members among them. Since March 2005, we've made 14 buy recommendations across our services, and our first, split-adjusted at $4.91, is up 7,100%. That's $71,000 for every $1,000 invested. But with competition from medtech giants and start-ups, is the disruptor being disrupted? The Rule Breakers framework says no.
- Razor-and-blades, ever compounding: Intuitive sells the systems, then earns high-margin consumables on every procedure. The da Vinci and Ion install base grew 12% and 21%, respectively, last quarter, and procedure growth rose even faster -- the first mover is still top dog.
- Still breaking rules: Durable IP, high switching costs, exclusive surgeon relationships, strong price appreciation, and a CEO who was employee No. 9. Valuation stays Rule-Breakery: Even after the pullback, it looks overvalued versus medtech peers.
- Miles left to run: The da Vinci 5 upgrade cycle should refresh the install base and lift procedures. The company is leveraging AI and its data to help surgeons improve, not replace them.
Is it still a buy? Motley Fool analyst Jason Hall said, "I just added more shares for the first time in 13 years."
Team Rule Breakers has a 5-year price prediction of $752.61 (averaging its base and bull cases). Shares are around $401 today.