Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, medical-device maker NuVasive (Nasdaq: NUVA) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at NuVasive's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

NuVasive facts

Headquarters (Founded)

San Diego (1997)

Market Cap

$1.25 billion

Industry

Health-care equipment

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$493.62 million

Management

Chairman/CEO Alexis Lukianov

COO Keith Valentine

Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years)

3.7%

Cash/Debt

$193 million / $230 million

Competitors

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)

Medtronic (NYSE: MDT)

Stryker (NYSE: SYK)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 89% of the 180 members who have rated NuVasive believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include buffalonate and Hotpicks101.

Just two weeks ago, buffalonate succinctly summed up the bull case for our community: "interesting medical device company showing good growth in the spinal surgery market."

Over the next five years, in fact, NuVasive is expected to grow its bottom line at a brisk rate of 18% annually. That's much faster than gorilla rivals Johnson & Johnson (6.5%), Medtronic (8.3%), and Stryker (10.8%).

CAPS member Hotpicks101 elaborates on the NuVasive bull case:

Wow, so glad I came across this stock. Could this be the new [Intuitive Surgical]? I'm not sure, but what I do know is that this is a company that has repeatedly been beating earnings estimates for the last 3 years. ... Furthermore, it is currently in an unfavorable sector. ... All of which I love. As far as negatives are concerned. Maybe the growth estimates are too high and it may not execute but if history is any indication I just don't see that happening.

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