The analysts wrote, ?While we certainly understand investor concern over the words ?FDA Probe,? we see limited risk of this investigation materializing into significant punitive measures against the company. The main criticisms of dVH have not been safety-related but have rather focused on its higher cost relative to outcomes that are equivalent to laparoscopic. But because da Vinci is typically used in more complex cases, the more appropriate comparison is with open surgeries, against which da Vinci has superior outcomes and much lower complication rates. Compared to the 520k dVH procedures in the U.S. over the last five years, the ~10 dVH-related civil suits filed against Intuitive actually speaks well of the company?s safety record, in our view.? Intuitive Surgical traded up 8.53% on Friday, hitting $553.40. Intuitive Surgical has a 1-year low of $467.26 and a 1-year high of $594.89. The stock?s 50-day moving average is currently $557.1. The company has a market cap of $22.206 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.91.
Intuitive Surgical last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 22nd. The company reported $4.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $609.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $584.36 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $3.75 earnings per share. The company?s quarterly revenue was up 22.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Intuitive Surgical will post $17.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at Goldman Sachs upgraded shares of Intuitive Surgical from a ?neutral? rating to a ?buy? rating in a research note to investors on Friday, February 22nd. They now have a $715.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $591.00. Separately, analysts at Raymond James reiterated an ?outperform? rating on shares of Intuitive Surgical in a research note to investors on Tuesday, February 19th. They now have a $620.00 price target on the stock. Finally, analysts at SunTrust reiterated a ?buy? rating on shares of Intuitive Surgical in a research note to investors on Friday, February 15th. They now have a $649.00 price target on the stock. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, one has issued an overweight rating, six have issued a hold rating, and one has given a sell rating to the company. Intuitive Surgical currently has an average rating of ?overweight? and an average price target of $630.83.
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Intuitive) designs, manufactures and markets da Vinci Surgical Systems and related instruments and accessories.