We recently published a list of the 10 Best Medical Device Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) stands against other best medical device stocks to buy right now.
According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the medical devices market has a size of $681.57 billion as of 2025. The massive industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.99% between 2025 and 2030, reaching a market size of $955.49 billion by the end of the forecast period.
This significant growth can be attributed to various megatrends in the healthcare sector. The aging population worldwide is one of the primary factors affecting the industry. This is especially true in high-income countries such as the US, as around 17% of the country’s population is 65 or older as of 2023. This is causing an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, which is ultimately driving the demand for medical devices.
This demand is anticipated to continue growing in the coming decades. According to statistics by the United Nations, the number of people aged 65 or older is anticipated to represent around 16% of the world’s population by 2050, which translates to around 1.5 billion people worldwide. This demographic shift is anticipated to materialize especially prominently in regions such as Europe and North America, where the population of 65 or older is expected to reach 26.9% by 2050.
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In addition, technological advancements such as the increasing use of AI, predictive analysis, and advanced algorithms are metamorphosing the healthcare technology industry. While North America is the largest medical device market, Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing.
Another report by Grand View Research estimates that the market size of medical device manufacturers in the US is around $256.2 billion as of 2024. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.9% between 2025 and 2030. The primary reasons behind this growth include the increasing geriatric population, the growing number of road and sports accidents, the expanding geographic reach of the key players in the market, and the rising adoption of minimally invasive procedures in the industry.
According to McKinsey, the healthcare industry is expected to continually undergo a shift in growth dynamics. Health services and technology (HST) revenue pools are anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8% between 2023 and 2028, supported by double-digit growth in software platforms and advanced data and analytics. The sales of innovative technologies such as generative AI to payers and providers are further supporting this growth.
In addition, pharmacy services, especially those focused on specialty pharmacy, are expected to see continued growth. The launch of new therapies and increased utilization are expected to be the primary drivers of this growth. McKinsey estimates specialty pharmacy revenue will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8% between 2023 and 2028, growing EBITDA for managed service providers and specialty pharmacies. Therefore, optimistic trends are materializing for the healthcare industry as a whole, including the medical device sector.
We sifted through stock screeners, online rankings, and ETFs to compile a list of 20 medical device stocks. We then selected the top 10 most popular stocks among elite hedge funds as of Q3 2024. We sourced the hedge fund sentiment data from Insider Monkey’s database. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Is Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) The Best Automation Stock To Buy According to Hedge Funds?
A medical team performing minimally invasive surgery with a da Vinci Surgical System.
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) has an elaborate ecosystem of services and products that provides robotic-assisted surgical solutions and invasive care. Its products include the Ion Endoluminal and the Da Vinci Surgical systems. In 2024, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) expanded its installed system base to 9,902, reflecting a 15% growth. It also grew its number of performed procedures by 17%, showing its technology’s global adoption.
Its fiscal Q4 2024 results also showed considerable growth, with Da Vinci procedures increasing by 18%. Overall revenue also increased by 25% to $2.41 billion, beating the consensus of $2.24 billion. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) holds a significant position in the surgical robotics market. According to Grand View Research, the surgical robotics market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% until 2030. The global market is anticipated to be worth around $7.4 billion by then, up from $4.3 billion last year. The market holds potential for growth in the coming years and decades, supported by the rapid advancement of healthcare technologies.
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ISRG) management has expressed optimism for 2025, expecting a 13%-16% growth in worldwide da Vinci procedures. This optimism comes after the Food and Drug Administration granted clearance to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ISRG) newest-generation da Vinci 5, an advanced system that combines a more digital interface with machine learning capabilities and AI. The company ranks fourth on our list of the 10 best medical device stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:
“Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) manufactures the da Vinci Surgical System, a robotic surgical system used for minimally invasive procedures. The stock performed well due to excitement about the company’s new robotic surgical system, the da Vinci 5, which offers enhanced imaging, force feedback, and other improvements. We continue to believe Intuitive has durable competitive advantages and will remain the market leader in robotic surgery. We think the company has a long runway for growth as more procedures are performed with the company’s equipment.”
Overall, ISRG ranks fourth on our list of best medical device stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of ISRG, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ISRG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
