Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG)

Capital intensive surgical robotics - but improves outcomes and reduces lenght of stay in the hospital - thus reducing cost in the long run

I've been following this stock for a few years. It's a good company and its products are going to be an important part of medical care in the future.

As more surgeons become comfortable with the technology it will become 'standard'

It will take a while to catch on, existing shops aren't canceling, plus I can see a day when Insurance companies may ask why didn't you use the robot? Less risk quicker recovery rate equals lower cost, Yeah there are only certain surgeries that work well with the robot but they are things the Baby boomers will need and that population will at least double. Baby boomers are in crappy shape. They're fat, diabetic, overweight and ate and drank crap most their livesw, here's to prostate surgery and other renal failures.

Growth rate for new procedures is leveling off but more surgeons are learning the technique, especially those in residency training.
Hospitals are saving large amounts of money on earlier patient discharges and patients have less pain and fewer complications.

THE SYSTEM PAYS FOR ITSELF & hospitals know this.

Must watch for competition from "generic" disposables>

I think it has a monopoly on surgical robots and it is still in early adoption. The "will hospital spend" mantra has devalued this stock badly. The competitive advantage period for this company could very well last a decade.

One of a kind and leader in industry.

Can't imagine anything but increasing demand for automated surgical assistants. This company has a proven performance record and recognized name. Competitors will arise, but this company is leading the way.

Strong fundamentals.

Razors and Blades! Higher Margin Blades are becoming a higher percent of Sales.
Faster recovery times vs. Staying in the Hospital longer is a big benefit.

Intuitive is down more than 50% from its summer 2008 highs; but that's an opportunity. It is a monopoly in a rapidly developing field. Barriers to entry are high (patents, product development, and sales) and that places ISRG is a good place.

It is running about 30x forward earnings with a recent growth rate of about 60% and projections which are similar. When investors learn that ISRG isn't like all the others...they're likely to get a nice kick.

Anyone who has done any reading about ISRG knows that:

(1) They have no debt and good cash reserves.

(2) They have no competitors in a field of high demand; one in which they created, & one in which human lives are saved or the quality of life is improved.

(3) ISRG also provides in-house allied maintainance, product supplies with upgrade services for their surgical robotic's customers.

(4) ISRG continues to be a vanguard in developing new life saving technology in the field of robotics assited surgery.

For these reasons, ISRG will logitudinally outperform the S&P 500.

wide moat, health care will boom. the honeymoon may end someday, but this stock has lots of room to grow before it loses its luster, and there are lots of opportunities for them to keep the business relevant

national health care coming next year

Leader in robotic surgery, increasing brand recognition, w/ patent protection. If you factor in its $800M cash, this is actually a value play, even w/o considering growth.

could go lower short term, with market stability it will get back to 200

OBama.

patents and non-reusable instruments

Expanded sales force should propel higher