Intuitive Surgical falls as Obamacare uncertainties cloud forecast

Intuitive Surgical

17/07/2026 15:48

Updates
** Shares of Intuitive Surgical ISRG.O plummet 10.8% to $359.09, on track to be its lowest close in more than two years
** Co says changes in coverage and premium dynamics may be impacting when patients seek care and move forward with treatment
** Maintains forecast for worldwide procedure growth for its da Vinci surgical robots in 2026 at about 13.5% to 15.5%, but expects it to be closer to the midpoint of this range
** Exact extent of the impact is unclear, as is the duration of future impacts, though management's reiterated FY26 procedure growth outlook contemplates a range of sedate growth outcomes, says Baird analyst David Rescott
** ISRG says Q2 U.S. da Vinci procedure growth was modestly affected by the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) premium subsidies
** U.S. da Vinci bariatric cases continued to feel the impact of rising GLP-1 usage, declining in the high single digits during the quarter, co adds
** Up to last close, stock down 29% YTD

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru)
((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))