Intuitive tightens 2026 robotic-surgery procedure growth forecast; shares fall

Intuitive Surgical

Wed 24:15

By Sahil  Pandey
Oct 20 (Reuters) - Intuitive Surgical ISRG.O on Tuesday tightened its 2026 forecast for growth in procedures performed using its da Vinci robotic surgery systems. 
Procedure growth is a key measure for Intuitive as surgeries performed using its da Vinci systems generate recurring sales of instruments and accessories, its largest revenue segment.
The medical-device maker, whose shares fell about 7% in extended trading, expects worldwide da Vinci procedure growth to be closer to the midpoint of its 14% to 15% forecast range. Its prior view was 13.5% to 15.5%
US da Vinci procedure growth was 10% in the third quarter, while growth outside the US was 20%
Intuitive plans to roll out its Extended Use Program, designed to reduce instrument costs and broaden access to robotic-assisted surgery, and expects the US to be its first market, pending regulatory clearance
Third-quarter adjusted profit was $3 per diluted share on revenue of $3.05 billion, compared with estimates of $2.64 and $2.91 billion, respectively, according to data compiled by LSEG
Intuitive continues to monitor lower Affordable Care Act enrollment, changes to Medicaid eligibility and potential changes to the 340B drug-pricing program, CFO Jamie Samath said 
In July, Intuitive said the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies had a modest adverse impact on US procedure growth 

 (Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
 ((Sahil.Pandey@thomsonreuters.com;))