Intuitive Surgical Inc (NASDAQ:ISRG). reported strong growth in its Q3 2023 earnings call, with a 19% increase in da Vinci procedures and 125% growth in Ion procedures. The company’s revenue grew by 12%, with recurring revenue up by 21%. Despite experiencing lower pricing and a shift in geographical mix that resulted in a revenue decrease, the company’s pro forma net income increased to $524 million, up from $429 million in the same quarter of the previous year. This growth is supported by InvestingPro data, which shows a revenue growth of 11.75% LTM2023.Q2 and a gross profit margin of 66.74% LTM2023.Q2.
Key takeaways from the call:
The growth in procedures was primarily driven by general surgery for benign conditions, particularly in the United States, as well as growth in Germany, Japan, the U.K., and India.
The company placed 312 systems in Q3, increasing its clinical installed base to 8,127 multiport da Vinci systems, 490 Ion systems, and 158 single-port da Vinci systems.
Intuitive Surgical’s digital tools and channels also saw significant growth, with a 140% increase in the routine use of the My Intuitive app and a 58% increase in installations of the Intuitive Hub media management and telepresence system.
The company has increased its estimate for other income to be between $190 million and $200 million in 2023, primarily due to rising interest rates.
The company is focused on expanding internationally, driving down product costs, and leveraging its integrated ecosystem powered by analytics to improve healthcare outcomes. The company operates with a high return on assets and yields a high return on invested capital.
Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) also provided updates on its financial estimates and plans. The company refined its estimate for the 2023 pro forma tax rate to be between 22% and 23% of pretax income. It also narrowed its estimate for capital expenditures to range between $900 million and $1 billion, primarily for facility construction. The company’s market cap stands at 96.08B USD, and it operates with a P/E ratio of 67.51.
During the earnings call, the company discussed the potential effects of GLP-1 drugs on bariatric surgery and addressed questions regarding gross margin, utilization rates of leased systems, international market penetration for general surgery, and the progress of their AI platform, Case Insights. The company also hinted at a potential 5% price increase in 2024 if inflation remains high. The stock generally trades with low price volatility and that the company has been aggressively buying back shares, which could impact future price movements.
In terms of expansion, Intuitive Surgical aims to increase its reach from 6 million to 20 million procedures globally through clearances in new markets, new indications, reimbursement improvements, and the development of new products and technologies. Despite high demand in China, the company expects delays due to policy and timing issues.
The earnings call concluded with the company’s vision for a future of less invasive and superior care, focusing on better patient outcomes, experiences, and cost of care. The company believes there is a significant opportunity to improve surgery and acute interventions. The company is expected to be profitable this year, and it has been profitable over the last twelve months, indicating a strong financial outlook.
