Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG): Hedge Funds Are Bullish On This Trending AI Stock Right Now

We recently compiled a list of the 10 Trending AI Health Stocks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) stands against the other AI health stocks.

According to Statista Market Insights, the worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) market is projected to reach a size of $184 billion in 2024. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.46% between 2024 and 2030, the market is expected to expand significantly, reaching a total value of $826.70 billion by 2030. In a global comparison, the United States is set to dominate with the largest market size, valued at $50.16 billion in 2024, leading the adoption and innovation in AI technology.

The global AI healthcare market is experiencing rapid expansion as well, driven by advancements in machine learning, automation, and precision medicine. With a market size of around $15.4 billion in 2022, it is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.5%, reaching over $187 billion by 2030, according to estimates by Grand View Research. This growth is largely fueled by the increased adoption of AI in diagnostics, drug discovery, robotic surgery, and patient monitoring, as healthcare systems seek more efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Read more about these developments by accessing 33 Most Important AI Companies You Should Pay Attention To and 20 Industrial Stocks Already Riding the AI Wave.

Reputable sources such as Fortune Business Insights and McKinsey report similar bullish projections, highlighting that AI’s applications in healthcare are expanding from diagnostics and imaging to personalized medicine and surgery. The FDA's approval of numerous AI-driven tools in recent years underlines this shift. As AI permeates every level of healthcare, the demand for AI-enhanced devices and platforms continues to surge, resulting in massive investments, partnerships, and growing startup valuations, especially in medical imaging and AI-powered therapeutics.

According to Eric Topol, a renowned cardiologist and AI expert, AI is reshaping healthcare by enhancing precision in diagnostics and treatment. In his book "Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again," Topol argues that AI not only boosts efficiency but also provides better patient outcomes through personalized medicine and improved medical imaging. He states, "AI has the potential to restore the human connection in medicine by allowing doctors more time to focus on their patients, while AI handles data analysis and routine tasks." Topol envisions that AI will reduce physician burnout and transform healthcare delivery globally.

Read more about these developments by accessing 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock and AI News You Should Not Have Missed.

Our Methodology

For this article, we selected trending health stocks that have AI products driving meaningful revenue gains. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? 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).

A medical team performing minimally invasive surgery with a da Vinci Surgical System.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is a pioneer in robotic surgery, most notably with its Da Vinci system, which incorporates AI to enhance precision and expand surgical capabilities. AI algorithms improve the system’s accuracy in tasks like tissue manipulation and surgical planning. The system is used in a growing range of procedures, including urological, gynecological, and general surgeries, significantly improving patient outcomes through minimally invasive techniques.

Financially, the adoption of AI-enhanced Da Vinci systems has contributed significantly to Intuitive's revenue. In 2023, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) reported a 14% revenue growth, with a total of 1,370 systems installed worldwide—a year-over-year increase of 8%. System sales accounted for $480 million in Q4 alone, reflecting strong demand. Procedure volume using these systems grew by 21%, leading to a 17% rise in quarterly revenue, totaling $1.93 billion for Q4. Operating income also increased by 20%, reflecting the rising adoption of its AI-powered surgical systems.

Overall ISRG ranks 4th on our list of the trending AI stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of ISRG as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. 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.