Robotic surgery pioneer Intuitive Surgical reported higher earnings and revenue every quarter this past year. Although it has competition from other robotic medical device makers, Intuitive Surgical is the category leader.
Tuesday the Relative Strength (RS) Rating for Intuitive Surgical stock shot up 12 points, from 65 to 78. The upgrade means its stock tops 78% of all other stocks. The rise brings it within a couple of points of a key benchmark. Top growth stocks often have an 80 or higher RS Rating as they begin their biggest moves.
When To Sell Stocks To Lock In Profits And Minimize Losses
Profit, Sales Growth Accelerating
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Intuitive Surgical has a deep moat around its technology and has been selling its advanced surgical systems used in open surgery and minimally invasive surgery for 30 years.
Over the last four quarters Intuitive's earnings grew 23%, 25%, 26% and 38% in its most recent quarter, to $2.21 per share. During that time its sales rose 11%, 14%, 17% then 25% to $2.41 billion.
Among its other ratings, watchlist candidate Intuitive Surgical has a 94 Earnings Per Share Rating, and an SMR Rating (sales + profit margins + return on equity) of A. Its Accumulation/Distribution Rating, an indicator of buying by large funds, is a weak D. With the market in severe correction now is not an ideal time to buy.
Intuitive Surgical No. 1 In Its Industry
Intuitive Surgical is expected to release its next quarterly numbers on or around April 22.
The company earns the No. 1 rank among its peers in the 65-stock Medical-Systems/Equipment industry group. iRadimed and Masimo are also among the group's highest-rated stocks.
IBD's unique Relative Strength Rating measures share price action with a 1 (worst) to 99 (best) score. The grade shows how a stock's price movement over the last 52 weeks stacks up against all the other stocks in our database. Stocks that go on to make the biggest gains typically have an RS Rating north of 80 as they begin their largest runs. See if Intuitive Surgical can continue to rebound and hit that benchmark.
This article was created automatically with Stats Perform's Wordsmith software using data and article templates supplied by Investor's Business Daily. An IBD journalist may have edited the article.
Please follow James DeTar on Twitter @JimDeTar
RELATED:
IBD Stock Rating Upgrades: Rising Relative Strength
Profit From Short-Term Trends With SwingTrader
How Relative Strength Line Can Help You Judge A Stock
Ready To Grow Your Investing Skills? Join An IBD Meetup Group!
See IBD Stock Lists & Get Pass/Fail Ratings For All Your Stocks With IBD Digital
