Can Intuitive Surgical Stock Recover If Markets Fall?
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) stock is down 17.6% in 21 trading days. The recent slide reflects renewed concerns around slowing da Vinci procedure growth and institutional selling, but sharp drops like this often raise a tougher question: is the weakness temporary, or a sign of deeper cracks in the story?
Before judging its downturn reslience, let’s look at where Intuitive Surgical stands today.
- Size: Intuitive Surgical is a $173 Bil company with $10 Bil in revenue currently trading at $488.15.
- Fundamentals: Last 12 month revenue growth of 20.5% and operating margin of 29.3%.
- Liquidity: Has Debt to Equity ratio of 0.0 and Cash to Assets ratio of 0.29
- Valuation: Intuitive Surgical stock is currently trading at P/E multiple of 60.7 and P/EBIT multiple of 58.8
- Has returned (median) 44.8% within a year following sharp dips since 2010. See ISRG Dip Buy Analysis.
These metrics point to a Strong operational performance, alongside Very High valuation – making the stock Relatively Expensive. For details, see Buy or Sell ISRG Stock
That brings us to the key consideration for investors worried about this fall: how resilient is ISRG stock if markets turn south? This is where our downturn resilience framework comes in. Suppose ISRG stock falls another 20-30% to $342 – can investors comfortably hold on? Turns out, the stock saw an impact slightly better than the S&P 500 index during various economic downturns, based on (a) how much the stock fell and, (b) how quickly it recovered. Below, we dive deeper into each such downturn.
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2022 Inflation Shock
- ISRG stock fell 49.9% from a high of $365.42 on 8 November 2021 to $183.06 on 14 October 2022 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 25.4% for the S&P 500.
- However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 18 January 2024
- Since then, the stock increased to a high of $610.45 on 22 January 2025 , and currently trades at $488.15
| ISRG | S&P 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| % Change from Pre-Recession Peak | -49.9% | -25.4% |
| Time to Full Recovery | 461 days | 464 days |
2020 Covid Pandemic
- ISRG stock fell 40.5% from a high of $206.10 on 20 February 2020 to $122.58 on 23 March 2020 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 33.9% for the S&P 500.
- However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 17 July 2020
| ISRG | S&P 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| % Change from Pre-Recession Peak | -40.5% | -33.9% |
| Time to Full Recovery | 116 days | 148 days |
2018 Correction
- ISRG stock fell 24.3% from a high of $191.58 on 1 October 2018 to $144.96 on 24 December 2018 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 19.8% for the S&P 500.
- However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 21 March 2019
| ISRG | S&P 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| % Change from Pre-Recession Peak | -24.3% | -19.8% |
| Time to Full Recovery | 87 days | 120 days |
2008 Global Financial Crisis
- ISRG stock fell 75.9% from a high of $39.32 on 10 April 2008 to $9.48 on 2 March 2009 vs. a peak-to-trough decline of 56.8% for the S&P 500.
- However, the stock fully recovered to its pre-Crisis peak by 1 March 2010
| ISRG | S&P 500 | |
|---|---|---|
| % Change from Pre-Recession Peak | -75.9% | -56.8% |
| Time to Full Recovery | 364 days | 1,480 days |
Feeling jittery about ISRG stock? Consider portfolio approach.
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