Where Will Intuitive Surgical Be in 5 Years?
Various forms of automation are sweeping through the economy. The thought of machines doing human work and eliminating jobs is a big worry, but it's not all bad. Automation can also be a force for good, and healthcare is an example of that.
That's where Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), the pioneer in robotic surgery, comes in. Its da Vinci Surgical System gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval almost 20 years ago in 2000, and the company is now a giant (currently valued at $60 billion) and still leading the charge in the industry by helping surgeons provide better outcomes for patients, not replacing them.
After a big run -- especially in the last decade -- Intuitive's stock has flatlined in the last year or so. Results are still going strong, though, and robotic surgery is likely to continue to steadily gain adoption around the globe. In five years' time, there's a strong chance this healthcare technologist will be much bigger than it is now.
Source Fool.com
