By Sahil Pandey
Oct 20 (Reuters) – Intuitive Surgical on Tuesday tightened its 2026 forecast for growth in procedures performed using its da Vinci robotic surgery systems.
Procedure growth is a key measure for Intuitive as surgeries performed using its da Vinci systems generate recurring sales of instruments and accessories, its largest revenue segment.
• The medical-device maker, whose shares fell about 7% in extended trading, expects worldwide da Vinci procedure growth to be closer to the midpoint of its 14% to 15% forecast range. Its prior view was 13.5% to 15.5%
• US da Vinci procedure growth was 10% in the third quarter, while growth outside the US was 20%
• Intuitive plans to roll out its Extended Use Program, designed to reduce instrument costs and broaden access to robotic-assisted surgery, and expects the US to be its first market, pending regulatory clearance
• Third-quarter adjusted profit was $3 per diluted share on revenue of $3.05 billion, compared with estimates of $2.64 and $2.91 billion, respectively, according to data compiled by LSEG
• Intuitive continues to monitor lower Affordable Care Act enrollment, changes to Medicaid eligibility and potential changes to the 340B drug-pricing program, CFO Jamie Samath said
• In July, Intuitive said the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies had a modest adverse impact on US procedure growth
(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
