Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG): Today's Featured Health Services Winner

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pushed the Health Services industry higher today making it today's featured health services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 1.9%. By the end of trading, Intuitive Surgical rose $11.06 (2.1%) to $533.44 on average volume. Throughout the day, 347,823 shares of Intuitive Surgical exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 293,000 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $523-$537 after having opened the day at $526.60 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $522.38. Other companies within the Health Services industry that increased today were: BG Medicine (BGMD), up 19.3%, Sun Healthcare Group (SUNH), up 14.4%, Skilled Healthcare Group (SKH), up 12.9%, and Graymark Healthcare (GRMH), up 10.9%.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets da Vinci surgical systems for various surgical procedures, including urologic, gynecologic, cardiothoracic, general, and head and neck surgeries. Intuitive Surgical has a market cap of $20.49 billion and is part of the health care sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 39, equal to the average health services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 12.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday. Currently there are five analysts that rate Intuitive Surgical a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and eight rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Intuitive Surgical as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value.

• You can view the full Intuitive Surgical Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Dynacq Healthcare (DYII), down 15.1%, IsoRay (ISR), down 8.6%, Urologix (ULGX), down 7.5%, and Bovie Medical Corporation (BVX), down 7.1%, were all losers within the health services industry with Edwards Life (EW) being today's health services industry loser.

• Use our health services section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the health services industry could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Intuitive Surgical Inc. click any of the following:

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Stock Price

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Earnings

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Growth Rates

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Balance Sheet

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Cash Flow

• Intuitive Surgical Inc. Income Statement