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

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pushed the Health Care sector higher today making it today's featured health care winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, Intuitive Surgical rose $10.28 (2%) to $511.03 on average volume. Throughout the day, 323,657 shares of Intuitive Surgical exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 316,600 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $500.08-$511.32 after having opened the day at $503.14 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $500.75. Other companies within the Health Care sector that increased today were: Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT), up 199.7%, Bioline Rx (BLRX), up 16.9%, Oxygen Biotherapeutics (OXBT), up 16.4%, and Accelr8 Technology Corporation (AXK), up 14.9%.

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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 $19.96 billion and is part of the health services industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 35.5, 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 8.2% 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 solid stock price performance. 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, AEterna Zentaris (AEZS), down 15.7%, Spherix (SPEX), down 12.1%, Kips Bay Medical (KIPS), down 11.3%, and Senesco Technologies (SNT), down 8.5%, were all laggards within the health care sector with United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) being today's health care sector laggard.

• Use our health care section to find sector-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 care sector could consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR (XLV) while those bearish on the health care sector could consider ProShares Ultra Short Health Care (RXD).

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

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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