Intuitive Surgical vs Medtronic (ISRG vs MDT)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs Medtronic (MDT) in plain English: P/E, growth, margins, debt and dividend side by side, key differences and which fits each investor profile.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Medtronic (MDT) compete in healthcare and pharma. Here are Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic side by side with their real figures as of November 4, 2026: what sets them apart, which fits each kind of investor and the most common questions, without telling you whether to buy Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic.

Intuitive Surgical vs Medtronic: the figures

Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic figures from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026; N/A means that Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic figure is not available, and we never estimate it.

3 key differences between Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic

1. Valuation: Intuitive Surgical trades at 58.3x its annual earnings and Medtronic at 25.8x; the market pays more for each dollar of Intuitive Surgical profit, usually because it expects more growth.
2. Dividend: Medtronic pays a dividend yielding 2.91% and Intuitive Surgical pays none.
3. Profitability: for every 100 of sales, Intuitive Surgical keeps 25.5 as net profit and Medtronic keeps 13.9.

Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic: which fits your profile

• If you want growth: Intuitive Surgical is growing faster today, so it fits better with investors who put business growth first, usually accepting a higher P/E and a bumpier ride.
• If you want income (dividends): Medtronic pays the higher dividend relative to its price.
• If you prefer caution: Intuitive Surgical has less debt relative to its profit, which usually gives more room in a bad year.
• If price is what matters most to you: Medtronic trades on the lower P/E; check first whether that is an opportunity or a sign of a business that grows less.

Neither Intuitive Surgical nor Medtronic wins on everything, and owning both is also an option: spreading money across several companies or an index fund reduces what rides on each one.

How Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic make money

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)

Intuitive Surgical sells the da Vinci surgical robot and the Ion lung biopsy system to hospitals. Its biggest revenue source is instruments and accessories used up in each procedure, followed by system sales and leases and service contracts. The United States is its main market, with growing international sales. Full Intuitive Surgical analysis.

Medtronic (MDT)

Medtronic sells medical devices to hospitals around the world. Cardiovascular, its largest segment, includes pacemakers, defibrillators and heart valves. Neuroscience covers spine, neuromodulation and specialty therapies, Medical Surgical offers surgical tools and the Hugo robot, and Diabetes sells MiniMed insulin pumps and glucose monitoring systems. Full Medtronic analysis.

Frequently asked questions: Intuitive Surgical vs Medtronic

Is Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic the better stock?

Choosing between Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic depends on what you are looking for. Intuitive Surgical is growing faster right now, and Medtronic trades on the lower P/E. Fintols does not tell you whether to buy Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic: it shows you the differences so you can decide.

Which pays a higher dividend, Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic?

As of November 4, 2026, Medtronic yields 2.91% and Intuitive Surgical pays none. Also check how much of their profit Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic pay out: if it is more than they earn, it cannot last.

Which is more expensive, Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic?

On P/E, Intuitive Surgical (58.3x) is more expensive than Medtronic (25.8x) as of November 4, 2026. A higher P/E can be justified if earnings grow faster, so compare it with each company's growth in the table.

Can I own both Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic?

Yes. Many people spread their money across several companies, such as Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic, or use index funds so they do not depend on just one. If you are starting out, decide how much you want to invest and for how long before buying Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic.

More comparisons with Intuitive Surgical or Medtronic

• Intuitive Surgical vs Johnson & Johnson
• Intuitive Surgical vs Merck
• Intuitive Surgical vs Eli Lilly
• Johnson & Johnson vs Medtronic

More companies like Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic: healthcare and pharma stocks. Educational content about Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic, not investment advice.