Intuitive cuts U.S. robotic surgery growth forecast
Intuitive’s U.S. robotic-surgery procedure growth slowed to 10% in the third quarter, marking the weakest pace since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the company’s latest earnings report. The slowdown follows a $704 million revenue figure for Q3 2025.
CEO David Rosa framed the slowdown as part of a deliberate shift toward broader adoption, particularly in benign general surgery—an area where laparoscopy and open surgeries are already well-established. Hospitals that have adopted the da Vinci system are increasingly using clinical and economic dashboards comparing robotic procedures against alternatives, and early results show robotics performing favorably, Rosa noted.
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The firm is lowering prices for instruments and accessories by 3% to 5% per procedure to accelerate adoption, targeting high-volume surgeries where cost has been a barrier. These adjustments are concentrated in regions outside the United States and in outpatient settings, where demand for incremental patients is highest. CFO Jamie Samath emphasized that expanding access, even at lower margins, creates long-term value that outweighs short-term revenue gains.
The company also revised its 2026 procedure growth forecast downward, narrowing expectations to 14% to 15% from the previous range of 13.5% to 15.5%. This revised outlook reflects a strategy that now hinges on proving robotic surgery’s advantages in less traditional areas, where adoption remains uneven and hospitals may still hesitate without clear evidence of cost savings or patient outcomes.
