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ISRG vs PODD
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. Insulet (PODD) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ISRG (Intuitive Surgical) is the larger, more established robotic-surgery franchise, but its shares have trailed the market in 2026 amid slowing procedure growth and rising competition.
- PODD (Insulet) is a higher-growth diabetes-technology pure play delivering faster revenue expansion, though its share price has also pulled back sharply from earlier 2026 levels.
- Both companies generate substantial recurring revenue, but their growth drivers, risk profiles, and market capitalizations differ materially.
- Wall Street consensus rates both stocks a "Buy," yet analyst price targets imply more near-term upside for PODD than for ISRG.
- Relative performance hinges on procedure-volume trends for ISRG and on type 2 diabetes adoption for PODD.
Introduction
Investors evaluating medical-technology leaders frequently compare ISRG, the dominant force in robotic-assisted surgery, with PODD, a fast-growing maker of tubeless insulin delivery systems. Although both operate in healthcare, they serve different patient populations, compete in different submarkets, and respond to different catalysts. This stock comparison examines their business models, recent momentum, risk factors, and market positioning. It may be most relevant for growth-oriented investors and traders weighing a large-cap industry incumbent against a smaller, faster-growing specialty-device company, and for those seeking an objective read on relative performance rather than a single-stock recommendation.
ISRG Overview and Recent Performance
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) is the pioneer of robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery, best known for its da Vinci surgical systems and the Ion endoluminal platform. The company has built an installed base of more than 11,700 da Vinci systems across over 70 countries, with recurring revenue — from instruments, accessories, and services — representing roughly 85% of total sales. That recurring model has historically supported durable margins and steady growth.
In recent market activity, however, the stock has lagged the broader market. After peaking above $600 early in 2026, ISRG shares have declined significantly and remain down by roughly 20% to 25% year to date. Second-quarter 2026 revenue still rose 19% year over year to $2.89 billion, with da Vinci procedures up about 15% and Ion procedures up about 36%. Yet sentiment has been pressured by moderating procedure growth, softer U.S. bariatric demand tied to GLP-1 weight-loss medications, competitive intensity in China, and new robotic platforms from rivals such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic. Management has guided for full-year da Vinci procedure growth of 13.5% to 15.5%, a deceleration that has led investors to reassess a historically premium valuation.
PODD Overview and Recent Performance
Insulet (PODD) designs and sells the Omnipod tubeless insulin delivery system, including the Omnipod 5 automated insulin delivery (AID) platform, which integrates with continuous glucose monitors. The company's disposable "Pod" and recurring sensor-compatible design generate a subscription-like revenue stream, and Insulet is expanding aggressively into the large type 2 diabetes market, where more than 40% of U.S. new customer starts now originate.
In recent quarters, PODD has reported faster top-line growth than its robotic-surgery peer. Second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 23.5% to roughly $802 million, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) up about 41% year over year and adjusted gross margin expanding to 72.9%. Management raised its 2026 total revenue growth outlook to 20% to 22% at constant currency and guided for adjusted EPS growth of at least 30%. Despite this momentum, the stock has pulled back well below its spring 2026 highs, reflecting competitive concerns in diabetes technology and a reset of what had been an elevated valuation. Analysts still rate the shares a consensus "Buy," with a notable portion shifting to "Hold" in recent months.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
The clearest contrast between the two is scale and maturity. ISRG carries a market capitalization near $150 billion, while PODD is a fraction of that size, giving the latter a potentially longer growth runway but also greater sensitivity to valuation shifts. In terms of growth drivers, ISRG depends on hospital capital spending, surgical procedure volumes, and adoption of newer platforms such as the da Vinci 5, whereas PODD depends on patient onboarding, retention, and international expansion in automated insulin delivery.
Risk factors also diverge. ISRG faces rising competition in robotic surgery, tariff and freight cost pressures, and the impact of weight-loss drugs on bariatric procedures. PODD faces competition from larger diabetes-device incumbents and must prove that early type 2 users remain on its platform over multiple years. On valuation, both trade at premium multiples, but ISRG has seen meaningful multiple compression, while PODD retains faster near-term growth expectations. Market sentiment has softened on both names, though for different underlying reasons.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors such as trend consistency, growth trajectory, and relative positioning, Tickeron's AI framework would likely view PODD as the higher-momentum candidate in the near term, given its faster revenue growth, expanding margins, and stronger consensus upside implied by analyst price targets. That said, ISRG presents a more stable, cash-generative franchise with a durable competitive moat and a valuation that has de-rated considerably from recent highs. The AI's preference would therefore depend on the specific strategy and timeframe being evaluated — favoring PODD for momentum-oriented signals, while recognizing ISRG as the steadier, lower-relative-risk positioning among the two. This assessment is probabilistic in nature and reflects current conditions rather than a definitive forecast.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is ISRG is a Hold and PODD is a StrongBuy.
ISRG in -1.73% downward trend, sliding for three consecutive days on October 14, 2026
Moving lower for three straight days is viewed as a bearish sign. Keep an eye on this stock for future declines. Considering data from situations where ISRG declined for three days, in 162 of 264 cases, the price declined further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 61%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for ISRG moved out of overbought territory on October 21, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 37 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 11 of the 37 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 30%.
The Stochastic Oscillator demonstrated that the ticker has stayed in the overbought zone for 10 days. The longer the ticker stays in the overbought zone, the sooner a price pull-back is expected.
ISRG broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 09, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 05, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on ISRG as a result. In 51 of 79 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 65%.
The 10-day moving average for ISRG crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on September 21, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 5 of 11 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 45%.
Following a +2.65% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where ISRG advanced for three days, in 210 of 317 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 183 of 264 cases where ISRG Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 69%.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 42 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. ISRG’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 49 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 51 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 71 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 80 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. ISRG’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 95, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 81 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (8.325) is normal, around the industry mean (4.952). P/E Ratio (48.430) is within average values for comparable stocks, (36.644). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.931) is also within normal values, averaging (4.143). Dividend Yield (0.000) settles around the average of (0.005) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (12.469) is also within normal values, averaging (56.876).
PODD in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on October 16, 2026
PODD moved above its 50-day moving average on October 16, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In 29 of 34 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 85%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The RSI Indicator points to a transition from a downward trend to an upward trend -- in cases where PODD's RSI Indicator exited the oversold zone, 21 of 33 resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 64%.
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on October 12, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on PODD as a result. In 61 of 90 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 68%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for PODD just turned positive on October 06, 2026. Looking at past instances where PODD's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 28 of 46 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 61%.
Following a +1.09% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where PODD advanced for three days, in 208 of 314 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 66%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator has been in the overbought zone for 2 days. Expect a price pull-back in the near future.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where PODD declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 72%.
PODD broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 12, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Aroon Indicator for PODD entered a downward trend on October 13, 2026. This could indicate a strong downward move is ahead for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 37 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 63 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating fairly steady price growth. PODD’s price grows at a lower rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 81 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (6.920) is normal, around the industry mean (2.923). P/E Ratio (26.474) is within average values for comparable stocks, (2.388). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (1.047) is also within normal values, averaging (11.052). Dividend Yield (0.000) settles around the average of (0.009) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (3.294) is also within normal values, averaging (40.124).
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 95 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to worse than average earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of 95 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is significantly overvalued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. PODD’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 95, placing this stock worse than average.
ISRG | PODD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 87 | 24 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 81 Overvalued | 81 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 80 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 51 | 37 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 42 | 63 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 71 | 95 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 49 | 90 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
ISRG's Valuation (81) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as PODD (81). This means that ISRG’s stock grew similarly to PODD’s over the last 12 months.
ISRG's Profit vs Risk Rating (80) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as PODD (100). This means that ISRG’s stock grew similarly to PODD’s over the last 12 months.
PODD's SMR Rating (37) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as ISRG (51). This means that PODD’s stock grew similarly to ISRG’s over the last 12 months.
ISRG's Price Growth Rating (42) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as PODD (63). This means that ISRG’s stock grew similarly to PODD’s over the last 12 months.
ISRG's P/E Growth Rating (71) in the Medical Specialties industry is in the same range as PODD (95). This means that ISRG’s stock grew similarly to PODD’s over the last 12 months.
| ISRG | PODD | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 30% | 2 days ago 64% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 74% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 68% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 61% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 66% | 2 days ago 69% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 66% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 61% | 9 days ago 72% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 43% | 2 days ago 65% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 2 days ago 80% |
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is overvalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
ISRG’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green while PODD’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- ISRG’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- PODD’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
ISRG’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PODD’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- ISRG’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- PODD’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
ISRG (@Pharmaceuticals: Other) experienced а +1.88% price change this week, while PODD (@Medical/Nursing Services) price change was +5.95% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Pharmaceuticals: Other industry was +0.63%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.82%, and the average quarterly price growth was +8.73%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Medical/Nursing Services industry was -1.62%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -10.72%, and the average quarterly price growth was -10.29%.
Reported Earning Dates
ISRG is expected to report earnings on Jan 26, 2027.
PODD is expected to report earnings on Nov 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Pharmaceuticals: Other (+0.63% weekly)Pharmaceuticals (Other) comprise companies that are involved in the discovery, development or manufacturing of therapeutic and preventative medicines. They often collaborate with or acquire other pharmaceutical/healthcare firms. Examples of companies in this segment include Bausch Health Companies Inc., Icon Plc and Perrigo Company Plc.
@Medical/Nursing Services (-1.62% weekly)The medical/nursing services includes companies that provide medical-related services such as ambulance services, dialysis centers, respiratory therapy, blood testing and rehabilitation services. DaVita Inc., Chemed Corporation and Guardant Health, Inc. are examples of companies in this industry.
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ISRG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ISRG has been closely correlated with BSX. These tickers have moved in lockstep 73% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ISRG jumps, then BSX could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To ISRG | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISRG | 100% | -2.26% | ||
| BSX - ISRG | 73% Closely correlated | -2.35% | ||
| SYK - ISRG | 64% Loosely correlated | -2.23% | ||
| NTRA - ISRG | 54% Loosely correlated | +1.84% | ||
| GKOS - ISRG | 51% Loosely correlated | +1.97% | ||
| PODD - ISRG | 49% Loosely correlated | -0.52% | ||
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