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Intuitive Surgical Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 19% on procedure growth: Fourth quarter revenue was $2.87 billion, up 19%. The company attributed the increase to procedure volume, higher da Vinci placements and a larger installed base. Source
  • Per-share earnings rose on both bases: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.21, up from $1.88. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.53, up from $2.21 a year earlier. Source
  • Da Vinci 5 drove placement growth: The company placed 532 da Vinci systems, against 493, including 303 da Vinci 5 systems against 174 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year da Vinci placements rose: The company placed 1,721 da Vinci systems in 2025, against 1,526 in 2024, including 870 da Vinci 5 systems against 362 in 2024.
  • 2025 da Vinci procedures reached 3.15 million: Approximately 3,153,000 da Vinci procedures were performed in 2025, up about 18% from about 2,683,000 in 2024.
  • Cash balance rose $0.6 billion: Cash, equivalents and investments ended the quarter at $9.03 billion, up $0.60 billion, from operating cash generation net of share repurchases and capital expenditures. Source
  • Further tariff changes could be material: Any additional tariffs, or changes to existing tariffs, could be material to 2026 results, including the change in gross profit margin. Source

“We are pleased with our strong performance in the final quarter of 2025 and the full year.”

Dave Rosa, Intuitive CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Worldwide da Vinci procedure growth Source2026approximately 13% to 15%Kept
Non-GAAP gross profit margin Source202667% to 68% of revenue
Tariff impact included in gross profit margin range Source20261.2% of revenue, plus or minus 10 basis points
Non-GAAP operating expense growth Source202611% to 15%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 2026 da Vinci procedure growth range is the same as the range given in the preliminary release.

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 19% on procedure growth: Fourth quarter revenue was $2.87 billion, up 19%. The company attributed the increase to procedure volume, higher da Vinci placements and a larger installed base. Source
  • Per-share earnings rose on both bases: GAAP diluted EPS was $2.21, up from $1.88. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.53, up from $2.21 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year GAAP net income rose: Full-year 2025 GAAP net income attributable to Intuitive was $2,856.0 million, against $2,322.6 million in 2024, according to the annual statements. Source

Systems placements and installed base

  • Da Vinci 5 drove placement growth: The company placed 532 da Vinci systems, against 493, including 303 da Vinci 5 systems against 174 a year earlier. Source
  • Ion placements fell in the quarter: The company placed 42 Ion endoluminal systems in the quarter, against 69 in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year da Vinci placements rose: The company placed 1,721 da Vinci systems in 2025, against 1,526 in 2024, including 870 da Vinci 5 systems against 362 in 2024.
  • Usage-based leases within placements: Of 250 quarterly placements under operating leases, 150 were usage-based. A year earlier 140 of 222 operating-lease placements were usage-based. Source
  • Installed base grew 12% for da Vinci: The da Vinci installed base reached 11,106 systems, up 12%. The Ion installed base reached 995 systems, up 24%. Source

“In 2025, we saw increased adoption and utilization of our surgical platforms, expanded product clearances and indications for use across geographies, and more than 3.1 million da Vinci procedures performed.”

Dave Rosa, Intuitive CEO

Revenue lines and regions

  • Instruments and accessories grew 17%: Instruments and accessories revenue reached $1.66 billion, up 17%, driven by procedure volume growth across da Vinci and Ion. Source
  • Systems revenue rose on placements: Systems revenue was $786 million, against $655 million. The company cited more placements, a larger lease installed base and higher average selling prices. Source
  • Services revenue continued to climb: Services revenue was $422.0 million, against $347.4 million a year earlier and $395.9 million in the third quarter. Source

Costs, margins and tax items

  • Foundation gift lifted expenses: Expenses included a $70 million contribution to the Intuitive Foundation, against $45 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • SG&A and R&D both increased: Selling, general and administrative expense was $687.1 million, against $612.6 million. Research and development was $352.9 million, against $294.7 million. Source
  • Share-based compensation increased: Share-based compensation within GAAP income from operations was $207 million, against $180 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Gross profit rose in dollars: Non-GAAP gross profit was $1,942.1 million in the quarter, against $1,678.4 million. GAAP gross profit was $1,904.3 million. Source
  • Excess tax benefits lifted EPS: Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation were $43 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. A separate discrete benefit of $23 million, or $0.06, came from unrecognized tax benefit releases. Source

“The higher fourth quarter revenue was driven by growth in procedure volume, higher da Vinci system placements, and an increase in the installed base of systems.”

Intuitive Surgical Inc., press release

Procedure volume and utilization

  • 2025 da Vinci procedures reached 3.15 million: Approximately 3,153,000 da Vinci procedures were performed in 2025, up about 18% from about 2,683,000 in 2024.
  • Utilization rose 4% in the quarter: Average da Vinci system utilization increased 4% in the fourth quarter, primarily driven by da Vinci 5 adoption in the U.S.
  • 2025 growth spanned U.S. and abroad: Full-year 2025 da Vinci procedure growth was attributed to 18% growth in U.S. general surgery and 23% growth in procedures performed outside the U.S.

Cash, balance sheet and share count

  • Cash balance rose $0.6 billion: Cash, equivalents and investments ended the quarter at $9.03 billion, up $0.60 billion, from operating cash generation net of share repurchases and capital expenditures. Source
  • Receivables and inventory grew: Accounts receivable reached $1,527.3 million, against $1,225.4 million. Inventory reached $1,840.0 million, against $1,487.2 million. Net property, plant and equipment rose to $5,342.4 million. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted-average shares were 360.4 million, against 363.9 million a year earlier and 361.8 million in the third quarter. Source

Tariffs and trade exposure

  • Current tariffs built into margin range: The gross margin range reflects tariffs in effect at the release date and assumes those tariffs remain in place. Source
  • Further tariff changes could be material: Any additional tariffs, or changes to existing tariffs, could be material to 2026 results, including the change in gross profit margin. Source
  • Tariff effect depends on sourcing mix: The ultimate tariff effect depends on the share of components procured and finished goods made outside the United States, and on the amount, scope, nature and timing of tariffs. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Da Vinci surgical systems placed, fourth quarter 2025 Source532
Da Vinci 5 systems placed, fourth quarter 2025 Source303
Ion endoluminal systems placed, fourth quarter 2025 Source42
Da Vinci installed base, December 31, 2025 Source11,106 systems
Ion endoluminal installed base, December 31, 2025 Source995 systems
Worldwide procedure growth, fourth quarter 2025 Sourceapproximately 18%
Ion procedure growth, fourth quarter 2025 Sourceapproximately 44%
Da Vinci procedures performed, 2025approximately 3,153,000
Average da Vinci system utilization change, fourth quarter 2025increased 4%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said additional tariffs, or changes to existing ones, could materially change 2026 results, including gross profit margin. Source
  • Financial: Management said certain items, including legal proceedings, have uncertain timing and outcome and could be material to GAAP results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company said it would report fourth quarter results and discuss 2025 financial results in more detail on the January 22 call.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.