Intuitive Surgical Fame Stems from Premium $1 Million Surgical Robots, Yet Unveiling its Main Comparative Income Sources.
Intuitive Surgical, famously known for its da Vinci robot, leads the global robotic surgery market. The company's stock soared over the years, with shares climbing 195% in the past five years and an additional 15% in 2022[1]. Da Vinci systems, priced above a million dollars, might seem like the primary revenue source. However, that's where you'd be wrong[2].
Intuitive's real money maker lies in selling something else - instruments and accessories used during robotic procedures[1]. In fact, these items brought in revenue exceeding $5 billion in 2022, outperforming the robotic systems' earnings[1]. But wait, there's more!
Service contracts for maintaining these robotic platforms add another chunk to Intuitive's revenue. In 2022, these agreements generated $1.3 billion[1]. Combining both, the recurring revenue stream from disposable instruments, accessories, and service contracts accounted for a whopping 76% of Intuitive's total revenue of $8.3 billion in 2022[1].
The da Vinci's Enduring Presence
Intuitive's journey started in 1995. After five years, it introduced the first da Vinci system[2]. From then on, with each new version, the company solidified its position as an industry leader[2]. The surgeons, initially trained on the da Vinci, grew comfortable using it[2]. This long-term relationship and familiarity have created a significant competitive advantage for Intuitive[2].
This strong relationship with surgeons helped Intuitive when surgeries temporarily halted during the pandemic[2]. Despite this setback, the company managed to climb back and continues to grow, showing strong earnings growth[2].
[1] Source: YCharts[2] Source: Enrichment Data
[1] "Intuitive Surgical Reports Q4 2024 Results," Intuitive Surgical, 2025.[2] "Intuitive Surgical Revenue & Growth (DVN)", The Motley Fool, 2025.[3] "Cost of da Vinci Surgical Robot System," ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, 2025.
- Investing in Intuitive Surgical, known for its da Vinci robot, has yielded significant returns over the years, with shares increasing by billions of dollars.
- The finance department of Intuitive Surgical derives a substantial portion of its revenue from disposable instruments and accessories used in robotic surgeries, generating billions annually.
- Ycharts data reveals that service contracts for maintaining da Vinci robotic platforms have contributed billions to Intuitive's revenue, demonstrating the importance of after-sales support in their business model.
- Leonardo da Vinci may have managed to make history with his art and inventions, but Intuitive Surgical, inspired by his name, has achieved similar milestones in the finance realm, revolutionizing the robotic surgery market with its da Vinci system and associated services.