Intuitive Surgical Surges 4.66% on Robotic Surgery Momentum and FDA Greenlights—What’s Fueling the Rally?

Summary
• Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) rockets 4.66% intraday to $592.78, breaking above its 52-week high of $616.
• FDA approvals for da Vinci systems in hernia, cholecystectomy, and appendectomy procedures drive optimism.
• Installed base of da Vinci robots grows 13% YoY to 10,763 units, with surgeries up 20% YoY.
• GraniteShares 2x Long ISRG ETF (ISUL) surges 8.32%, outpacing the stock’s rally.

Intuitive Surgical’s explosive move reflects a confluence of regulatory tailwinds and surging demand for its robotic surgical systems. With the da Vinci platform expanding into new procedures and installed units climbing, investors are betting on sustained growth. The stock’s intraday high of $592.98 approaches its 52-week peak, signaling a potential breakout after a prolonged consolidation phase.

FDA Approvals and Surge in Surgical Procedures Drive ISRG’s Rally
The surge in ISRG stems from recent FDA approvals for the da Vinci system to perform inguinal hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, and appendectomies. These approvals expand the platform’s procedural footprint, unlocking new revenue streams. Concurrently, the installed base of da Vinci systems grew 13% year-over-year to 10,763 units, while procedures performed with the system surged 20% YoY. This dual tailwind—regulatory expansion and operational scaling—has reignited investor confidence in Intuitive Surgical’s long-term dominance in robotic surgery.

Health Care Equipment Sector Gains Momentum as Medtronic Rises 3.14%
The Health Care Equipment sector, led by Medtronic (MDT) up 3.14%, is seeing broad-based strength as demand for medical devices accelerates. While ISRG’s rally is driven by product-specific tailwinds, the sector’s upward trend underscores a broader narrative of innovation and adoption in surgical robotics and medical tech.

GraniteShares 2x Long ISRG ETF (ISUL) and Key Call Options Offer High-Leverage Bets
• RSI: 66.95 (overbought)
• MACD: 4.41 (bullish divergence)
• Bollinger Bands: Price at $592.78 (near upper band of $586.82)
• 200D MA: $511.74 (far below current price)
• GraniteShares 2x Long ISRG ETF (ISUL): 8.32% gain, amplifying ISRG’s 4.66% move.

ISRG’s technicals suggest a breakout scenario. The RSI at 66.95 indicates overbought conditions, but the MACD’s positive divergence and price proximity to the upper Bollinger Band ($586.82) signal momentum. The 200-day MA at $511.74 remains a critical support level. Aggressive bulls should target a close above $593 to validate the breakout, with a stop-loss below $564.35 (intraday low).

Top Options Picks:
• ISRG20260116C577.5
- Strike: $577.50 | Exp: 2026-01-16 | IV: 13.76% | Leverage: 34.41% | Delta: 0.882 | Theta: -2.046 | Gamma: 0.0139 | Turnover: 17,272
- IV: Low volatility, ideal for short-term bets.
- Leverage: High, amplifying gains if price holds.
- Delta: Near 1.0, indicating strong directional exposure.
- Theta: High decay, suitable for immediate price action.
- Gamma: Moderate sensitivity to price swings.
- Turnover: High liquidity ensures easy entry/exit.
- Payoff: At 5% upside (target $622.41), payoff = $44.91 per contract. Ideal for short-term bullish bets.

• ISRG20260206C580
- Strike: $580.00 | Exp: 2026-02-06 | IV: 19.89% | Leverage: 26.09% | Delta: 0.682 | Theta: -0.692 | Gamma: 0.0102 | Turnover: 0
- IV: Mid-range volatility, balancing risk/reward.
- Leverage: Moderate, suitable for mid-term plays.
- Delta: 0.682, offering balanced directional exposure.
- Theta: Lower decay, ideal for holding through February.
- Gamma: Low sensitivity, reducing gamma risk.
- Turnover: Low liquidity may limit execution speed.
- Payoff: At 5% upside (target $622.41), payoff = $42.41 per contract. Best for holding through February if the rally sustains.

Action: Aggressive bulls may consider ISRG20260116C577.5 into a close above $593. For a longer-term play, ISRG20260206C580 offers a balanced approach if the breakout holds.

Backtest Intuitive Surgical Stock Performance
Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) experienced a significant intraday surge of approximately 5% on December 20, 2022. Let's analyze the stock's performance following this event:1. Short-Term Reaction: The stock closed at $261.80 on December 20, 2022, which represented a 0.3% increase from the previous day. This positive movement suggests a favorable market reaction to the news or event that triggered the surge.2. Long-Term Performance: From the surge day until now, ISRG's stock price has shown a general upward trend. For instance, as of January 6, 2026, the stock's price has increased by approximately 10% from the December 20, 2022, closing price.3. Market Sentiment: The broader market sentiment, including the S&P 500's performance, has not significantly impacted ISRG's trajectory. This indicates that the stock's movement may be more influenced by company-specific factors rather than broader market trends.4. Earnings and Analysts: The company's recent earnings report showed a missed on both earnings and revenue, which could have led to a negative reaction if it had not been for the 5% intraday surge. However, the stock price seemed to stabilize and even increase in the following period.5. Technical Analysis: The stock's P/E ratio and PEG ratio have been high, indicating that the market may have had high expectations for the company's future earnings growth. The recent performance suggests that the market may have adjusted its expectations or that the company's fundamentals have supported the stock price despite the earnings miss.In conclusion, ISRG's performance after the 5% intraday surge has been positive, with the stock price showing an overall upward trend from the surge day until now. This indicates that the market may have reacted favorably to company-specific news or a reassessment of the company's fundamentals. However, it's important to note that the stock's performance is subject to various factors, including market conditions and company-specific developments.

Bullish Momentum Intact—Position for a Breakout Above $586.82
ISRG’s rally is underpinned by regulatory wins and surging procedural demand, with technicals aligning for a potential breakout. A close above $593 would confirm the move, targeting the 52-week high of $616. Watch the 200-day MA at $511.74 as a critical support. Medtronic (MDT), the sector leader up 3.14%, reinforces the broader trend. Act now: Buy ISRG20260116C577.5 if $593 breaks, or hold ISRG20260206C580 for a mid-term play.