1. Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG)
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) takes the No. 1 position because it represents what many aspiring robotics companies hope to become: a commercially established robotics business with a large installed base, recurring revenue, expanding procedure volumes, and meaningful profitability. Its da Vinci surgical systems assist doctors in performing minimally invasive procedures, while its Ion platform supports robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.
The company’s competitive advantage extends beyond the machines themselves. Hospitals invest in equipment, surgeons spend time learning the platform, and each procedure requires instruments and accessories. That creates recurring revenue as the installed base grows and utilization increases. In the second quarter of 2026, instruments and accessories generated $1.73 billion in in revenue, up 18% from the previous year. This recurring component helps distinguish Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) from robotics businesses that must continually depend on large one-time hardware orders.
The operating results explain why Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) leads this list of the best robotics stocks to buy. Second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 19% to $2.89 billion, while da Vinci procedure volume increased approximately 15%. The installed base reached 11,710 da Vinci systems, up 12%, and 1,096 Ion systems, up 21%. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) placed 468 da Vinci systems during the quarter, including 246 of the newer da Vinci 5 platform. Competition, healthcare regulation, hospital budgets, and a premium valuation remain important risks. Nevertheless, few publicly traded robotics companies can match its combination of technological leadership, real-world adoption, recurring sales, and profitable growth. For investors seeking exposure to the robot revolution without relying entirely on science-fiction promises, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) earns the top spot.
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Disclosure: No material interests to disclose. This article was originally published on Global Market Bulletin.
