GH vs. ISRG: Guardant Health vs. Intuitive Surgical Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) both fall under the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, but GH is classified in Health Care Providers & Services while ISRG is classified in Health Care Equipment & Supplies.

Company profile comparison for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Profile Item	GH	ISRG
Name	Guardant Health, Inc.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Health Care Equipment & Services	Health Care Equipment & Services
GICS Industry	Health Care Providers & Services	Health Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-Industry	Health Care Services	Health Care Equipment
Market Capitalization	20.41 billion USD	159.96 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	Nasdaq
Listing Date	October 4, 2018	June 16, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ISRG

GSPC

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Total Return (1Y)	66.53%	-17.61%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	92.76%	19.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.36%	4.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ISRG

GSPC

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.23%	35.53%
Beta (5Y)	1.69	1.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-85.09%	-49.88%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.97M	2.43M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

GH and ISRG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.17	-0.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.84	-0.83

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) earns 17.93% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Guardant Health (GH) has no ROE this period.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 47.61%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%
GH: --

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

17.93%

Max: 47.61%
ISRG: 17.93%
Q3: 14.36%
Median: 5.45%
Q1: -10.67%
Min: -47.01%

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): GH does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ISRG is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative net margin of -37.93%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports 25.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-37.93%

Max: 29.35%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%
GH: -37.93%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

25.54%

Max: 29.35%
ISRG: 25.54%
Q3: 9.33%
Median: 2.18%
Q1: -6.29%
Min: -28.46%

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative operating margin of -37.06%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports 33.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-37.06%

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%
GH: -37.06%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

33.29%

Max: 35.43%
ISRG: 33.29%
Q3: 14.14%
Median: 6.81%
Q1: -0.28%
Min: -16.29%

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
ROE (TTM)	--	17.93%
ROA (TTM)	-19.92%	11.86%
Net Margin (TTM)	-37.93%	25.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)	-37.06%	33.29%
Gross Margin (TTM)	65.19%	66.64%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Guardant Health (GH) at 32.88% and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 20.51% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports EPS growth of 22.59%, ranked against its industry; Guardant Health (GH) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	32.88%	20.51%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	29.75%	17.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	22.59%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	29.19%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Guardant Health (GH) at 3.60 and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 3.33 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.60

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
GH: 3.60
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.33

Max: 7.59
Q3: 4.00
ISRG: 3.33
Median: 1.98
Q1: 1.37
Min: 0.30

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Neither Guardant Health (GH) nor Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00
GH: --

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 1.88
Q3: 0.91
Median: 0.58
Q1: 0.16
Min: 0.00
ISRG: --

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): Neither stock reports debt-to-equity ratio, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.60	3.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	-0.90

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Guardant Health (GH) nor Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

GH: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ISRG: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Guardant Health (GH) nor Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

GH: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.00%

ISRG: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) trades at 54.75 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Guardant Health (GH) has no P/E ratio this period.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

Max: 80.41
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21
GH: --

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

54.75

Max: 80.41
ISRG: 54.75
Q3: 47.62
Median: 29.93
Q1: 21.19
Min: 4.21

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): GH does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; ISRG is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Guardant Health (GH) at 15.96 and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 13.82 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

15.96

GH: 15.96
Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.82

ISRG: 13.82
Max: 8.80
Q3: 4.32
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.10
Min: 0.03

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Guardant Health (GH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -73.67, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports 9.82, ranking against industry peers normally.

GH

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-73.67

Max: 11.68
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31
GH: -73.67

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

9.82

Max: 11.68
ISRG: 9.82
Q3: 6.12
Median: 3.00
Q1: 1.73
Min: -1.31

Guardant Health (GH) vs. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Guardant Health (GH) and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG)
Metric	GH	ISRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	--	54.75
P/S Ratio (TTM)	15.96	13.82
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-73.67	9.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.30%	2.15%