ISRG vs. NVO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ISRG and NVO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
ISRG is a standard domestic listing, while NVO trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | Novo Nordisk A/S |
| Country | United States | Denmark |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 196.99 billion USD | 216.69 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 16, 2000 | April 30, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ISRG and NVO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -4.63% | 5.55% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 14.42% | -10.49% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -2.56% | -29.53% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 2.39% | -59.81% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 2.85% | -1.55% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 5.28% | -50.17% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 2.18M | 8.31M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 2.35M | 7.13M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 39.64% | 44.27% |
| Beta | 1.67 | 1.58 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ISRG
16.06%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.93%
- Q3
- 16.99%
- Median
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 5.10%
- Min
- -12.52%
ISRG’s Return on Equity of 16.06% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
NVO
66.95%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 38.59%
- Q3
- 19.84%
- Median
- 11.85%
- Q1
- 5.40%
- Min
- -10.91%
NVO’s Return on Equity of 66.95% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ISRG
28.58%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.41%
- Q3
- 13.71%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -5.58%
ISRG’s Net Profit Margin of 28.58% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
NVO
32.88%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 40.67%
- Q3
- 19.07%
- Median
- 12.31%
- Q1
- 4.50%
- Min
- -9.91%
A Net Profit Margin of 32.88% places NVO in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ISRG
29.30%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.09%
- Q3
- 18.11%
- Median
- 15.07%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- -0.28%
An Operating Profit Margin of 29.30% places ISRG in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
NVO
42.03%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 45.78%
- Q3
- 23.14%
- Median
- 16.68%
- Q1
- 7.98%
- Min
- -7.13%
An Operating Profit Margin of 42.03% places NVO in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 16.06% | 66.95% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 14.18% | 21.29% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 28.58% | 32.88% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 29.30% | 42.03% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 66.38% | 82.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ISRG
4.97
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 5.19
- Q3
- 3.00
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.86
ISRG’s Current Ratio of 4.97 is in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This signifies a strong liquidity position, suggesting the company is well-equipped to cover its immediate liabilities compared to its peers.
NVO
0.78
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 4.65
- Q3
- 2.64
- Median
- 1.85
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.78
NVO’s Current Ratio of 0.78 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
ISRG
0.00
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.61
- Q3
- 0.76
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
Falling into the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, ISRG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.00 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
NVO
0.60
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.82
- Median
- 0.35
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
NVO’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.60 is typical for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
ISRG
--
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 56.35
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.60
- Q1
- 3.78
- Min
- -26.49
Interest Coverage Ratio data for ISRG is currently unavailable.
NVO
149.07
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 103.95
- Q3
- 43.60
- Median
- 9.83
- Q1
- 2.37
- Min
- -42.71
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 149.07, NVO demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.97 | 0.78 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 4.20 | 0.57 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.00 | 0.60 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -- | 149.07 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ISRG
0.00%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.15%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ISRG currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
NVO
3.77%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 7.14%
- Q3
- 3.45%
- Median
- 2.17%
- Q1
- 0.33%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.77%, NVO offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ISRG
0.00%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 66.60%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ISRG has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
NVO
68.98%
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 199.58%
- Q3
- 97.17%
- Median
- 53.47%
- Q1
- 22.97%
- Min
- 0.00%
NVO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 68.98% is within the typical range for the Pharmaceuticals industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.77% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 68.98% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ISRG
70.92
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 67.29
- Q3
- 47.01
- Median
- 30.94
- Q1
- 23.91
- Min
- 10.79
At 70.92, ISRG’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
NVO
13.31
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 45.19
- Q3
- 27.91
- Median
- 20.59
- Q1
- 15.08
- Min
- 3.79
In the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, NVO’s P/E Ratio of 13.31 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ISRG
20.27
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.49
- Q3
- 5.41
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.07
- Min
- 0.74
With a P/S Ratio of 20.27, ISRG trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
NVO
4.38
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 8.87
- Q3
- 4.56
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.58
- Min
- 0.11
NVO’s P/S Ratio of 4.38 aligns with the market consensus for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
ISRG
9.41
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 6.56
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 2.36
- Min
- 0.71
ISRG’s P/B Ratio of 9.41 is in the upper tier for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
NVO
6.88
Pharmaceuticals Industry
- Max
- 9.78
- Q3
- 4.99
- Median
- 2.48
- Q1
- 1.53
- Min
- 0.59
NVO’s P/B Ratio of 6.88 is in the upper tier for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ISRG | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 70.92 | 13.31 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 20.27 | 4.38 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 9.41 | 6.88 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 85.77 | 21.18 |