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ISRG vs. STE: Intuitive Surgical vs. STERIS Stock Comparison

How do Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE) 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

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE) are both classified in the Health Care Equipment sub-industry within the broader Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
Profile ItemISRGSTE
NameIntuitive Surgical Inc.STERIS plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Equipment & SuppliesHealth Care Equipment & Supplies
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care EquipmentHealth Care Equipment
Market Capitalization159.96 billion USD24.50 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 16, 2000June 1, 1992
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ISRG
STE
GSPC
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE), 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Total Return (1Y)-17.61%-1.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.20%9.57%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)4.85%3.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ISRG
STE
GSPC
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE), 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.53%26.39%
Beta (5Y)1.410.81
Max Drawdown (5Y)-49.88%-36.18%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.43M694.02K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ISRG and STE 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 Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.62-0.23
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.83-0.34

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 17.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while STERIS (STE) at 11.61% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ISRG.

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%

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

11.61%

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
STE
11.61%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their ROE against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 25.54% and STERIS (STE) at 13.41% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

13.41%

Max
29.35%
STE
13.41%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 33.29% and STERIS (STE) at 19.18% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

19.18%

Max
35.43%
STE
19.18%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
ROE (TTM)17.93%11.61%
ROA (TTM)11.86%7.00%
Net Margin (TTM)25.54%13.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)33.29%19.18%
Gross Margin (TTM)66.64%44.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 20.51% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while STERIS (STE) at 8.73% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ISRG.

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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

STERIS (STE) at 27.90% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 22.59% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for STE.

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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Revenue Growth (YoY)20.51%8.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)17.39%9.38%
EPS Growth (YoY)22.59%27.90%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)29.19%94.97%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 3.33 and STERIS (STE) at 2.05 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

2.05

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
STE
2.05
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
Min
0.30
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: STERIS (STE) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28 against its industry range, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) reports no figure this period.

ISRG

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

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

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.28

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
STE
0.28
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): ISRG does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; STE is benchmarked against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.332.05
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.900.91

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile STERIS (STE) reports a yield of 1.02%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.02%

STE
1.02%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile STERIS (STE) reports a payout of 30.61%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

30.61%

STE
30.61%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%30.61%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

STERIS (STE) at 29.93 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 54.75 sits in the richer quartile — ISRG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

29.93

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
STE
29.93
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

STERIS (STE) at 3.97 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 13.82 clears its benchmark range — ISRG looks notably rich on sales.

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

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.97

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
STE
3.97
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

STERIS (STE) at 3.38 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) at 9.82 carries an above-peer premium to book — ISRG is pricier on assets.

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

STE

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

3.38

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
STE
3.38
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
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Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) vs. STERIS (STE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and STERIS (STE)
MetricISRGSTE
P/E Ratio (TTM)54.7529.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)13.823.97
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.823.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.15%3.36%