ISRG vs NVDA

For growth investors, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the stronger pick with 65.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 20. 5% for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) offers the better valuation at 42. 4x trailing P/E (25. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) a "Buy" — based on 55 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the cheapest at 42.

4x versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. at 57. 4x. On forward P/E, NVIDIA Corporation is actually cheaper at 25. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NVIDIA Corporation wins at 0. 26x versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 's 2. 01x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) delivered a total return of +1331%, compared to +60.

9% for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVDA returned +234. 3% versus ISRG's +554. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 02β versus NVIDIA Corporation's 1. 73β — meaning NVDA is approximately 69% more volatile than ISRG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 7% for NVIDIA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is pulling ahead at 65.

5% versus 20. 5% for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NVIDIA Corporation grew EPS 66. 7% year-over-year, compared to 22. 6% for Intuitive Surgical, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVDA leads at 100. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more profitable company, earning 55.

6% net margin versus 28. 4% for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. — meaning it keeps 55. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVDA leads at 60. 4% versus 29. 3% for ISRG. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVDA leads at 71. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 26x versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 's 2. 01x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) trades at 25. 1x forward P/E versus 43. 8x for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. — 18. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ISRG: 37. 8% to $622. 60.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 02), +554. 2% 10Y return). NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ISRG: +554. 2%, NVDA: +234. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ISRG (Healthcare) and NVDA (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.