STAA vs LNTH vs MDT vs ISRG

For growth investors, Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the stronger pick with 20. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -23. 7% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). Medtronic plc (MDT) offers the better valuation at 21. 6x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH) a "Buy" — based on 17 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, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the cheapest at 21.

6x versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. at 57. 6x. On forward P/E, Medtronic plc is actually cheaper at 14. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Intuitive Surgical, Inc. wins at 2. 01x versus Medtronic plc's 36. 00x.

Over the past 5 years, Lantheus Holdings, Inc.

(LNTH) delivered a total return of +314. 2%, compared to -80. 2% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LNTH returned +41. 9% versus MDT's +26. 5%. 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), Medtronic plc (MDT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

47β versus Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 's 1. 02β — meaning ISRG is approximately 119% more volatile than MDT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (LNTH) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 59% for Medtronic plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is pulling ahead at 20. 5% versus -23. 7% for STAAR Surgical Company (STAA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Medtronic plc grew EPS 30. 8% year-over-year, compared to -295. 1% for STAAR Surgical Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, LNTH leads at 18. 1% 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.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

(ISRG) is the more profitable company, earning 28. 4% net margin versus -33. 6% for STAAR Surgical Company — meaning it keeps 28. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ISRG leads at 29. 3% versus -19. 2% for STAA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — STAA leads at 73. 9%, 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, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 01x versus Medtronic plc's 36. 00x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Medtronic plc (MDT) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 70. 2x for STAAR Surgical Company — 56. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MDT: 40. 5% to $109. 50.

In this comparison, MDT (3.

6% yield) pays a dividend. STAA, LNTH, ISRG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Medtronic plc (MDT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

47), 3. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MDT: +26. 5%, ISRG: +554. 2%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: STAA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LNTH is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MDT is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; ISRG is a mid-cap high-growth stock. MDT pays a dividend while STAA, LNTH, ISRG do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.