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Risk Overview Q2, 2026
Risk Distribution
26% Legal & Regulatory
19% Finance & Corporate
17% Production
17% Ability to Sell
11% Tech & Innovation
11% Macro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
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Intuitive Surgical Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q2, 2026
Main Risk Category
Legal & Regulatory
With 12 Risks
Legal & Regulatory
With 12 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
47
+1
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
47
+1
From last reportS&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
1Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
1Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Jun 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
See the risk highlights of Intuitive Surgical in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 47
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 12/47 (26%)Above Sector Average
Regulation9 | 19.1%
Regulation - Risk 1
Disruptions at the fda and other government agencies or notified bodies could prevent our products from being cleared, certified, approved, or commercialized in a timely manner or at all, or could hinder their ability to procure our products, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Regulation - Risk 2
If hospitals and other surgical facilities do not continue to meet federal, state, or other regulatory standards, they may be required to temporarily cease all or part of their system utilization.Our global customers are subject to periodic inspection by regulatory authorities. Our customers are required to comply with applicable regulations, including with respect to the reprocessing of our instruments and accessories. Hospitals may not follow cleaning and sterilization instructions properly, or equipment used for cleaning and sterilization may malfunction or be used improperly. If our customers deviate from cleaning and sterilization instructions, regulatory authorities may require them to suspend the use of our systems.
Regulation - Risk 3
We are subject to federal, state, and foreign laws governing our business practices, which, if violated, could result in substantial penalties. Additionally, challenges to, or investigation into, our practices could cause adverse publicity and be costly to respond to and, thus, could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations.The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires us to track and disclose the source of any tantalum, tin, gold, and tungsten used in manufacturing that may originate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or adjoining regions (so called "conflict minerals"). These metals are central to the technology industry and are present in some of our products as component parts. In most cases, no acceptable alternative material exists that has the necessary properties that our products require. Because it is not possible to determine the source of the metals by analysis, we must obtain a good faith description of the source of the intermediate components and raw materials from parties in our supply chain. The components that incorporate those metals may originate from many sources, and we purchase fabricated products from manufacturers who may have a long and difficult-to-trace supply chain. As the spot price of these materials varies, producers of the metal intermediates can be expected to change the mix of sources used. Accordingly, components and assemblies we buy may have a mix of sources as their origin. We are required to carry out a diligent effort to determine and disclose the source of these materials. There can be no assurance that we can obtain this information accurately or reliably, or at all, from intermediate producers who may be unwilling or unable to provide this information or further identify their sources of supply or to notify us if these sources change. In addition, these metals are subject to price fluctuations and shortages that can affect our ability to obtain the manufactured materials that we rely on at favorable terms or from consistent sources. These changes could have an adverse impact on our ability to manufacture and market our devices and products.
We are subject to healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and the states and foreign governments where we conduct our business. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits the payment of remuneration to induce or reward hospitals, physicians, or other healthcare professionals either to refer patients or to purchase, lease, order, or arrange for or recommend the purchase, lease, or order of healthcare products or services for which payment may be made under the federal healthcare programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party payor programs. Further, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. Similar laws must be complied with at the state level and in foreign jurisdictions.
We must comply with the federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the federal False Claims Act, and civil monetary penalties laws, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs that are false or fraudulent. Although we do not submit claims directly to government payors, manufacturers can be held liable under the federal False Claims Act if they are deemed to "cause" the submission of false or fraudulent claims by, for example, providing inaccurate billing or coding information to customers or promoting a product off-label. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which created additional federal criminal statutes prohibit, among other things, executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program and making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation.
These laws may affect our sales, marketing, and other promotional activities by limiting the kinds of financial arrangements that we may have with hospitals, physicians, or other potential purchasers of our products. They particularly impact how we structure our sales offerings, including discount practices, customer support, speaker, education, and training programs, physician consulting, and other service arrangements. These laws are broadly written, and it is often difficult to determine precisely how these laws will be applied to specific circumstances. Violating anti-kickback laws and false claims laws can result in civil and criminal fines and penalties, which can be substantial and include monetary damages and penalties, imprisonment, and exclusion from government healthcare programs. Even an unsuccessful challenge or investigation into our practices could cause adverse publicity and be costly to defend and, thus, could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
The federal Physicians Payments Sunshine Act imposes reporting and disclosure requirements on certain device manufacturers for any "transfer of value" made or distributed to physicians (including family members), as defined by statute, certain non-physician practitioners, including physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and teaching hospitals. Such information must be made publicly available in a searchable format. In addition, device manufacturers are required to report and disclose any ownership or investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members, as well as any transfers of value made to such physician owners and investors, during the preceding calendar year. Similar requirements apply in foreign jurisdictions. Failure to submit required information at the designated times may result in civil monetary penalties for all payments, transfers of value, or ownership or investment interests not reported in an annual submission. Device manufacturers are required to submit reports to CMS by the 90th day of each calendar year.
Many states have similar laws and regulations, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may be broader in scope and may apply regardless of payor, in addition to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs. Certain states mandate implementation of commercial compliance programs to ensure compliance with these laws, impose restrictions on device manufacturer marketing practices, and/or require the tracking and reporting of gifts, compensation, and other remuneration to physicians or marketing expenditures and pricing information. The shifting commercial compliance environment and the need to build and maintain robust and expandable systems to comply with multiple jurisdictions with different compliance and/or reporting requirements increases the possibility that a healthcare company may be found out of compliance with one or more of the requirements, subjecting us to significant civil monetary penalties.
Additionally, to the extent that our product is sold in a foreign country, we may be subject to similar foreign laws.
Compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our OUS operations increases our cost of doing business in foreign jurisdictions and could expose us or our employees to fines and penalties in the U.S. and/or abroad. These numerous, and sometimes conflicting, laws and regulations include U.S. laws, such as the FCPA, and similar laws in other countries, such as the UK Bribery Act. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business, and damage to our reputation. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, distributors, or other agents will not violate our policies.
Our operations are subject to certain antitrust and competition laws in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business, in particular the U.S. and the EU. These laws prohibit, among other things, anticompetitive agreements and practices. If any of our commercial agreements or practices are found to violate or infringe such laws, we may be subject to civil and other penalties. We may also be subject to third-party claims for damages. Further, agreements that infringe upon these antitrust and competition laws may be void and unenforceable, in whole or in part, or require modification in order to be lawful and enforceable. If we are unable to enforce our commercial agreements, whether at all or in material part, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are also subject to claims, lawsuits, and government investigations involving labor and employment. Such claims, lawsuits, and government investigations are inherently uncertain. Regardless of the outcome, any of these types of legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.
We are also exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, and any other third parties that we may engage in connection with the development and commercialization of our products may engage in fraudulent or illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless, and/or negligent conduct or disclosure of unauthorized activities to us that violates: (i) the laws of the FDA and other similar regulatory authorities, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete, and accurate information to such authorities; (ii) manufacturing standards; (iii) data privacy, security, fraud, and abuse laws and regulations; or (iv) laws that require the true, complete, and accurate reporting of financial information or data. Activities subject to these laws could also involve the improper use or misrepresentation of information obtained in the course of clinical trials or the creation of fraudulent data in clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with such laws or regulations.
Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person or government could allege fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business or results of operations, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgements, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, other U.S. federal healthcare programs, or healthcare programs in other jurisdictions, integrity oversight and reporting obligations to resolve allegations of non-compliance, imprisonment, other sanctions, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations.
Regulation - Risk 4
Changes in healthcare legislation and policy may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.In the U.S., there have been, and continue to be, a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs. In March 2010, the ACA was enacted, which made changes that have impacted and are expected to significantly impact the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
The ACA contained a number of provisions designed to generate the revenues necessary to fund health insurance coverage expansions among other things. This included a number of Medicare payment system reforms, including a national pilot program on payment bundling to encourage hospitals, physicians, and other providers to improve the coordination, quality, and efficiency of certain healthcare services through bundled payment models and appropriated funding for comparative effectiveness research.
Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive branch, and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several states without specifically ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Thus, the ACA will remain in effect in its current form.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the ACA became law. These changes included an aggregate reduction in Medicare payments, which went into effect on April 1, 2013, and will remain in effect through 2032, unless additional Congressional action is taken. Individual states in the U.S. have also become increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints and discounts, and require marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures.
Furthermore, implementation of OBBBA may reduce the number of individuals enrolled in state Medicaid programs and ACA marketplace plans, which may result in changes in healthcare utilization that may adversely affect demand for our products and services and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
We expect additional state and federal healthcare reform measures to be adopted in the future that could have a material adverse effect on our industry generally and on our customers. Any changes to, or uncertainty with respect to, future reimbursement rates or changes in hospital admission rates could impact our customers' demand for our products and services, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Further, the federal, state, and local governments, Medicare, Medicaid, managed-care organizations, and foreign governments have, in the past, considered, are currently considering, and may, in the future, consider healthcare policies and proposals intended to curb rising healthcare costs, including those that could significantly affect both private and public reimbursement for healthcare services. Future significant changes in the healthcare systems in the U.S. or other countries, including retroactive and prospective rate and coverage criteria changes, competitive bidding or tender processes for certain products and services, and other changes intended to reduce expenditures along with uncertainty about whether and how changes may be implemented, could have a negative impact on the demand for our products. We are unable to predict whether other healthcare policies, including policies stemming from legislation or regulations affecting our business may be proposed or enacted in the future, what effect such policies would have on our business, or what effect ongoing uncertainty about these matters will have on the purchasing decisions of our customers.
For instance, in December 2021, the EU Regulation No. 2021/2282 on Health Technology Assessment ("HTA"), amending Directive 2011/24/EU, was adopted. The Regulation entered into force in January 2022 and has been applicable since January 2025, with phased implementation based on the type of product, e.g., certain high-risk medical devices as of 2026. This Regulation intends to boost cooperation among EU member states in assessing health technologies, including certain high-risk medical devices, and provide the basis for cooperation at the EU level for joint clinical assessments in these areas. It will permit EU member states to use common HTA tools, methodologies, and procedures across the EU, working together in four main areas, including joint clinical assessment of the innovative health technologies with the highest potential impact for patients, joint scientific consultations whereby developers can seek advice from HTA authorities, identification of emerging health technologies to identify promising technologies early, and continuing voluntary cooperation in other areas. Individual EU member states will continue to be responsible for assessing non-clinical (e.g., economic, social, ethical, etc.) aspects of health technology and making decisions on pricing and reimbursement.
Regulation - Risk 5
Our products are subject to international regulatory processes and approval or certification requirements. If we do not obtain and maintain the necessary regulatory requirements, we will not be able to sell our products in other countries.To be able to sell our products in other countries, we must obtain regulatory approvals or certifications and comply with the regulations of those countries, which may differ substantially from those of the U.S. These regulations, including the requirements for approvals or certifications and the time required for regulatory review, vary from country to country. Obtaining and maintaining foreign regulatory approvals or certifications is complex, and the time to obtain clearances or certifications in other countries varies; therefore, we cannot be certain that we will receive regulatory approvals or certifications in any other country in which we plan to market our products or obtain such approvals or certifications on a favorable schedule. If we fail to obtain or maintain regulatory approval or certification in any other country in which we plan to market our products, our ability to generate revenue will be harmed. In particular, if the FDA refuses to provide CFGs, our ability to register products or renew such registrations may be delayed or denied.
In the EU, the EU MDR, which repealed and replaced the MDD, became applicable on May 26, 2021. In accordance with transitional provisions, both (i) devices lawfully placed on the market pursuant to the EU MDD prior to May 26, 2021, and (ii) legacy devices lawfully placed on the EU market from May 26, 2021, in accordance with the EU MDR transitional provisions may generally continue to be made available on the market or put into service until December 31, 2028 (at the very latest and depending on the product risk classification) per the EU MDR extended transitional provisions, provided that the requirements of the transitional provisions are fulfilled. However, since May 26, 2021, manufacturers must already comply with a number of new, or reinforced, requirements set forth in the EU MDR, including registration of economic operators and of devices control plan, Periodic Safety Update Report ("PSUR"), notify body periodic vigilance report, post-market surveillance, clinical periodic review report, and vigilance requirements, such as the Post Market Clinical Follow-Up ("PMCF") or Clinical Evaluation Plan ("CEP"). These requirements are in active implementation and may change as the European Commission adopts additional implementing acts and considers targeted revisions to related medical device rules.
Subject to the transitional provisions, in order to sell our products in EU member states, our products must comply with the general safety and performance requirements of the EU MDR. Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite to be able to affix the CE mark to our products, without which they cannot be sold or marketed in the EU. All medical devices placed on the market in the EU must meet the general safety and performance requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU MDR, including the requirement that a medical device must be designed and manufactured in such a way that, during normal conditions of use, it is suitable for its intended purpose. It is the responsibility of the (manufacturer) Person Responsible for Regulatory Compliance ("PRRC") to ensure such requirements are fulfilled and in place in the company. Medical devices must be safe and effective and must not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients or the safety and health of users and, where applicable, other persons, provided that any risks that may be associated with their use constitute acceptable risks when weighed against the benefits to the patient and are compatible with a high level of protection of health and safety, taking into account the generally acknowledged state of the art. To demonstrate compliance with the general safety and performance requirements, we must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its (risk) classification and may include a technical documentation assessment and an onsite audit. Except for low-risk medical devices (Class I), where the manufacturer can self-assess the conformity of its products with the general safety and performance requirements (except for any parts that relate to sterility, metrology, or reuse aspects), a conformity assessment procedure requires the intervention of a notified body. The notified body would typically audit and examine the technical file and the quality system for the manufacture, design, and final inspection of our devices. If satisfied that the relevant product conforms to the relevant general safety and performance requirements and we have the organizational structure to support it (i.e., PRRC), the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer uses as a basis for its own declaration of conformity. The manufacturer may then apply the CE mark to the device, which allows the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we would be unable to affix the CE mark to our products, which would prevent us from selling them within the EU or any countries recognizing the CE mark. The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the EEA.
We have gained certification under the EU MDR and, where appropriate, maintained our certificates granted under the former EU MDD for all medical devices that we intend to continue to market in the EU and EEA.
Further, Switzerland, which is the country from which we import our products into the EU and where our EU regulatory team is based, has not yet entered into a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the EU that covers the EU MDR and allows medical devices to move freely between Switzerland and the EU. Therefore, for future needs, we will adjust the manner in which we bring our products into the EU market. Any such adjustments could cause temporary disruptions in and have adverse financial implications to our business in Europe.
In addition, the EU regulatory landscape concerning medical devices recently evolved and continues to undergo legislative changes. On May 26, 2021, the EU MDR became applicable and repealed and replaced the EU MDD and the Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive. Unlike directives, which must be implemented into the national laws of the EU member states, regulations are directly applicable (i.e., without the need for adoption of EU member state laws implementing them) in all EU member states and are intended to eliminate current differences in the regulation of medical devices among EU member states. The EU MDR, among other things, is intended to establish a uniform, transparent, predictable, and sustainable regulatory framework across the EU for medical devices and ensure a high level of safety and health while supporting innovation. These requirements are in active implementation and may change as the European Commission adopts additional implementing acts and considers targeted revisions to related medical device rules. In addition, on December 16, 2025, the European Commission published a targeted revision proposal of the EU MDR to address structural issues, certification delays, and burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The proposal will enter the ordinary legislative procedure and is not expected to be adopted before 2027.
In Japan, to date, we received approvals from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for our da Vinci Si, Xi, X, 5, and SP surgical systems and various associated instruments and accessories for use in certain da Vinci procedures. We may seek additional approvals for other products and/or indications; however, there can be no assurance that such approvals will be granted. In addition, because not all of our instruments have received product approvals and reimbursement is an additional process to generate commercial acceptance, it is possible that procedures will be adopted slowly or not at all. Sales of our products depend, in part, on the extent to which the costs of our products are reimbursed by governmental health administration authorities. There are multiple pathways to obtain reimbursement for procedures including those that require in-country clinical data and which are considered for reimbursed status in April of even-numbered years. If we are not successful in obtaining the necessary reimbursement approvals or obtaining approvals for future products and procedures, then the demand for our products could be limited. These limitations could eliminate a significant opportunity for our products in Japan.
In China, our capital sales are subject to importation authorizations and purchasing tender processes. In June 2023, the China National Health Commission published the 2023 Quota. Under the original 2023 Quota, the government will allow for the sale of 559 new surgical robots into China, which could include da Vinci surgical systems as well as surgical systems introduced by others. As of December 31, 2025, including systems that were sold in prior quarters, we have placed 162 da Vinci surgical systems under the original 2023 Quota and 5 da Vinci surgical systems under special approvals. Our ability to track the number of systems that could be sold under these quotas in the future is limited by provincial and national agencies making such information publicly available. Future system sales and our ability to grow future procedure volumes are dependent on the completion of these purchasing tender authorizations. The timing and magnitude of these future authorizations, which may determine our system placements in future years, is not certain, and we expect to continue to experience variability in the timing of capital sales in China.
Regulation - Risk 6
If our manufacturing facilities do not continue to meet federal, state, or other manufacturing regulations and standards, we may be required to temporarily cease all or part of our manufacturing operations, import/export of our products, and/or recall some products, which could result in significant product delivery delays and lost revenue.Our manufacturing facilities are subject to periodic inspection by regulatory authorities and audit by notified bodies, and our operations will continue to be regulated and inspected by the FDA and other regulatory agencies and notified bodies for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements contained in the QMSR and other regulatory requirements. We are similarly required to comply with ISO quality system standards as well as EU legislation and norms in order to produce products for sale in the EU. In addition, many countries, such as Canada and Japan, have very specific additional regulatory requirements for quality assurance and manufacturing. If we fail to continue to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, as well as ISO or other regulatory standards, we may be required to cease all or part of our operations until we comply with these regulations.
We continue to be subject to FDA and certain other inspections by other regulatory authorities and notified bodies at any time. Maintaining such compliance is difficult and costly. We cannot be certain that our facilities will be found to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice requirements or ISO standards and other regulatory requirements in future inspections and audits by regulatory authorities and notified bodies.
We are currently participating in the Medical Device Single Audit Program ("MDSAP"), which allows an MDSAP-recognized auditing organization to conduct a single regulatory audit of a medical device manufacturer that evaluates our quality system to assess compliance with the requirements of multiple regulatory jurisdictions, including the U.S., Japan, Brazil, Australia, and Canada. The information collected in an MDSAP audit is shared and reviewed amongst all the regulatory authorities participating in the MDSAP, who may or may not determine that additional information or auditing is required.
Our Sunnyvale, California facility is licensed by the State of California to manufacture medical devices. We have been subject to periodic inspections by the California Department of Health Services Food and Drug Branch and, if we are unable to maintain this license following any future inspections, we will be unable to manufacture or ship some products, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, all of our facilities are subject to periodic inspections by other regulatory bodies, including third-party auditors on behalf of national regulatory authorities. Compliance with multiple regulatory standards is complex, difficult, and costly to maintain, and material deficiencies could result in significant limitations on our ability to manufacture, transport, and sell our products in one or more countries.
Regulation - Risk 7
Our products may cause or contribute to adverse medical events or be subject to failures or malfunctions that we are required to report to the fda and foreign regulatory authorities and, if we fail to do so, we would be subject to sanctions that could harm our reputation, business, financial condition, or results of operations.We are subject to the FDA's medical device reporting regulations and similar foreign regulations, which require us to report to the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities when we receive or become aware of information that reasonably suggests that one or more of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that, if the malfunction were to recur, it could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. The timing of our obligation to report is triggered by the date we become aware of the adverse event as well as the nature of the event. We may fail to report adverse events of which we become aware within the prescribed time frame. We may also fail to recognize that we have become aware of a reportable adverse event, especially if it is not reported to us as an adverse event or if it is an adverse event that is unexpected or removed in time from the use of the product. If we fail to comply with our reporting obligations, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities could take action, including warning letters, untitled letters, administrative actions, criminal prosecution, imposition of civil monetary penalties, revocation of our device clearance, approval, or certification, seizure of our products or delay in clearance, approval, or certification of future products.
The FDA and foreign regulatory bodies have the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in the design or manufacture of a product or in the event that a product poses an unacceptable risk to health. The FDA's authority to require a recall must be based on a finding that there is reasonable probability that the device could cause serious injury or death. We may also choose to voluntarily recall a product if any material deficiency is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of an unacceptable risk to health, component failures, malfunctions, manufacturing defects, labeling or design deficiencies, packaging defects, or other deficiencies or failures to comply with applicable regulations. Product defects or other errors may occur in the future.
Depending on the corrective action we take to redress a product's deficiencies or defects, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may require, or we may decide, that we will need to obtain new clearances, approvals, or certifications for the device before we may market or distribute the corrected device. Seeking such clearances, approvals, or certifications may delay our ability to replace the recalled devices in a timely manner. Moreover, if we do not adequately address problems associated with our devices, we may face additional regulatory enforcement actions, including FDA or foreign regulatory authorities warning letters, product seizure, injunctions, administrative penalties, or civil or criminal fines.
Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls and corrections, even if they are not reportable to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. We may initiate voluntary withdrawals or corrections for our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. If the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities disagree with our determinations, it could require us to report those actions as recalls, and we may be subject to enforcement actions. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers, potentially lead to product liability claims against us, and negatively affect our sales. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as defending ourselves in a lawsuit, would require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, and may harm our reputation, financial condition, or results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 8
Our products are subject to a lengthy and uncertain domestic regulatory review process. If we do not obtain and maintain the necessary domestic regulatory authorizations, we will not be able to sell our products in the U.S.Our products and operations are subject to extensive regulation in the U.S. by the FDA. The FDA regulates the development and clinical testing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, record keeping, promotion, sales, distribution, and post-market support and medical device reporting in the U.S. to ensure that medical products distributed domestically are safe and effective for their intended uses. In order for us to market products for use in the U.S., we generally must first obtain clearance from the FDA pursuant to Section 510(k) of the FFDCA or approval of the product through the PMA pathway. Clearance under Section 510(k) requires demonstration that a new device is substantially equivalent to another device with 510(k) clearance or grandfathered ("pre-amendment") status and for which a PMA is not required. If we develop products in the future that are not considered to be substantially equivalent to a device with 510(k) clearance or grandfathered status, we may be required to obtain marketing authorization through the more burdensome PMA process or alternatively through the de novo classification process, which is a path to market for novel devices that are low to moderate risk and for which a predicate device is not available.
Although our current products have generally been cleared through the 510(k) clearance process, we may decide to seek approval for future products through a PMA submission or through the de novo classification process. A PMA is typically a much more complex, lengthy, and burdensome application than a 510(k) and generally takes from one to three years, or even longer, from the time the application is submitted to the FDA. In the PMA process, the FDA must determine that a proposed device is safe and effective for its intended use based, in part, on extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, preclinical, clinical study, manufacturing, and labeling data. The PMA process is typically required for devices that are deemed to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting, or implantable devices. In the de novo classification process, a manufacturer whose novel device under the FFDCA would otherwise be automatically classified as Class III and require the submission and approval of a PMA prior to marketing is able to request down-classification of the device to Class I or Class II on the basis that the device presents a low or moderate risk.
Similarly, although the FDA has a statutory deadline of 120 days to review a de novo submission, in practice, the review may take much longer. In addition, a PMA application or de novo classification requests generally require the performance of one or more clinical studies. In some cases, such studies may also be required to support a 510(k) application, and any requirements to conduct clinical studies beyond those we anticipate for our current or future products could add significantly to our costs and have a material adverse effect on our business.
The FDA may not act favorably or quickly in its review of any marketing application submissions, or we may encounter significant difficulties and costs in our efforts to obtain marketing authorization from the FDA, either of which could delay or preclude the sale of new products in the U.S. In addition, the FDA may place significant limitations upon the intended use of our products as a condition of granting marketing authorization. Product applications can also be denied or withdrawn due to failure to comply with regulatory requirements or the occurrence of unforeseen problems following marketing authorization. Any delays or failure to obtain FDA marketing authorization for new or modified products that we develop, any limitations imposed by the FDA on new product use, or the costs of obtaining FDA clearance or approvals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
In addition, the FDA or other regulatory agencies may change their policies, adopt additional regulations, revise existing regulations, or take other actions that may prevent or delay approval or clearance of our products under development or impact our ability to modify our currently approved or cleared products on a timely basis. We may be found non-compliant as a result of future changes in, or interpretations of, regulations by the FDA or other regulatory agencies. For example, on February 2, 2026, the FDA's final rule implementing the QMSR became effective. The QMSR, which replaces the FDA's former Quality System Regulation sets forth the FDA's current good manufacturing practice requirements for medical devices, and among other things, incorporates by reference the quality management system requirements of ISO 13485:2016. Although the FDA has stated that the standards contained in ISO 13485:2016 are substantially similar to those set forth in the QSR, and although we have obtained ISO 13485:2016 certification for our quality management system, the FDA has indicated that ISO:13485 certification alone will not ensure compliance under the QMSR, nor will ISO certification exempt manufacturers from FDA inspection. The QMSR also includes certain compliance obligations, such as those relating to unique device identification, product traceability, and maintenance of complaint and service records, that align more closely with FDA's existing medical device requirements than with ISO standards. Accordingly, it remains unclear the extent to which the QMSR may impose additional or different regulatory requirements on us that could increase the costs of compliance or otherwise negatively affect our business. If we are unable to comply with the QMSR, or with any other changes in the laws or regulations enforced by FDA or comparable regulatory authorities, we may be subject to enforcement action, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Additionally, in September 2019, the FDA issued revised guidance describing an optional "safety and performance based" premarket review pathway for manufacturers of "certain, well-understood device types" to demonstrate substantial equivalence under the 510(k) clearance pathway by showing that such device meets objective safety and performance criteria established by the FDA, thereby obviating the need for manufacturers to compare the safety and performance of their medical devices to specific predicate devices in the clearance process. The FDA maintains a list of device types appropriate for the "safety and performance based" pathway and continues to develop product-specific guidance documents that identify the performance criteria for each such device type, as well as the recommended testing methods, where feasible. The FDA may establish performance criteria for classes of devices for which we or our competitors seek or currently have received clearance, and it is unclear the extent to which such performance standards, if established, could impact our ability to obtain new 510(k) clearances or otherwise create competition that may negatively affect our business.
In order to conduct a clinical investigation involving human subjects for the purpose of demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of a medical device, a company must, among other things, apply for and obtain IRB approval of the proposed investigation. In addition, if the clinical study involves a "significant risk" (as defined by the FDA) to human health, the sponsor of the investigation must also submit and obtain FDA approval of an IDE application. Many of our products to date have been or would be considered significant risk devices requiring IDE approval prior to investigational use. We may not be able to obtain FDA and/or IRB approval to undertake clinical trials in the U.S. for any new devices that we intend to market in the U.S. in the future.
Even if we obtain such approvals, we may not be able to conduct studies that comply with the IDE and other regulations governing clinical investigations or the data from any such trials may not support clearance or approval of the investigational device. Clinical testing is difficult to design and implement, can take many years, can be expensive, and carries uncertain outcomes and, if we fail to complete our planned or ongoing clinical trials or if such clinical trials produce negative or inconclusive results, we may be delayed or prevented from obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to commercialize our products for new or expanded indications. Additionally, we may experience delays in our ongoing clinical trials for any number of reasons, which could adversely affect the costs, timing, or successful completion of our clinical trials. If we fail to complete our planned and ongoing clinical trials or if such clinical trials produce negative or inconclusive results, we may be delayed or prevented from obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals to commercialize our products for new or expanded indications, which may limit demand for our products.
Certainty that clinical trials will meet desired endpoints, produce meaningful or useful data, and be free of unexpected adverse effects or that the FDA will accept the validity of foreign clinical study data cannot be assured, and such uncertainty could preclude or delay market clearance or authorizations resulting in significant financial costs and reduced revenue. Failure to obtain such approvals or to comply with such regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Regulation - Risk 9
Complying with fda and foreign regulations is a complex process, and our failure to fully comply could subject us to significant enforcement actions.Because our products are commercially distributed, numerous quality and post-market regulatory requirements apply, including the following:
- continued compliance with the FDA's QMSR, which requires manufacturers to follow design, testing, control, documentation, and other quality assurance procedures during the development and manufacturing process;- labeling regulations, including the FDA's general prohibition against false or misleading statements in the labeling or promotion of products for unapproved or "off-label" uses;- stringent complaint reporting and Medical Device Reporting regulations, which require that manufacturers keep detailed records of investigations or complaints against their devices and report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur;- adequate use of the corrective and preventive actions process to identify and correct or prevent significant, systemic failures of products or processes or in trends that suggest the same; and - the reporting of corrections, recalls, and removals, which requires that manufacturers report to the FDA recalls and field corrective actions taken to reduce a risk to health or to remedy a violation of the FFDCA that may pose a risk to health.
We are subject to inspection and marketing surveillance by the FDA to determine our compliance with regulatory requirements. If the FDA finds that we have failed to comply, it can institute a wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging from inspectional observations (as set forth on FDA Form-483) to a public Warning Letter to more severe civil and criminal sanctions, including the seizure of our products and equipment or ban on the import or export of our products. The FDA has, in the past, issued and could, in the future, issue Warning Letters or other adverse communications to us. If we fail to satisfy or remediate the matters discussed in any such Warning Letters or communications, the FDA could take further enforcement actions, including prohibiting the sale or marketing of the affected product. Our failure to comply with applicable requirements could lead to an enforcement action that may have an adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. The receipt of a Warning Letter could place certain limits on the ability to obtain FDA-issued Certificates to Foreign Government ("CFGs") used for new and re-registration of products in certain other countries.
The FDA also strictly regulates labeling, advertising, promotion, and other activities relating to the marketing of our products. Medical devices may be promoted only for their cleared or approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the cleared or approved label. It is possible that federal or state enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our promotional or training materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under a variety of statutory authorities, including under the FFDCA, as well as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.
In addition, any modification or change of medical devices cleared for the market requires the manufacturer to make a determination whether the change is significant enough to require new 510(k) clearance. We have created labeling, advertising, and user training for the da Vinci surgical systems to describe specific surgical procedures that we believe are fully within the scope of our existing 510(k) indications for use stated in our 510(k) clearances. Although we have relied on expert in-house and external staff, consultants, and advisors we cannot provide assurance that the FDA would agree that all such specific procedures are within the scope of the existing general clearance. If the FDA or any comparable regulatory authority determines that our promotion of our products for any such procedures represents promotion of an off-label use, the FDA or such regulator could request that we modify our labeling or promotional materials, or otherwise subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including warning letters, untitled letters, injunctions, seizures, civil fines, or criminal penalties. In addition, from time to time, we modify our products, including the hardware and software in the da Vinci surgical systems, after we obtain 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the devices in ways that we do not believe require new 510(k) clearance. We cannot provide assurance that the FDA would agree in all cases with our determinations not to seek new 510(k) clearance for any of these changes. If the FDA disagrees with our assessments that a new 510(k) clearance was not required prior to commercializing the devices with these changes or modifications, then the FDA could impose enforcement sanctions, require the recall of any modified products, and/or require us to obtain 510(k) clearance or other FDA marketing authorization before permitting the commercialization of any modified products, and we may be unable to obtain any such marketing authorizations in a timely manner or at all.
We have a wholly owned manufacturing facility located in Mexicali, Mexico, which manufactures reusable and disposable medical device instruments. This facility is registered with the FDA as well as with Mexican authorities. The facility is operated under U.S. and international quality system regulations, including those applicable to Canada, the EU, Brazil, and Japan, among others. This facility has an FDA Establishment Registration but has not been inspected by the FDA to date. If the FDA were to identify non-conformances in our product documentation or quality system compliance, it could hold indefinitely the importation of instruments at the border, which would deprive us of the ability to sell and supply the majority of our customers until the FDA requirements have been satisfied. Similar supply disruptions could occur if key suppliers outside of the U.S. were to encounter non-conformances with their documentation or quality system compliance.
In the EU, subject to the transitional provisions and in order to sell our products in EU member states, our products must comply with the general safety and performance requirements of the EU MDR, which repeals and replaces the MDD. Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite to be able to affix the CE mark to our products, without which they cannot be sold or marketed in the EU.
All medical devices placed on the market in the EU must meet the general safety and performance requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU MDR, including the requirement that a medical device must be designed and manufactured in such a way that, during normal conditions of use, it is suitable for its intended purpose. Medical devices must be safe and effective and must not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients, or the safety and health of users and – where applicable – other persons, provided that any risks that may be associated with their use constitute acceptable risks when weighed against the benefits to the patient and are compatible with a high level of protection of health and safety, taking into account the generally acknowledged state of the art. To demonstrate compliance with the general safety and performance requirements, we must undergo a conformity assessment procedure, which varies according to the type of medical device and its (risk) classification. A conformity assessment procedure generally requires the intervention of a notified body. The notified body would typically audit and examine the technical file and the quality system for the manufacture, design, and final inspection of our devices. If satisfied that the relevant product conforms to the relevant general safety and performance requirements, the notified body issues a certificate of conformity, which the manufacturer uses as a basis for its own declaration of conformity. The manufacturer may then apply the CE mark to the device, which allows the device to be placed on the market throughout the EU.
In addition, once our devices are certified under the EU MDR, we must inform the notified body that carried out the conformity assessment of the medical devices that we market or sell in the EU and the EEA of any planned substantial changes to our quality system or substantial changes to our medical devices that could affect compliance with the general safety and performance requirements laid down in Annex I to the EU MDR or cause a substantial change to the intended use for which the device has been CE marked. The notified body will then assess the planned changes and verify whether they affect the products' ongoing conformity with the EU MDR. If the assessment is favorable, the notified body will issue a new certificate of conformity or an addendum to the existing certificate attesting compliance with the general safety and performance requirements and quality system requirements laid down in the Annexes to the EU MDR. The notified body may disagree with our proposed changes and product introductions or modifications could be delayed or canceled, which could adversely affect our ability to grow our business.
If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we would be unable to affix the CE mark to our products, which would prevent us from selling them within the EU. The aforementioned EU rules are generally applicable in the EEA. Non-compliance with the above requirements would also prevent us from selling our products in these three countries.
Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.1%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We are subject to litigation, investigations, and other legal proceedings relating to our products, customers, competitors, and government regulators that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.1%
Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1
Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional tax liabilities may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Environmental / Social1 | 2.1%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Our business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding data privacy, data protection, artificial intelligence, and responsible use of data, and any failure to comply may result in significant liability, negative publicity, and/or erosion of trust, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 9/47 (19%)Below Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights1 | 2.1%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Our stock price has been, and will likely continue to be, volatile.Accounting & Financial Operations4 | 8.5%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
Our future operating results may be below expectations, which could cause our stock price to decline.Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Changes to financial accounting standards may affect our reported results of operations.A change in accounting standards can have a significant effect on our reported results and may retroactively affect previously reported results. New accounting pronouncements and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements have occurred and may occur in the future. Changes to existing standards or the reevaluation of current practices may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 3
We use estimates, make judgments, and apply certain methods in determining our financial results and in measuring the progress of our business. As these estimates, judgments, and methods change, our results of operations and our assessment of the progress of our business could vary.The methods, estimates, and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results of operations. Such methods, estimates, and judgments are, by their nature, subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and factors may arise over time that may lead us to change our methods, estimates, and judgments. Changes in any of our assumptions may adversely affect our reported financial results.
We utilize methods for determining surgical opportunity sizes, the number and type (cancerous or benign) of certain procedures performed, and the installed base of our systems that involve estimates and judgments, which are, by their nature, subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our estimates of surgical opportunity sizes, the number and type of procedures performed, or the installed base of our systems do not have an impact on our results of operations but are used to estimate the progress of our business. Estimates and judgments for determining surgical opportunity sizes, the number and type of procedures, and the installed base of our systems and the accuracy of these estimates may be impacted over time with changes in treatment modalities, hospital reporting behavior, system internet connectivity, distributor reporting behavior, increases in procedures per field employee, and other factors. In addition, from time to time, we may change the method for determining opportunity sizes, the number and type of procedures, and the installed base of our systems, causing variation in our reporting.
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 4
We expect gross profit margins to vary over time, and changes in our gross profit margins could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Our gross profit margins have fluctuated from period to period, and we expect that they will continue to fluctuate in the future. Our gross profit margins may be adversely affected by numerous factors, including:
- changes in customer, geographic, or product mix, including the mix of systems sold or leased;- changes in the mix of fixed-payment or usage-based operating lease arrangements;- changes in the portion of sales involving a trade-in of another system and the amount of trade-in credits given;- our introduction of new products, which may have lower margins than our existing products;- our inability to maintain or reduce production costs;- changes in our pricing strategy;- fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;- competition;- changes in production volume driven by demand for our products;- changes in material, labor, or other manufacturing-related costs, including the impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations for foreign currency-denominated costs;- changes to U.S. and foreign trade policies, such as the enactment of tariffs on goods imported into the U.S. including, but not limited to, potential tariffs on goods imported from Mexico where we manufacture a significant majority of our instruments and accessories that we sell;- inventory obsolescence, which may result from maintaining significant inventories of raw materials, components, and finished goods;- product recall charges; and - market conditions.
If we are unable to offset the unfavorable impact of the factors noted above by increasing the volume of products shipped, reducing product manufacturing costs, or otherwise, our business, financial condition, or results of operations may be adversely affected.
Debt & Financing1 | 2.1%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
We are exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market value of our investments.Corporate Activity and Growth3 | 6.4%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
If we fail to successfully acquire or integrate new businesses, products, and technology, we may not realize expected benefits, or our business may be harmed.Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
If we do not successfully manage our collaboration, licensing, joint venture, strategic alliance, or partnership arrangements with third parties, we may not realize the expected benefits from such arrangements, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.From time to time, we enter into collaborations, in-licensing arrangements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or partnerships to complement or augment our research and development, product development, training, procedure development, marketing, and commercialization efforts. For example, in 2016, we entered into an agreement to form the Joint Venture. In 2019, the Joint Venture acquired certain assets related to the da Vinci distribution business of Chindex, a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co. Ltd. ("Fosun Pharma"), following which the Joint Venture began direct distribution operations in China. There can also be no assurance that the Joint Venture will not require additional contributions to fund its business, that the Joint Venture will remain profitable, or that the expected benefits of the acquisition of certain assets of Chindex will be realized. Additionally, there can be no assurance that we and the Joint Venture can successfully complete any development of robotic-assisted medical devices or that we and the Joint Venture will successfully commercialize any such products.
Proposing, negotiating, and implementing collaborations, in-licensing agreements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, or partnerships may be a lengthy and complex process. In addition, other companies, including those with substantially greater financial, marketing, sales, technology, or other business resources, may compete with us for these opportunities or arrangements. As a result, we may not identify, secure, or complete any such arrangements in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, or on otherwise favorable terms, if it all. There can be no assurance that we will realize the expected benefits from these alliances. In addition, we may not be in a position to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding any collaboration or other arrangement, which could create the potential risk of creating impasses on decisions, and our alliances may have economic or business interests that are, or that may become, inconsistent with our interests. It is possible that conflicts may arise in these relationships, such as conflicts concerning the achievement of performance milestones or the interpretation of significant terms under any agreement, such as those related to financial obligations, termination rights, or the ownership or control of intellectual property developed during the collaboration. These alliances can be difficult to manage, given the potentially different interests of the parties involved, and we could suffer delays in product development or other operational difficulties.
These alliances may also involve significant costs and divert the focus and attention of our management and other key personnel. Any of these relationships may require us to incur non-recurring and other charges, increase our near- and long-term expenditures, or disrupt our ordinary business activities. Such arrangements may also expose us to numerous known and unknown risks, including unique risks with respect to the economic, political, and regulatory environment of any foreign entities with whom we partner, including Fosun Pharma. Any of the foregoing may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
We offer usage-based arrangements, including alternative capital acquisition approaches; As a result, we are exposed to an increased risk of losses of revenue and increased credit risk, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.We are increasingly offering usage-based arrangements as part of our business model. As a result, we are exposed to an increased risk of losses of revenue in any period where the usage decreases. Moreover, our pricing is generally set based on the expected usage of the technology. Therefore, if utilization of our technology falls short of the anticipated levels, we may not be able to recover the costs associated with the technology, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
We believe customer financing through leasing is an important consideration for some of our customers and have experienced an increase in demand for customer financing. Lease financing arrangements have the effect of reducing cash flows at lease commencement and, instead, spread them over the life of the lease term, which increases the time taken to recover our product costs and can impact our liquidity. We may experience losses from a customer's failure to make payments according to the contractual lease terms. Our exposure to the credit risks relating to our lease financing arrangements may increase if our customers are adversely affected by changes in healthcare laws, coverage, and reimbursement, economic pressures or uncertainty, or other customer-specific factors. Although we have programs in place that are designed to monitor and mitigate the associated risks, there can be no assurance that such programs will be effective in reducing credit risks relating to these lease financing arrangements. If the level of credit losses we experience in the future exceeds our expectations, such losses could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
In addition to fixed-payment leases, we lease our systems to certain qualified customers where the lease payments are based on their usage of the systems. If customers do not perform a sufficient number of procedures on our systems leased under usage-based arrangements, it could impact our profitability on those arrangements and our overall results of operations. Moreover, the usage of those systems and related billings could vary from quarter to quarter, which could result in higher variability in our revenue under those arrangements, including a significant reduction in revenue if the usage ends, fluctuations in our gross profit margins if utilization is different than our expectations, and unpredictable cash flows. Moreover, there is risk in forecasting future utilization of a system and, therefore, we may not set our usage-based rates high enough to maintain our gross profit margins. Additionally, certain leasing arrangements allow customers to cancel, return, or upgrade the systems leased prior to the end of the lease term without incurring a financial penalty, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. If systems that are not fully depreciated are returned, we could incur additional losses, as we may not be able to recover the remaining value of those returned assets, thereby negatively impacting our financial results.
While leases, including usage-based arrangements, enable our customers to upgrade and get access to new technologies faster, it may also enable competitors to more easily induce customers to switch to such competitors' systems. Furthermore, depending on the timing and terms of the upgrade transaction, the amount of revenue generated on the initial and upgraded lease arrangements may not, in the aggregate, generate the same amount of revenue that a traditional sale and trade-in transaction would.
Production
Total Risks: 8/47 (17%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing2 | 4.3%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
If our products contain defects or encounter performance problems, we may have to recall our products and our reputation may suffer.Manufacturing - Risk 2
We may encounter manufacturing problems or delays that could result in lost revenue.Manufacturing our products is a complex process. We (or our critical suppliers) may encounter difficulties in scaling up or maintaining production of our products, including:
- problems involving production yields;- quality control and assurance;- component supply shortages;- import or export restrictions on components, materials, or technology;- shortages of qualified personnel; and - compliance with state, federal, and foreign regulations.
If demand for our products exceeds our manufacturing capacity, we could develop a substantial backlog of customer orders. If we are unable to develop or maintain larger-scale manufacturing capabilities or build new manufacturing capabilities or facilities on schedule or within budget, our ability to generate revenue and maintain gross profit margins as expected will be limited and our reputation in the marketplace could be damaged, all of which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
In addition, as we build new facilities for manufacturing capacity, the development of these facilities is subject to risks relating to our ability to complete our projects on schedule or within budget. Refer to our risk factor titled "We are subject to risks associated with real estate construction and development" for additional risks related to building our new manufacturing facilities.
Also, after new manufacturing facilities are completed, we may encounter difficulties transferring our production lines from our existing facilities to the new facilities, which require qualification, validation, and regulatory approval and is subject to all of the risks highlighted above. Moreover, certain new manufacturing facilities are in foreign countries and in locations where we have not previously had manufacturing sites, both of which could increase the risks related to transferring our production lines. The facility transfers may require an increase in safety stock inventory to support the production line transfers, create a substantial backlog of customer orders, or increase costs while the production lines mature, all of which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Employment / Personnel1 | 2.1%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
The failure to attract and retain key personnel could harm our ability to compete, and changes in our existing labor relationships could materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Supply Chain2 | 4.3%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
Our products may rely on licenses from third parties, which may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we lose access to these technologies, our revenues could decline.Supply Chain - Risk 2
Our reliance on sole- and single-sourced suppliers and ability to purchase at acceptable prices a sufficient supply of materials could harm our ability to meet product demand in a timely manner or within budget.The manufacture of our products requires the timely delivery of a sufficient amount of quality components and materials and is highly exacting and complex, due in part to complex trade and strict regulatory requirements. Some of the components necessary for the assembly of our products are currently provided to us by sole-sourced suppliers or single-sourced suppliers due to, among other things, quality considerations, unique intellectual property considerations, or constraints associated with regulatory requirements. We generally purchase components through purchase orders rather than long-term supply agreements and generally do not maintain large volumes of components within our inventory. While alternative suppliers exist and could be identified for single-sourced components, the disruption or termination of the supply of components, or inflationary pressure in our supply chain, could cause a significant increase in the costs of these components, which could affect our operating results. Certain of our sole-sourced suppliers or single-sourced suppliers could be adversely affected by the macroeconomic conditions. A disruption or termination in the supply of components could also result in our inability to meet demand for our products, which could harm our ability to generate revenues, lead to customer dissatisfaction, and damage our reputation and our brand. Furthermore, if we are required to change the manufacturer of a key component of our products, we may be required to verify that the new manufacturer maintains facilities and procedures that comply with quality standards and with all applicable regulations and guidelines. The time and processes associated with the verification of a new manufacturer could delay our ability to manufacture our products on schedule or within budget, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
In addition, our ability to meet customers' demands depends, in part, on our ability to timely obtain an adequate delivery of quality materials, parts, and components from our suppliers. An information technology systems interruption, including cyberattacks, could adversely affect the ordering, distribution, and manufacturing processes of our suppliers. Furthermore, the prices of commodities and other materials used in our products, which are often volatile and outside of our control, and may be subject to tariffs, could adversely impact our supply. Current supply chain constraints include difficulties in obtaining a sufficient supply of specific component materials impacted by evolving trade requirements and certain subcontract suppliers being operationally challenged to meet our production requirements. For example, in 2025, the Chinese government announced export controls and licensing requirements applicable to certain products containing Chinese-origin rare earth elements and may implement additional controls in the future. Rare earth elements are critical to certain components contained in our products, and China is a predominant producer of these materials. If implemented in their current or a similar form, these measures may require us to obtain export licenses for certain of our products, and we may further experience supply chain disruptions as a result of limited availability of critical materials and minerals due to the restrictions. If such supply chain constraints continue, we could also fail to meet product demand, which would adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Costs3 | 6.4%
Costs - Risk 1
We are subject to risks associated with real estate construction and development.Costs - Risk 2
We could be subject to significant, uninsured losses, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.For certain risks, we do not maintain insurance coverage due to cost and/or availability. For example, we self-insure our product liability risks. We also indemnify our directors and officers for third-party claims but do not carry insurance beyond basic Side A liability coverage to cover that indemnity or the related underlying potential losses. Furthermore, we do not carry, among other types of coverage, earthquake insurance. In the future, we may not continue to maintain certain existing insurance coverage or adequate levels of coverage. Premiums for many types of insurance have increased significantly in recent years and, depending on market conditions and our circumstances, certain types of insurance, such as directors' and officers' insurance, may not be available in the future on acceptable terms or at all. Because we retain some portion of our insurable risks and, in some cases, we are entirely self-insured, unforeseen or catastrophic losses in excess of insurance coverage could require us to pay substantial amounts, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Costs - Risk 3
If hospitals are unable to obtain coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products, if reimbursement is insufficient to cover the costs of purchasing our products, or if limitations are imposed by governments on the amount hospitals can charge for certain procedures, we may be unable to generate sufficient sales to support our business.In the U.S., hospitals generally bill for the services performed with our products to various third-party payors, such as Medicare, Medicaid, other government programs, and private insurance plans. If hospitals do not obtain sufficient reimbursement from third-party payors for procedures performed with our products, or if government and private payors' policies do not cover surgical procedures performed using our products, we may not be able to generate the revenues necessary to support our business. In addition, to the extent that there is a shift from inpatient settings to outpatient settings, we may experience pricing pressure and a reduction in the number of procedures performed. Our success in OUS markets also depends on the eligibility of our products for coverage and reimbursement through government-sponsored healthcare payment systems and third-party payors. Reimbursement practices vary significantly by country. Many OUS markets have government-managed healthcare systems that control reimbursement for new products and procedures. Other foreign markets have both private insurance systems and government-managed systems that control reimbursement for new products and procedures. Acceptance of our products may depend on the availability and level of coverage and reimbursement in a country within a particular time. In addition, healthcare cost containment efforts similar to those in the U.S. are prevalent in many of the other countries in which we sell, and intend to sell, our products, and these efforts are expected to continue. Refer to our risk factor titled "Changes in healthcare legislation and policy may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations" for additional risks related to the ability of hospitals to obtain reimbursements.
In China, since 2022, several provinces have implemented significant limits on what hospitals can charge patients for surgeries using robotic surgical technology, including soft tissue surgery. To date, these limits have impacted the number of procedures performed in those provinces as well as pricing of our instruments and accessories, which have impacted our instruments and accessories revenue. Companies providing robotic surgical technology, including our joint venture in China, have been meeting with Chinese government healthcare agencies to discuss these developments and to provide feedback. We cannot assure you that additional provincial or national healthcare agencies and administrations will not impose similar limits, and we expect to continue to face increased pricing pressure, both of which could further impact the number of procedures performed and our instruments and accessories revenue in China.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 8/47 (17%)Above Sector Average
Competition1 | 2.1%
Competition - Risk 1
Our commercial landscape is highly competitive, and customers may choose our competitors' products or services or may not accept robotic-assisted medical procedures, which could result in reduced revenue and loss of customers.Demand1 | 2.1%
Demand - Risk 1
Consolidation in the healthcare industry could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Sales & Marketing5 | 10.6%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
Third parties may offer to sell remanufactured instruments and accessories to our customers or provide unauthorized service on our systems, which could adversely impact our financial results, create safety issues, and harm our reputation.Added
Sales & Marketing - Risk 2
If our products do not achieve and maintain customer acceptance, we will not be able to generate the revenue necessary to support our business.The da Vinci surgical systems, Ion endoluminal system, and many of our other products represent a novel and advanced approach to performing medical procedures. Achieving and maintaining physician, patient, and third-party payor acceptance of robotic-assisted medical procedures as a preferred method of performing these procedures is crucial to our success. If our products fail to achieve or maintain customer acceptance, customers will not purchase our products, and we will not be able to generate the revenue necessary to support our business. We believe that physicians' and third-party payors' acceptance of the benefits of procedures performed using our products will be essential for acceptance of our products by patients. Physicians will not recommend the use of our products unless we can demonstrate that they produce results comparable or superior to existing techniques. Even if we can prove the effectiveness of our products through clinical studies, physicians may elect not to use our products for any number of other reasons. For example, cardiologists may continue to recommend conventional heart surgery simply because such surgery is already widely accepted. In addition, physicians may be slow to adopt our products because of the perceived liability risks arising from the use of new products and the uncertainty of reimbursement from third-party payors, particularly in light of the evolving U.S. healthcare environment.
Broad use of our products requires thorough training of patient care teams on their safe and effective use. We expect that there will continue to be a learning process involved for such care teams to become proficient in the use of our products. Customer acceptance could be delayed by the time required to complete this training. We may not be able to rapidly train patient care teams in numbers sufficient to generate adequate demand for our products.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 3
We utilize distributors for a portion of our sales and service of our products in certain countries, which subjects us to a number of risks that could harm our business, financial condition, or results of operations.We have strategic relationships with several key distributors for the sale and service of our products in certain countries. If these strategic relationships are terminated and not replaced, our revenues and/or ability to sell or service our products in the markets serviced by these distributors could be adversely affected. In addition, we may be named as a defendant in lawsuits against our distributors related to sales or service of our products performed by them. Refer to our risk factor titled "We are subject to litigation, investigations, and other legal proceedings relating to our products, customers, competitors, and government regulators that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations." Our distributors may affect our ability to effectively market our products in certain countries or regulatory jurisdictions if a distributor holds the regulatory authorization or certification in such countries or within such regions and causes, by action or inaction, the suspension of such marketing authorization or certification or sanctions for non-compliance. It may be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming for us to re-establish access or regulatory compliance in such cases.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 4
Third parties may offer to sell remanufactured or unauthorized instruments and accessories to our customers or provide unauthorized service on our systems, which could adversely impact safety, our financial results, and our reputation.A significant portion of our revenue is generated through sales of instruments and accessories. Third parties have offered, and may continue to offer, customers counterfeit instruments and accessories and/or instruments and accessories that have been remanufactured and/or are unauthorized, including instruments that have been remanufactured to support the use of some of our limited-use instruments beyond their labeled useful life. As of the filing date, we are aware that the FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for the remanufacturing of certain of these instruments for use with our da Vinci Si, da Vinci X, and da Vinci Xi surgical systems. Additionally, third parties have provided, and may continue to provide, unauthorized service and maintenance on our da Vinci surgical systems and Ion endoluminal system.
While we generally do not approve the use by our customers of unauthorized and unapproved instruments and accessories that lack FDA clearance or other applicable regulatory approval or certification with our systems or the unauthorized service or maintenance on our systems, such activities could potentially result in reduced revenue, increased patient safety risks, and negative publicity for us if these products cause injuries and/or do not function as intended when used, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. In addition, we may be subject to laws that regulate or attempt to regulate the manner in which third-party instruments and accessories or third-party service providers interact with our systems, and such laws could also negatively impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 5
We experience long and variable contracting cycles and seasonality in our business, which may cause fluctuations in our financial results.The contracting cycle of our systems is lengthy, because the systems are major capital items and their purchase generally requires the approval of senior management of hospitals, their parent organizations, purchasing groups, and/or government bodies. In addition, sales to some of our customers are subject to competitive bidding or public tender processes. These approval and bidding processes can be lengthy. As a result, hospitals may delay or accelerate system purchases in conjunction with the timing of their capital budget timelines. Further, IDN groups are creating larger networks of system users with increasing purchasing power and are increasingly evaluating their robotic-assisted programs to optimize the efficiency of medical procedures using our systems. Also, the introduction of new products could adversely impact our contracting cycle as customers take additional time to assess the benefits and costs of such products. As a result, it is difficult for us to predict the length of contracting cycles and, therefore, the exact timing of capital sales. Historically, placements of our da Vinci surgical systems have tended to be heavier in the fourth quarter and lighter in the first quarter, as hospital budgets are reset.
We have experienced higher procedure growth for a number of benign conditions, including cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, hysterectomies, and certain other surgeries. Many of these types of surgeries may be postponed in the short term by patients to avoid vacation periods and for other personal scheduling reasons. Patients may also accelerate procedures to take advantage of insurance funding cut-off dates. Historically, we have experienced lower procedure volume growth from the prior quarter in the first and third quarters of the year and higher procedure volume growth from the prior quarter in the second and fourth quarters of the year. The timing of procedures and changes in procedure growth directly affect the timing of instruments and accessories and capital purchases by customers.
The above factors may contribute to substantial fluctuations in our quarterly operating results. Because of these fluctuations, it is possible that, in future periods, our operating results will fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors. If that happens, the market price of our stock would likely decrease. These fluctuations, among other factors, also mean that our operating results in any particular period may not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.
Brand / Reputation1 | 2.1%
Brand / Reputation - Risk 1
Negative publicity, whether accurate or inaccurate, concerning our products or our company could reduce acceptance of our products and could result in decreased product demand and reduced revenues.Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 5/47 (11%)Below Sector Average
Innovation / R&D1 | 2.1%
Innovation / R&D - Risk 1
New product developments and introductions may adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Trade Secrets2 | 4.3%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
Others may be successful in asserting that our products infringe their intellectual property rights, which may cause us to pay substantial damages and/or enjoin us from commercializing our products.Trade Secrets - Risk 2
If we are unable to fully protect and successfully defend our intellectual property from use by third parties, our ability to compete may be harmed.Our commercial success depends in part on obtaining patent protection for the proprietary technologies contained in our products and on successfully defending our patents against infringing products and/or services in litigation or administrative proceedings, including patent oppositions, reviews, or reexaminations. We incur substantial costs in obtaining patents and, if necessary, defending our patent rights. We do not know whether we will be successful in obtaining the desired patent protection for our new proprietary technologies or that the protection we do obtain will be found valid and enforceable when challenged. The success of defending our proprietary rights can be highly uncertain, because it involves complex and often evolving legal issues and procedures that are dependent on the particular facts of each case.
In addition to patents, we also rely on other intellectual property rights, such as trade secret, copyright, and trademark laws to protect proprietary technologies. We further utilize nondisclosure agreements and other contractual provisions as well as technical measures to protect our proprietary technologies. Nevertheless, these measures may be inadequate in protecting our technologies. If these measures prove to be inadequate in protecting our technologies, our competitive advantages may be reduced. Moreover, we may not have adequate remedies for potential breaches by employees, consultants, and others who participate in developing our proprietary technologies against their agreements with us regarding intellectual property. As a result, our trade secrets may be lost.
As foreign markets become more significant in revenue for us, our foreign operations and strategic alliances with foreign entities will likely increase. Our exposure to risks associated with these operations requires us to increase our reliance on protecting our intellectual property against infringing products and/or services in markets outside of the U.S. The laws and judicial systems in these countries may introduce yet another level of uncertainty in our effort to obtain the desired protection as well as defending our rights.
Technology2 | 4.3%
Technology - Risk 1
Incorporating artificial intelligence technologies into our products, services, and operations may result in legal and regulatory risks or have other adverse consequences to our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Technology - Risk 2
Information technology system failures, cyberattacks, or deficiencies in our cybersecurity could harm our business, customer relations, financial condition, or results of operations.Our information technology systems are critical to the success of our products, help us operate effectively and efficiently, interface with customers, maintain our supply chain and manufacturing operations, maintain financial accuracy and efficiency, and help us produce our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If we do not allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build and sustain the proper information technology infrastructure, we could be subject to transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, loss of existing customers, difficulties in attracting new customers, business operation disruptions, diversion of the attention of management and key information technology resources, security breaches, or the unauthorized access to, loss of, or damage to intellectual property, confidential information, or personal information. Our information technology systems, and those of our third-party service providers, strategic partners, and other contractors or consultants, are vulnerable to attack, damage, or interruption from a variety of sources. These sources include computer viruses and malware (e.g., ransomware), malicious code, hacking, cyberattacks, phishing attacks and other social engineering schemes, employee theft or misuse, human error, fraud, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures, denial or degradation of service attacks, sophisticated nation-state and nation-state-supported actors, or unauthorized access or use by persons inside our organization, or persons with access to systems inside our organization. Cyberattacks and other security breaches or disruptions continue to increase in frequency, sophistication, and intensity and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect for periods of time, especially as they relate to attacks on third-party providers or their vendors. Such attacks are often carried out by motivated and highly skilled actors, who are increasingly well-resourced. Techniques used to compromise or sabotage systems, including the use of advanced technologies, such as machine learning or generative artificial intelligence ("AI"), change frequently, may originate from less regulated and remote areas of the world, may be difficult to detect, and generally are not recognized until after they are launched against a target. As a result, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. If our information technology systems, or those of our critical third-party vendors, do not effectively and securely collect, store, process, and report relevant data for the operation of our business, our ability to effectively plan, forecast, and execute our business plan and comply with applicable laws and regulations could be impaired. Any such impairment could materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, and the timeliness with which we report our internal and external operating results.
Our business requires us to use and store confidential information, including customer, employee, and business partner personal information, as well as other proprietary information and business data. We have implemented various controls, systems, and processes intended to secure our information technology systems and the information on it. We also have programs in place to detect, contain, and respond to data security incidents, and we make ongoing improvements to our information-sharing products designed to minimize vulnerabilities. However, we cannot guarantee that these measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging to our information technology systems and information. These security measures may be compromised as a result of security breaches by unauthorized persons, employee error, malfeasance, faulty password management, or other irregularity and result in persons obtaining unauthorized access to our data or accounts. Third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing usernames, passwords, or other sensitive information or otherwise attempt to hack into our information technology systems to obtain personal data relating to patients or employees, our confidential or proprietary information, or confidential information we hold on behalf of third parties. In addition, with the prolific use of AI technologies, there is an increased risk of unauthorized or accidental disclosure. For example, our employees, third-party service providers, strategic partners, or other contractors or consultants may input inappropriate or confidential information into an AI system (in particular, a system that is managed, owned, or controlled by a third party), thereby compromising our business operations. Even if the vulnerabilities that may lead to the foregoing are identified, we may be unable to adequately investigate or remediate due to attackers increasingly using tools and techniques that are designed to circumvent controls, avoid detection, and remove or obfuscate forensic evidence. The occurrence of any of these events may cause business operation disruptions, diversion of the attention of management and key information technology resources, and possibly lead to security breaches of, or the unauthorized access to, our confidential information or other business data. If the unauthorized persons successfully hack into or interfere with our connected products or services, they may create issues with product functionality that could pose a risk of the loss of data, a risk to patient safety, and a risk of product recall or field action, which could adversely impact our business and reputation. We may also face increased cybersecurity risks due to our reliance on internet technology and the number of our employees who are working remotely, which may create additional opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
As described above, we also rely on external vendors to supply and/or support certain aspects of our information technology systems. The systems of these external vendors may contain defects in design or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise the security of our own information technology systems and information, and we are dependent on these third parties to deploy appropriate security programs to protect their systems. In addition to potential exposure to data breaches, security and cybersecurity incidents, or other actions that may compromise the security of or interfere with the function of our systems, defects or vulnerabilities in the software or systems of our external vendors may expose failures in our internal controls and risk management processes, which may adversely impact our business, financial condition, or results of operations and may also harm our reputation, brand, and customer relationships.
While, to date, no cyberattacks or security breaches and incidents have had a material impact on our operations or financial results, if such an event were to occur, it could impair our ability to attract and retain customers, impact the price of our stock, materially damage commercial relationships, and expose us to litigation or government investigations, which could result in penalties, fines, or judgments against us. The costs to us to eliminate or alleviate network security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, ransomware and other malicious software programs, and security vulnerabilities could be significant. Our efforts to address these problems may not be successful and could result in unexpected interruptions, delays, cessation of service, and harm to our business operations. Moreover, if a security breach affects our systems or results in the unauthorized release of personal information, our reputation and brand could be materially damaged, and use of our products and services could decrease. We would also be exposed to a risk of loss, litigation and potential liability, and regulatory scrutiny, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Furthermore, we may implement changes to information technology systems that could have significant impacts on our manufacturing, sales, and finance functions, among other teams. These impacts may include, but are not limited to, (i) operational disruptions resulting from the slow adaptation of the new information technology systems by employees, whether due to inadequate training or resistance to change, or data loss during the transition to the updated information technology system, including critical customer data, or improper planning leading to the loss of essential software features needed for specific business requirements; (ii) inaccurate financial reporting due to inaccurate data transfer or technical issues; (iii) financial losses due to system failures or cost overruns; (iv) security risks involving potential data breaches, unauthorized access, or loss of sensitive information; (v) compliance risks arising should the updated technology fail to meet regulatory requirements or industry standards; and (vi) strategic risks if the technology implementation fails to deliver the expected benefits.
While we maintain cyber insurance coverage that is intended to address data security risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses or claims that may arise.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 5/47 (11%)Above Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.1%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Macroeconomic conditions could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.International Operations1 | 2.1%
International Operations - Risk 1
We are subject to a variety of risks due to our operations outside of the U.S.Natural and Human Disruptions3 | 6.4%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
Ongoing and future global conflicts could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2
Public health crises or epidemic diseases, or the perception of their effects, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Our global operations expose us to risks arising from public health crises and outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases, such as, historically, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and the H1N1 virus. These public health crises can divert medical resources and priorities toward disease treatment and adversely affect global economies and financial markets, which can negatively impact the number of procedures performed and our customers' capital expenditures. Furthermore, public health crises can cause significant business disruptions, including temporary closures of our facilities and those of our suppliers, as well as reduced access to customers due to measures like travel restrictions. These impacts can have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
For example, the COVID-19 pandemic, which first emerged in late 2019, adversely impacted our operations, supply chains, and expenses. These impacts resulted from a number of impacts and measures, including, but not limited to, healthcare customers diverting resources and priorities towards disease treatment, hospital staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions that impaired their ability to provide patient care, and precautionary measures implemented by governments, businesses, and ourselves. Due to these factors, we experienced significant and unpredictable reductions in the demand for our products as customers delayed or canceled planned procedures and capital expenditures. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also caused widespread business disruptions, including travel restrictions, reduced access to our customers, and temporary closures of our facilities and those of our suppliers. For instance, California, where many of our operations and manufacturing facilities are located, implemented risk-reduction orders that limited our employees' ability to produce and move products through the supply chain. Such disruptions negatively impacted our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Similar effects may occur in the event of a resurgence of COVID-19 or the emergence of another public health crisis.
Also, any delays in elective surgeries caused by a public health crisis, outbreak of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious disease may create patient backlogs. The patients in such backlogs may or may not use our products when their surgeries are ultimately performed.
In addition, public health crises and outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic, or contagious diseases can negatively impact global economies and financial markets, leading to economic slowdowns or recessions. Such conditions may reduce hospital spending, delay product demand, and increase the risk of customer payment defaults or agreement terminations due to liquidity constraints or funding issues. These factors create material uncertainties and risks to our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 3
Climate change, natural disasters, or other events beyond our control could disrupt our business, financial condition, or results of operations.Natural disasters, terrorist activities, and other events beyond our control including, but not limited to, internet security threats and violence motivated by political or social causes, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Moreover, global climate change could result in certain types of natural disasters occurring more frequently or with more intense effects. The impacts of climate change may include physical risks (such as frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions), social and human effects (such as population dislocations or harm to health and well-being), compliance costs, transition risks, shifts in market trends, and other adverse effects. Such impacts may disrupt parties in our supply chain, our customers, and our operations. For example, the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and their aftermath, created economic uncertainty and disrupted economic activities in Japan, including a reduction in hospital spending. More recently in September and October 2024, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton caused economic uncertainty and business disruptions in the Southeast region of the U.S.
Physical risks associated with climate change are subject to shifting societal, regulatory, and political focus in the U.S., the EU, and globally. Shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change are expected to increase the frequency, severity, or duration of certain adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, extreme temperatures, or flooding, which could cause more significant business and supply chain interruptions, damage to our products and facilities as well as the infrastructure of hospitals, medical care facilities, and other customers, reduced workforce availability, increased costs or reduced supply of raw materials and components, increased liabilities, and decreased revenues than what we have experienced in the past from such events. The geographic location of our California headquarters and many of our global manufacturing facilities, as well as the facilities of certain of our key suppliers and service providers, subject them to the risk of natural disasters. If a major earthquake, wildfire, or other natural disaster were to damage our facilities or the facilities of our suppliers and service providers, or impact the ability of our employees or the employees of our suppliers and service providers to travel to their workplace, we may experience potential impacts ranging from production and shipping delays to lost revenues and increased costs, which could harm our business. Moreover, periods with increased extreme weather, floods, or drought and associated wildfire danger may increase the probability of power outages in the communities where we work and live. For example, electric utilities in certain areas where we operate have previously used planned power outages in response to wildfire risks. If prolonged or frequent, such blackouts could impact our operations and the operations of our suppliers and service providers. We do not have multiple-site capacity for all of our operations in the event of a business disruption, and we are predominantly self-insured and may not be able to sufficiently cover losses or additional expenses that we may sustain. Furthermore, the impacts of global climate change on water resources may result in water scarcity, which could impact our ability to access sufficient quantities of water in certain locations and result in increased costs.
In addition, as ESG-related laws continue to evolve in scope and complexity, we may need to change the processes by which we currently operate our business and manage our supply chain to comply with these evolving legal and regulatory requirements, which, in turn, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. If such laws or regulations are more stringent than current legal or regulatory requirements, we may experience increased compliance burdens and costs to meet our regulatory obligations. For example, policymakers in various jurisdictions (including the EU and the State of California) have adopted or are considering adopting requirements for companies to make disclosures or take additional actions, including value chain diligence, related to various ESG matters. These laws are not always consistent, and, in some instances, other policymakers have taken actions to constrain companies' consideration of such matters, which increases the complexity and cost of compliance. Advocates and opponents of various ESG matters are increasingly turning to activism, including litigation or media campaigns, to advance their positions. Our approach to such matters continues to evolve, and any failure to successfully navigate regulatory requirements or stakeholder expectations could result in a loss of market access or a decline in our success in competitive bidding or public tender processes, reputational harm, fines and other sanctions, or other adverse impacts to our business.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.