Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) can be hard to own because the stock is ***** e to deep drawdowns. It is in a drawdown right now, with the stock down roughly 40% from its early 2025 high. Even after that drop, the price-to-earnings ratio remains lofty at 42x. This is not a stock for the faint of heart.
However, if you are a growth-oriented investor, you shouldn't give up on Intuitive Surgical. Historically, the stock has recovered from deep drawdowns and gone on to reach higher highs. There's a difference this time around due to increasing competition from medical device peers such as Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). But that probably shouldn't stop more aggressive investors. Here's why.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Intuitive Surgical was an early leader in the surgical robotics ***** e. The company's da Vinci system basically helped create the industry niche. So, early on, the question was about medical providers being willing to adopt a new technology. Surgical robotics is now a far more mature and well-accepted technology, generally enabling less invasive surgeries with better outcomes.
In late 2025, Medtronic received approval for its Hugo surgical robotic system in the United States. In mid-2026, J&J received approval for its OTTAVA surgical robot system. Both Medtronic and J&J are well-established competitors with strong industry connections. There is no doubt that they will be fierce competitors to Intuitive Surgical.

#surgical #Stock

Interested in Medical Facilities Co.? Here are five stocks we like better.
Second-quarter financial results improved: Revenue rose 7.8% year over year to $63.1 million, while operating income increased 9.4% to $9.6 million and EBITDA grew 7.1% to $12.5 million. Growth was driven by a higher-value mix of orthopedic and spine procedures despite a 2.3% decline in total surgical cases.
Case volumes were mixed: Outpatient procedures increased 0.9%, but inpatient, observation and pain-management cases declined. Management expects new pain and orthopedic physicians at Arkansas Surgical Hospital in September to help rebuild volumes.
Shareholder returns and liquidity remained strong: The company repurchased about 1.34 million shares for $17.1 million in Q2 and had $64.1 million in cash at quarter-end, including $58 million held corporately. Medical Facilities had no corporate-level bank debt after repaying its credit facility in 2024.
Medical Facilities (TSE:DR) reported higher second-quarter revenue, operating income and EBITDA, with results supported by a shift toward higher-value orthopedic and spine procedures despite a modest decline in total surgical case volume.

#million #ebitda

Shares of Medtronic (NYSE: MDT), one of the world's largest medical device makers, have declined by more than 30% over the past five years. Higher costs, supply chain bottlenecks, quality control issues, and competitive pressure in surgical robotics all weighed on its stock.
Yet Wall Street remains bullish on Medtronic, with an average price target of $98.44 and a top target of $121. I believe it could rise more than 40% from its current price of $86 and hit that high-end target by the end of this year for a few simple reasons.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Back in March, Medtronic spun off its diabetes unit as MiniMed (NASDAQ: MMED) to streamline its business. It's also restructuring its business to expand its higher-margin cardiovascular and neuroscience portfolios and to integrate more AI features into its surgical planning products.
In fiscal 2026 (which ended in April), Medtronic's revenue grew 8.4% to $36.4 billion (or 5.8% organically) and marked its strongest top-line growth in ten years. From fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2029, **** ysts expect its revenue and EPS to grow at CAGRs of 5% and 13%, respectively.

#NVIDIA #years #surgical

Zimmer Biomet has reported Q2 revenues of around $2.18bn, denoting a year-over-year (YoY) uptick of 4.8%, and a revised full year outlook.
Zimmer's knees segment was its strongest performer in Q2, with sales totalling $828.9m, followed by S.E.T. (Sports Medicine, Extremities, Trauma, Craniomaxillofacial and Thoracic) at $586m, and hips at $562.7m. However, while Zimmer's technology and data, bone cement and surgical segment drew in the lowest profits in Q2 at $199.4m, this segment saw the largest YoY growth at 21.1%, followed by S.E.T. at 6.4% and hips at 5%. Meanwhile, YoY growth in knees remained flat at 0.4%.
The orthopaedics giant now expects 2026 revenue growth to land in the 3.9% to 4.9% range, up from 2.5% to 4.5% previously, with earnings now mooted to come in at $8.47-$8.59 per diluted share, up from $8.40-$8.55 previously.
Zimmer released its Q2 financials ahead of market open. The company's shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rose by over 5% to around $101.00 at market open on 5 August, up from $95.81 previously. Zimmer Biomet has a market cap of $19.63bn.
Reflecting on Zimmer's Q2 performance, Tornos, said: "With a strong first half, healthy underlying markets, go-to-market changes progressing as planned and continued momentum from our innovation cycle, we are raising our revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance for the year.

#Growth #followed

With the bulk of the 2026 NBA offseason's player movement now concluded, and with the calendar now flipped to August, it's time to start looking ahead to what's coming next in the NBA, both this season and afterward.
In that spirit, and in the interest of killing some time in the depths of the summer, let's take a look at the five most interesting players — to me! — who could wind up on the open market next summer.
For the purposes of this exercise, I'm excluding players that I expect to sign extensions with their franchises when they become eligible to do so before hitting free agency (like Stephen Curry in Golden State later this month or Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami in February) or whenever they decide it's most contractually advantageous for them (like Nikola Jokić in Denver) and players whose whole deal currently feels up-in-the-air enough to make projecting what might be coming next for them something of a fool's errand (like Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles, Toronto or Parts Unknown).
We begin with the other perennial All-Star and All-NBA performer in the Bay Area:
When the Golden State Warriors open the 2026-27 NBA season, Butler will be 37 years old, with one season and $56.8 million remaining on the two-year extension that he signed with the Warriors after they dealt for him at the 2025 trade deadline. He will also most likely be in street clothes, continuing to rehabilitate his surgically repaired right knee; while he's reportedly "turned the corner" in the process of coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in January, we probably won't see Jimmy back on the court until midseason at the earliest.

#coming #like #Warriors #time

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Health Care Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. The Fund gained 11.99% during the quarter, compared with the 10.48% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index and the 15.44% gain for the Russell 3000 Index. Since inception, the Fund appreciated 10.61% on an annualized basis, compared with 10.02% for the Benchmark and 14.83% for the Index. Strong stock selection in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care equipment, and life sciences tools and services supported the Fund's outperformance, although limited exposure to managed care stocks reduced relative returns. The Fund remains positive on health care due to improving biotechnology funding, strong acquisition activity, recovering managed care margins, and growth from an aging population, chronic disease, medical innovation, and higher health care spending. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know the best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Health Care Fund highlighted Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG). Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. On August 3, 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) closed at $375.41 per share. The one-month return of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) was -13.53% and its shares lost 26.60% over the past 52 weeks. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) has a market capitalization of $132.62 billion.
Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) sells robotic-assisted surgical systems. Shares declined after the company's first-quarter U.S. system placements came in below investor expectations. Medical device stocks also broadly underperformed the market amid concerns that health care utilization trends could decelerate following the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Concerns were further compounded by the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements expected to take effect in 2027. Despite these headwinds, we believe Intuitive can continue to grow revenue at a mid-teens rate for many years and remain positive on the company's long-term growth outlook."
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 103 hedge fund portfolios held Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) at the end of the first quarter which was 109 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI

Just five starts since returning from the injured list (IL), Cincinnati Reds All-Star starting pitcher Hunter Greene returned to the IL on Aug. 5 because of soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow.
Greene missed the first half of the season because of elbow surgery to remove bone chips in March.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene is back on the injured list

#cincinnati #injured #list #star

Baron Capital, an investment management company, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for the "Baron Health Care Fund". A copy of the letter is available to download here. The Fund gained 11.99% during the quarter, compared with the 10.48% gain for the Russell 3000 Health Care Index and the 15.44% gain for the Russell 3000 Index. Since inception, the Fund appreciated 10.61% on an annualized basis, compared with 10.02% for the Benchmark and 14.83% for the Index. Strong stock selection in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care equipment, and life sciences tools and services supported the Fund's outperformance, although limited exposure to managed care stocks reduced relative returns. The Fund remains positive on health care due to improving biotechnology funding, strong acquisition activity, recovering managed care margins, and growth from an aging population, chronic disease, medical innovation, and higher health care spending. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know the best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Baron Health Care Fund highlighted Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG). Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally. On August 3, 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) closed at $375.41 per share. The one-month return of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) was -13.53% and its shares lost 26.60% over the past 52 weeks. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) has a market capitalization of $132.62 billion.
Baron Health Care Fund stated the following regarding Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) sells robotic-assisted surgical systems. Shares declined after the company's first-quarter U.S. system placements came in below investor expectations. Medical device stocks also broadly underperformed the market amid concerns that health care utilization trends could decelerate following the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Concerns were further compounded by the potential impact of Medicaid work requirements expected to take effect in 2027. Despite these headwinds, we believe Intuitive can continue to grow revenue at a mid-teens rate for many years and remain positive on the company's long-term growth outlook."
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 103 hedge fund portfolios held Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) at the end of the first quarter which was 109 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI

Trey Benson is back in the Arizona Cardinals' injury room with a "flare-up" to his surgically repaired left knee, according to head coach Mike LaFleur.
The issue does not sound particularly serious, with LaFleur saying he does not expect Benson's absence to stretch across multiple weeks. It seems likely, though, that Benson will miss the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6.
"I wouldn't say (I'd be) shocked if he goes in Canton, but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't go," LaFleur said.
Even if Benson misses minimal time, it's a frustrating setback for a player who has been unable to stay healthy. He tore his meniscus last September, attempted a return in November and was shut down for the season when the injury did not respond well to an increased workload.
In part because Benson missed so much time, the Cardinals addressed their running back room aggressively this offseason, rather than relying on the 2024 third-round pick. They reworked James Conner's contract to avoid cutting him, signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency and, of course, drafted Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick.

#benson #time #pick

On Friday at training camp, the Arizona Cardinals had an injury concern with second-year defensive tackle Walter Nolen. He went to the locker room with trainers, looking at his left knee, which was the one he had surgically repaired at the end of last season.
It turns out he was okay.
After Saturday's off day, Nolen was back on the field at State Farm Stadium on Sunday and practiced as he normaly would.
That is huge news for Cardinals fans.
Head coach Mike LaFleur was asked about Nolen before Sunday's practice.

#nolen #arizona #state #head

The Cowboys had interest in a trade for Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. They might still have interest.
Dallas attempted to acquire the five-time Pro Bowler in March. The Raiders instead sent him to the Ravens for two first-round picks before reneging on the deal because of long-term concerns about Crosby's surgically repaired left knee.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked earlier this week about walking away from a deal for Crosby and took offense to the question.
"We didn't," Jones said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. "We did not walk away. That's about all there is to say. We understood his injury well. We thought he could help us then. We were surprised by the way that was resolved. To interject anything about what we're thinking or doing, because he went back to the Raiders, would be a mistake. He's a Raider.
"If the team is coming along well, then those things stay alive. If all of a sudden you don't think it's coming along, then those things don't stay alive. It's a good indicator of how good we feel about this team. . . . He's such a Raider. He's completely a Raider. He's happy to be a Raider. Everything in the book. We shouldn't even be having this kind of discussion."

#team

Health policy has quietly become a stock-moving variable in 2026, and the figures are significant enough to matter. Approximately 2.6 million Americans discontinued ACA marketplace coverage this year after increased pandemic-era subsidies ended at the end of 2025, with health policy experts predicting that total enrollment would decrease to between 16.5 million and 17.5 million by year-end. Meanwhile, the Urban Institute has projected that 4.8 million more people will be uninsured in 2026 as a direct consequence of the lapsed subsidies, with certain HealthCare.gov-reliant states witnessing enrollment losses of 20% or more.
Whether this translates into fewer elective medical treatments is now a hotly debated topic in the healthcare industry, with Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) emerging as the evident casualty. The company's shares plunged more than 12% before the bell on July 17, despite Intuitive maintaining its global procedure-growth prediction for its da Vinci surgical robots. Instead, the selloff was driven by the company's own admission that changes in insurance coverage could impact demand.
US da Vinci procedure growth slowed to roughly 12% in the second quarter, down from where Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) expected to be at the beginning of the year, with a focus on surgeries that patients may defer. On the July 16 call, CEO David Rosa told ******* ysts that customer conversations indicated that fluctuating patient coverage and premium dynamics affect "when patients seek care," as opposed to if they seek it at all.
That reaction came at an awkward time, as a highly public disagreement was already taking place in the sector. Abbott, a major medical device and diagnostics manufacturer, had argued recently that blaming industry-wide procedure weakness on ACA disenrollment was a "flawed ******* umption." HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital operator in the United States, took the opposite stance, warning earlier of lower surgical demand and an increase in uninsured patients when pandemic-era subsidies expired.
Intuitive's own results now appear to support the HCA side of the argument, at least in procedures when patients can choose to delay. Stifel's response immediately reflected the tension: the firm reduced its price objective to $550 from $670 on July 17 while keeping a Buy rating on the company's shares, despite Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) exceeding expectations in revenue, earnings, system placements, and procedure growth in the same quarter. Both US procedure and installed-base growth have slowed since the 2020-2021 COVID era, with management blaming the slowdown on ACA disenrollment and the basic law of large numbers as the installed base matures.

#NASDAQ #Growth #healthcare

The Denver Broncos ended the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the AFC West in 2025. Can Sean Payton and the Broncos repeat?
Quarterback Bo Nix is coming off ankle surgery but he's optimistic his surgically repaired ankle won't hinder him this year. Helping matters is Denver's splash trade for speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Chiefs endured a nightmare season, but three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes is confident he'll be ready to roll in Week 1 following a season-ending knee injury in 2025. The Chiefs signed Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III but also lost starting cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason.
The Chargers earned playoff berths in each of the past two seasons. Los Angeles hired the innovative Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator to spark its offense.
In Las Vegas, the Raiders made plenty of changes, headlined by 2026 No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Fernando Mendoza and head coach Klint Kubiak. But they still face an uphill battle in arguably the best division in football.

#chiefs #Broncos #year #season

If you own ******* eX (SPCX) stock, or you're thinking about gaining exposure, this week deserves a spot on your calendar. Thursday brings a Starship test flight that ******* eX badly needs to go well, and it's the first of three dates over the next few weeks that could move the stock in a big way.
I've watched plenty of young public companies go through their first real test after an IPO. ******* eX is about to go through three of them at once, and they're all connected. Here's what's happening and why it matters to anyone holding SPCX stock.
The Biggest Risk to ******* eX Stock Comes After Earnings. Here Are The Numbers You Should Keep An Eye On.
Walmart Stock's Extended Downturn Could Trigger a Possible Comeback
Why Johnson & Johnson Is Sending Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) Stock Down Today

#thursday

This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter.
Robot developer Vicarious Surgical, which raised more than $425 million from investors including Bill Gates before its 2021 initial public offering, has obtained approval from shareholders to wind down and liquidate the business.
Shareholders voted at a special meeting Tuesday to enter into an ******* ignment for the benefit of creditors, an alternative to bankruptcy. The process transfers a company's ******* ets into a trust for distribution to creditors.
Vicarious was working to develop a single-port surgical robot that "shrinks the surgeon" to perform procedures inside the patient's abdomen but faced a series of delays in bringing the device to market and last year canceled plans for a clinical trial as it pushed to finish the design for the commercial version of the system.
Vicarious is shutting down 12 years after it was formed with the ambitious goals of improving patient outcomes, increasing surgical efficiency and addressing what its founders saw as significant limitations to legacy robotic platforms. Its 2021 merger with D8 Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company, or ******* , valued the company at $1.1 billion.

#medtech #shareholders #down #special

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (ZBH) is a global medical technology company specializing in musculoskeletal healthcare. It designs and manufactures innovative orthopedic implants, surgical instruments, and digital solutions for joint reconstruction, trauma, and sports medicine. The company operates internationally with a corporate headquarters in Warsaw, Indiana. It has a market capitalization of $17.20 billion.
Zimmer Biomet is expected to report its second-quarter results for fiscal 2026 on Aug. 5, before the market opens. Ahead of the release, Wall Street **** ysts are tepid about the company's bottom-line trajectory.
PayPal Says a $53 Billion Takeover Offer from Stripe Undervalues It. How to Play PYPL Stock Here.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos Called Amazon's Customer Service to Prove a Point But Waited in Silence for More Than 10 Minutes — 'It Was Really Long'
Micron Stock Is Near Bear-Market Territory. Here's Why ASML's Guidance Says Buy the Dip.

#market #zimmer

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 15: Simone Biles speaks onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
After revealing a health scare in June, Simone Biles has shared another development with her fans. The seven-time Olympic medalist posted an Instagram Story on Thursday featuring a photo of Biles in surgical attire, accompanied by her husband, Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens.
"His birthday but he takes me to get my procedure," Biles wrote affectionately. The photo is from July 22, indicating that Biles had already undergone the procedure at the time of posting. The 29-year-old donned a hospital gown, hair net in the photo.
The post is the first update in over a month from Biles, who shared news of a purported near-death experience on June 15.
"Almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week," Biles wrote last month, adding that she typically preserves her privacy in such circumstances, but felt compelled to share her recent experience.

#july #procedure

NZS Capital, LLC, an investment management company, released its "NZS Growth Equity Strategy" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Equity markets delivered a strong performance in the second quarter of 2026, driven by demand for AI infrastructure, geopolitical stabilization, and positive earnings reports. The portfolio achieved a gross return of +24.96% and a net return of +24.76%, significantly outperforming the +14.79% return for the Morningstar Global Target Market Exposure Index. Overweight in Semiconductors, stock selection in areas like Software and Industrials, and zero exposure to Energy contributed to the Strategy's outperformance in the quarter. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, NZS Growth Equity Strategy highlighted Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG). Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is a leader in robotic-assisted surgery that develops, manufactures, and markets products for improving the quality of and access to minimally invasive care. On July 20, 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) closed at $353.17 per share. One-month return of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) was -10.55%, and its shares lost 29.42% over the past 52 weeks. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) has a market capitalization of $125.08 billion.
NZS Growth Equity Strategy stated the following regarding Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Only Real Estate and Healthcare contributed negatively to absolute returns, but Materials and Financials lagged. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) was the top individual detractor to absolute returns in the quarter. While fundamentals remain solid for Intuitive Surgical, the stock's multiple has not been immune from the broad de-rating in "quality growth" stocks we've seen outside of the AI ecosystem."
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 103 hedge fund portfolios held Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 109 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

#intuitive #quarter

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. equities experienced a strong recovery in Q2 2026, with the S&P 500 Index gaining 15.2%, marking its best quarter since 2020. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) regained market optimism in the quarter, leading the Information Technology and Industrials sectors upward, and Energy and Utilities lagged because of falling oil and gas prices. In June, the Federal Reserve maintained steady interest rates, but the meeting had a hawkish tone. As AI transitions into its agentic phase, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology. The Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell 2500 Growth Index in the quarter. The Industrials and Information Technology sectors contributed to the relative performance, whereas Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors detracted. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund highlighted Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT). Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) is a global manufacturer and distributor of medical devices and implantable human tissues. On July 20, 2026, Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) closed at $25.37 per share. One-month return of Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) was 22.68%, and its shares lost 16.55% over the past 52 weeks. Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion.
Alger Weatherbie Specialized Growth Fund stated the following regarding Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) manufactures, processes, and distributes medical devices and implantable human tissues used in cardiac and vascular surgical procedures, with a focus on treating patients with aortic disease. The company's portfolio includes established products as well as newer technologies designed to improve outcomes in complex cardiovascular procedures. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance after the company reported in-line first-quarter results but modestly lowered its full-year outlook, primarily due to slower-than-expected starter set sales for AMDS, its key new product cycle."
Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 28 hedge fund portfolios held Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) at the end of the first quarter, up from 25 in the previous quarter. Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) delivered total revenue of $116.3 million in Q1 2026, an increase of 12% on a non-GAAP constant currency basis. While we acknowledge the potential of Artivion, Inc. (NYSE:AORT) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If y

With Detroit Lions training camp starting soon, the PUP list will be announced shortly by the team. Whether a player shows up on the list or not will give us some information as to the status of the injury recovery.
The following are two of the most likely Lions to be placed on the PUP. For the rest of the candidates, visit Lions 2026 PUP-tentials with Sam LaPorta Surgical Update.
Branch had his Achilles rupture in December of 2025, which puts his expected return to action around October or November. Thus, there may be nothing to see throughout all of camp for Branch. He’ll likely start camp on the PUP list and stay there into the season.
At some point during training camp, Joseph will fully test his knee to see if it is able to handle football. Will that happen early in camp or late? An extra couple weeks of rest won’t make any difference at this point - 10 months since his last game action in October 2025.
Joseph might start camp on the PUP list although I’m not sure what value that would provide. It just delays the inevitable make-or-break testing of his knee. Might as well start ramping things up immediately to see how it goes.

#training

XYLD charges 0.60% for a mechanical covered call strategy while JEPI actively manages the same trade for 0.35% and distributes more per share annually.
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DIVO writes calls selectively on individual positions rather than the full portfolio, preserving more equity upside for investors who want income without sacrificing growth.
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Covered call ETFs promise a trade every income investor understands: cap the upside in exchange for cash today. The Global X S&P 500 Covered Call ETF (NYSEARCA:XYLD) is the biggest name in the S&P 500 flavor of that trade, but it charges 0.60% a year while newer competitors like JPMorgan's JEPI charge roughly half that. The question is whether XYLD's mechanical, index-based approach still earns its keep in a shelf that now includes cheaper active funds and more surgical alternatives.

Two-day chart shows the Nasdaq led major indexes lower Friday.
Stocks were headed for a losing week Friday amid disheartening earnings from Netflix (NFLX) and the latest updates from the housing sector. ****** e Exploration Technologies (SPCX), known as ****** eX, was an early loser on the stock market today after a canceled test flight while Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) tumbled as a key metric disappointed investors.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat as the S&P 500 fell 0.6%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq faced the brunt of a sell-off in tech and sank 1.2% in morning trading.
West Texas intermediate crude oil futures climbed to around $81.80 per barrel. The 10-year Treasury yield was down at 4.52%. Meanwhile, bitcoin fell near $63,300.
News from the housing front was mixed with housing starts beating economist expectations for June, yet the number of building permits issued missed forecasts.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is one of the 8 Worst Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now.
On July 9, 2026, BMO Capital ****** yst Vik Chopra initiated coverage of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) with an Outperform rating and $518 price target. Chopra said the da Vinci 5 upgrade cycle remains in the early innings, procedure growth is broadening into new specialties and geographies, and the earnings stream is "durable and visible."
On July 6, Evercore ISI lowered the firm's price target on Intuitive Surgical to $430 from $480 and kept an In Line rating on the shares. Evercore ISI said its Q2 preview for MedTech, Life Sciences Tools, and Diagnostics highlights generally healthy procedure volumes and capital expenditure trends across the sector.
Last month, BofA ****** yst Travis Steed lowered the firm's price target on Intuitive Surgical to $515 from $520 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. Steed noted that BofA's services team continues to highlight a lower utilization environment and took a more conservative view on 2027 medtech company estimates, given that valuations already reflect utilization risk. Steed also ****** umed inflation will be more of a headwind in 2027, with less margin expansion for medtech, and lowered 2027 estimates across the firm's larger-cap coverage with exposure to utilization and inflation.
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) develops, manufactures, and markets products that enable physicians and healthcare providers to enhance the quality of and access to minimally invasive care in the United States and internationally.

Harris Oakmark recently released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for the "Oakmark Global Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. It is a non-diversified fund that focuses on long-term capital appreciation by investing in common stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. In the second quarter, the fund (Investor Class) delivered a return of 7.89%, lagging the benchmark, the MSCI World Index's 13.76% return. Energy and industrials were the top performance contributors at the sector level, while health care and consumer discretionary detracted from performance. AI remains a key market theme. The firm focuses on evaluating companies based on their competitive advantages, long-term cash flow potential, and valuation, not predictions. In addition, you can check the Fund's top five holdings to determine its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Oakmark Global Fund highlighted TheCooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) as a newly added position. The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) is a medical device company that operates through CooperVision and CooperSurgical segments. On July 14, 2026, The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) closed at $68.51 per share. One-month return of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) was 7.35%, and its shares lost 3.95% over the past 52 weeks. The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) has a market capitalization of $13.36 billion.
Oakmark Global Fund stated the following regarding The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:COO) is a U.S.-headquartered medical device company that manufactures contact lenses and women's health products. The contact lens industry benefits from an oligopolistic market structure with significant barriers to entry, highly recurring revenue streams, and historically has consistently positive pricing dynamics that support mid single-digit market growth over time. Cooper has an impressive track record of contact lens market share gains, which we attribute to its leading position in specialty lenses and its unique private-label strategy. We are encouraged by recent steps taken to improve free cash flow conversion, reaccelerate growth, and optimize the product portfolio. The stock has pulled back sharply alongside the broader medical technology sector and now trades at a meaningful discount to public peers, private market transactions, and its own trading history. We were pleased to initiate a position at what we view as an attractive entry point relative to our estimate of intrinsic value."

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) stock tumbled Tuesday, alongside shares of other medtech leaders like Abbott Laboratories (ABT), Stryker (SYK) and Medtronic (MDT), after HCA Healthcare trimmed its full-year earnings outlook, suggesting a drop in surgical procedures.
HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital operator, said inpatient surgeries declined 2.3% while outpatient procedures fell 3.4% in the second quarter compared with the year-ago period.
As a result, HCA now projects $6.3 billion to $6.7 billion in net income and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $15.4 billion to $16.1 billion. That's down from the prior outlook for roughly $6.5 billion to $7.04 billion in net income and adjusted EBITDA of $15.55 billion to $16.45 billion.
HCA also narrowed its sales guidance, now projecting $77 billion to $79.5 billion. The midpoint of the new outlook, $78.25 billion, matches the company's prior view.

Despite some early woes in the transfer portal, Mark Pope managed to **** emble one of the best portal classes in the country. Along with key returners like Malachi Moreno and Kam Williams, Kentucky Basketball will now enter the 2026-27 season as a consensus top-25 team.
However, few, if any, college basketball rosters are without question marks, and Kentucky is no different.
So, what are some potential pitfalls with this group?
The easy one to point to is the injury bug, which has been problematic over the last two years and has already hit several players. Transfer center Franck Kepnang is being held out of summer workouts after missing the end of last season due to a knee issue.
Meanwhile, Kam Williams is out as he continues to rehab his surgically repaired foot and is not expected to practice this summer, despite having returned for the final five games last season.

US-based medical technology company VB Spine has signed a definitive agreement with Augmedics to acquire the exclusive rights to the computed tomography-to-fluoroscopy (CT-Fluoro) technology for spine applications.
The agreement follows VB Spine's earlier acquisition of the exclusive rights to the Augmedics xvision Spine System platform.
The CT-Fluoro technology enables surgeons to register a patient's preoperative CT scan using standard fluoroscopic imaging.
This process could reduce reliance on intraoperative CT or 3D imaging systems during spinal procedures, potentially broadening workflow options and reducing imaging requirements.
VB Spine stated that the technology is intended to increase accessibility to augmented reality navigation for a wider variety of facilities and surgical settings.

Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) is one of the Top 10 Extreme Value Stocks To Buy Now. On June 22, TD Cowen lowered the firm's price target on Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) from $230 to $197 and kept a Buy rating on the stock. The downward price target revision still reflects a 24% upside from current levels. After a May hospital survey showed that revenue remained largely flat compared to the previous year, the firm lowered its growth expectations for 2026 and 2027. According to the survey, weaker surgical procedure volumes were partly offset by growth in other medical services.
The healthcare industry is well positioned to benefit from the AI tailwind. By using artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, lower labor costs, and better manage complex reimbursement processes, hospitals may strengthen their competitive position and profitability over time, according to UBS. While health insurers are expected to benefit from these efficiency improvements, the firm believes hospitals could be the biggest beneficiaries.
Moreover, large hospital operators such as HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, and Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) have already begun deploying AI in areas such as billing and reimbursement management, staffing, and clinical documentation. The firm believes these companies could maintain an advantage over many nonprofit hospitals for several years.
Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) provides hospital and healthcare services through more its acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient centers, and ambulatory care access points across the US, Puerto Rico, and the UK.
While we acknowledge the potential of UHS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Brown Advisory, an investment management company, released its "Brown Large-Cap Growth Strategy" for the first-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter is available to download here. The Brown Advisory Large-Cap Growth Strategy experienced a decline in the first quarter of 2026, modestly trailing the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Despite negative absolute returns amidst volatility, relative performance improved significantly as the quarter progressed. Initial pressures stemmed from weaknesses in the software sector, affected by concerns over AI disrupting traditional models. Conversely, sectors like Industrials and Consumer Discretionary positively contributed to performance, while Information Technology and Health Care were the largest detractors. The strategy's ability to outperform in a down market indicates the quality of holdings. As market leadership broadens, the firm's focus remains on maintaining a diversified portfolio of high-quality growth companies, aiming for strong long-term results. Please review the Strategy's top five holdings to gain insights into their key selections for 2026.
In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, Brown Advisory Large-Cap Growth Strategy highlighted Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG). Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is a leader in robotic-assisted surgery that develops, manufactures, and markets products for improving the quality of and access to minimally invasive care. On July 1, 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) closed at $402.38 per share. One-month return of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) was -3.93%, and its shares lost 26.10% over the past 52 weeks. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) has a market capitalization of $142.51 billion.
Brown Advisory Large-Cap Growth Strategy stated the following regarding Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:
"Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) Designs, manufactures and markets robotic surgical systems. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) was a bottom contributor during the quarter following a modestly lower-than-consensus expected outlook for procedure growth. We believe the company continues to deliver solid operational performance, with healthy procedure volumes and system placements. However, the updated outlook, combined with broader macro uncertainty, weighed on sentiment during the period. We remain confident in Intuitive Surgical's long-term growth opportunity and leadership in robotic surgery."
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 103 hedge fund portfolios held Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 109 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for

McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) is one of billionaire Cliff Asness' top 10 healthcare stock picks. On June 23, McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) issued a recap of its annual McKesson ideaShare 2026 event and stated that it spotlighted AI-powered solutions for independent pharmacies. The conference was held between June 18 and June 21 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, and it brought together nearly 5,000 independent community pharmacy professionals from across the US.
Source: Unsplash
McKesson noted that the event centered on helping independent pharmacies navigate a rapidly shifting healthcare landscape. It added that major themes were the integration of artificial intelligence into pharmacy operations, the expansion of patient care services beyond traditional prescription dispensing, and the growing importance of community-based care as a driver of better health outcomes.
For the first time at ideaShare, McKesson hosted a Product Showcase where attendees could evaluate new tools and vote on the solutions they believed would have the greatest impact on their businesses and patients. The company noted that this shift gave pharmacy owners a more direct role in shaping the products and services offered to them.
Meanwhile, on June 2, McKesson closed a strategic investment deal with funds managed by affiliates of Apollo, in which Apollo acquired a minority stake in McKesson's Medical-Surgical Solutions (MMS) business. The transaction had been announced about six weeks earlier, on April 20.