Two AI Surgery Stocks Worth Adding to Your Portfolio in February

The trajectory of artificial intelligence continues to accelerate across industries, and healthcare—particularly surgical innovation—represents one of the most compelling frontiers for investors seeking meaningful growth exposure. While AI is already assisting surgeons in real-time decision-making, the future potential for autonomous or semi-autonomous surgical systems represents a transformative shift in how medicine will be practiced. If you’re evaluating stocks to buy in this emerging space, two companies stand out: Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT). Each represents a distinct path to capturing this AI-driven healthcare opportunity.

Intuitive Surgical: The Concentrated Play on Surgical Robotics

For investors with an aggressive growth orientation who want pure exposure to surgical robotics advancement, Intuitive Surgical presents a compelling case. This company has built its entire operational foundation on da Vinci surgical robots, making it perhaps the purest architectural play in the space.

The momentum behind their platform remains undeniable. In 2025, Intuitive Surgical installed 1,721 da Vinci units—up from 1,526 in 2024, representing nearly 13% year-over-year growth. More tellingly, the company’s installed base has grown to 11,106 robots globally by year-end 2025, a 12% increase from the prior year. Procedure volume has proven even more robust, with da Vinci-assisted surgeries jumping 18% in 2025 alone. Looking ahead, management projects that surgical volumes could expand another 15% in 2026.

The most significant recent development centers on FDA clearance for an AI-powered tool designed to guide surgeons during lung operations, enabling real-time adjustments and optimization. This regulatory blessing underscores a critical inflection point: AI is no longer theoretical in the surgical setting—it’s operational. The enormous datasets generated by millions of surgical procedures create a natural training ground for machine learning algorithms. The logical progression would involve AI systems that can analyze these patterns and eventually assist in—or potentially direct—surgical execution.

However, prospective investors must acknowledge the valuation hurdle. Intuitive Surgical trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 67, substantially elevated by historical standards. This premium valuation assumes significant future growth materialization, making timing a consequential factor in your investment decision.

Medtronic: The Diversified Income-Generating Alternative

If you prefer a more balanced portfolio construction with lower valuation multiples and meaningful current income, Medtronic merits serious consideration. As one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers, Medtronic operates across cardiovascular systems, neuroscience solutions, diabetes management, and surgical robotics—though the diabetes unit is scheduled for separation imminently.

Medtronic’s competitive positioning in surgical robotics mirrors Intuitive Surgical’s opportunity set. The company’s Hugo system faces identical prospects for AI integration, automation enhancement, and procedure expansion. Yet Medtronic offers distinctive advantages for certain investor profiles.

The valuation architecture is substantially different: Medtronic’s P/E ratio stands at 27, which, while still elevated, presents a more moderate entry point compared to Intuitive Surgical’s 67. Additionally, Medtronic has cultivated a dividend stream yielding 2.8%, supported by 48 consecutive years of annual increases. For context, the S&P 500 currently yields 1.1%, making Medtronic’s income component particularly attractive for dividend-growth oriented portfolios.

The pending diabetes spin-off represents an important catalyst. By separating this division, Medtronic’s management team aims to sharpen operational focus and accelerate profitability expansion. This restructuring could unlock shareholder value and amplify the core medical device business trajectory—suggesting that investors may benefit from establishing positions before this corporate action concludes.

The Strategic Question: Which Investment Style Matches Your Objective?

The choice between these two stocks to buy fundamentally hinges on your investment philosophy. Intuitive Surgical appeals to investors prioritizing maximum exposure to surgical robotics innovation and willing to accept premium valuations for concentrated growth potential. You’re essentially betting that AI-assisted and eventually autonomous surgical capabilities will justify the elevated multiples—a thesis supported by FDA regulatory progress and accelerating procedure volumes.

Conversely, Medtronic suits investors seeking diversification across a broader medical device portfolio while maintaining meaningful exposure to the AI surgery opportunity. The combination of a reasonable valuation multiple, established dividend history, and imminent corporate restructuring provides multiple paths to value creation.

Capitalizing on the AI Surgery Inflection Point

The fundamental reality remains clear: artificial intelligence is transitioning from theoretical promise to demonstrated capability within surgical environments. FDA approval of AI-assisted surgical tools has already validated this trajectory. As AI capabilities mature, the companies already embedded within surgical robotics infrastructure—specifically Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic—will likely spearhead these advancements.

Strategically timing your entry into these stocks to buy before AI surgery capabilities reach mainstream adoption could position you advantageously ahead of a multi-decade market expansion. Whether you prioritize growth concentration or diversification with income, both companies represent meaningful participation in one of healthcare’s most significant technological transitions. The question isn’t whether these opportunities warrant portfolio attention, but rather which approach aligns with your specific investment objectives and risk tolerance.