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The stock market has been volatile over the past few months, with the S&P 500 swinging from gains to losses. While the market has not crashed, investors have been concerned about the economy, the pace of interest rate cuts, and conflict in Iran. Against this backdrop, attention has also turned to whether companies’ investments in artificial intelligence (AI) will ultimately translate into revenue growth.
Even after a recent rebound that pushed the S&P 500 to a new high, many stocks remain below prior levels, and some are trading at comparatively attractive valuations. Below are two healthcare stocks highlighted as potential buys at a discount.
Intuitive Surgical is the world’s leading robotic surgery company, providing devices used for a wide range of minimally invasive procedures. Its Da Vinci surgical robot is available for hospitals to buy or lease in multiple models, including the latest release, the Da Vinci 5. The company states that the Da Vinci 5 delivers 10,000 times the computing power of its predecessor and includes 150 design innovations.
The company’s product lineup is designed to give customers options across different priorities and budgets. The Da Vinci system also represents a major investment for hospitals, with a recent model generally costing well over $1 million—an attribute that can help support Intuitive’s competitive position.
Intuitive also benefits from a “moat” tied to surgeon familiarity and training. Many surgeons have trained on the Da Vinci platform, which may influence procedure selection versus competing systems.
Intuitive’s market leadership has translated into earnings growth. In the most recent quarter, revenue increased 19%, and Da Vinci procedures rose 17%. Procedure growth matters because it can drive recurring revenue through ongoing orders of instruments and accessories.
Despite the company’s strength, the stock is described as trading at an “interesting discount.” Intuitive is valued at 45x forward earnings estimates, down from 60x earlier this year.
Abbott Laboratories is presented as a healthcare stock to own for two main reasons: business diversification and a commitment to dividend payments.
Abbott operates four business units: medical devices, diagnostics, established pharmaceuticals, and nutrition. The diversification is intended to provide a degree of stability if one segment faces headwinds. For example, during early pandemic conditions, diagnostics surged, helping cushion declines in medical devices. More recently, the medical devices business has been driving growth.
Abbott’s portfolio includes leading products such as the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor and Ensure nutrition drinks. The company’s broad product mix has supported earnings growth over time.
In addition, Abbott’s free cash flow is described as supporting dividend growth. Abbott is also identified as a “Dividend King,” having increased its dividend for at least 50 consecutive years.
On valuation, Abbott is trading at 17x forward earnings estimates, down from more than 22x in the early days of 2026. The article frames this discount as a reason to consider Abbott following recent market turbulence.
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