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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results and balances of the Company’s majority-owned joint venture (“Joint Venture”) with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (“Fosun Pharma”). Chindex Medical Limited (“Chindex”), a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, has been its distribution partner for da Vinci Surgical Systems in China. The Company holds a controlling financial interest in the Joint Venture, and the noncontrolling interest is reflected as a separate component of the consolidated stockholders’ equity. The noncontrolling interest’s share of the earnings in the Joint Venture is presented separately in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. Beginning in 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfer of Assets Other than Inventory. The Company adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach and, as a result, recorded a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant, complex, and subjective judgments include the valuation and recognition of investments, revenue recognition and the valuation of revenue and allowances for sales returns and doubtful accounts, the valuation of inventory, the valuation of and assessment of recoverability of intangible assets and their estimated useful lives, the valuation and recognition of share-based compensation, the recognition and measurement of current and deferred income tax assets, along with the assessment of recoverability, and liabilities, and the estimates for legal contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Concentrations of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties The carrying amounts for financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Marketable securities and derivative instruments are stated at their estimated fair values, based on quoted market prices for the same or similar instruments. The counterparties to the agreements relating to the Company’s investment securities and derivative instruments consist of various major corporations, financial institutions, municipalities, and government agencies of high credit standing. The Company’s accounts receivable are primarily derived from billings related to revenue arrangements with customers and distributors located throughout the world. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and, generally, requires no collateral from its customers. The Company provides reserves for potential credit losses but has not experienced significant losses to date. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, 67% and 66%, respectively, of accounts receivable were from domestic customers. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, domestic revenue accounted for 68%, 70%, and 71% of total revenue, respectively, while outside of the U.S. revenue accounted for 32%, 30%, and 29%, respectively, of total revenue for each of the years then ended. The Company is subject to additional risks and uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of the impact on the Company's business is highly uncertain and difficult to predict. The Company's customers are diverting resources to treat COVID-19 patients and deferring elective surgical procedures, both of which are likely to impact customers' ability to meet their obligations, including to the Company. Furthermore, capital markets and economies worldwide have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is possible that the impact could cause an extended local and/or global economic recession. Such economic disruption could have a material adverse effect on our business as hospitals curtail and reduce capital and overall spending. Policymakers around the globe have responded with fiscal policy actions to support the healthcare industry and economy as a whole. However, the magnitude and overall effectiveness of these actions remains uncertain. The severity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the pandemic and the extent and severity of the impact on the Company's customers, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. The Company's future results of operations and liquidity could be materially adversely affected by delays in payments of outstanding receivables, supply chain disruptions, uncertain or reduced demand, and the impact of any initiatives or programs that the Company may undertake to address financial and operational challenges faced by its customers. As of the date of issuance of these Financial Statements, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may materially adversely affect the Company's financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations is uncertain. Customer Relief Program During the second quarter of 2020, the Company introduced a series of programs to provide financial relief to customers (the “Customer Relief Program”). As part of the Customer Relief Program, the Company provided its customers service fee credits, extended payment terms, and deferred payments related to Intuitive System Leasing arrangements. The Customer Relief Program ended at the end of the third quarter of 2020. Service fee credits. As part of the Customer Relief Program, the Company provided service fee credits to customers based on the reduction in the utilization of their systems during the second and third quarters of 2020 relative to a pre-COVID-19 level baseline. The Company reflected the service fee credits as a reduction of service revenue and accounts receivable in the quarter they were earned by its customers. The service fee credit program resulted in a $80 million decrease in service revenue in 2020. Short-term payment relief. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company introduced a payment deferral program to provide financial relief to qualified customers. This relief extended payment terms up to 180 days for qualified and creditworthy customers. The Company also introduced a lease payment deferral program in which creditworthy customers with active Intuitive System Leasing arrangements could elect to defer lease payments up to five months that are payable at the end of the lease by extending the lease term. This program did not result in substantial increases in the rights of the lessor or the obligations of the lessee, and the Company elected to apply the relief provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) FAQ on accounting for COVID-19 and market volatility by not applying the lease modification guidance in ASC 842 to the lease arrangements affected by the deferrals and lease extensions. For operating lease arrangements where the lease term was extended by adding the deferred period to the end of the contract, the Company recalculated the straight-line revenue based on the revised terms, consistent with the treatment accepted by the FASB FAQ on accounting for COVID-19. For its sales-type lease arrangements impacted, the Company accounted for the deferral in the timing of lease payments as if there were no changes in the lease contract, consistent with the treatment accepted by the FASB FAQ on accounting for COVID-19. While the short-term payment relief offered did not have a material impact on the results of operations, the Company deferred $15 million of lease billings and extended payment terms associated with $181 million of billings during the program, of which $19 million remained outstanding as of December 31, 2020. Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity from date of purchase of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Restricted Cash As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $18.0 million of restricted cash associated with its insurance programs and bank guarantee collateral. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $15.0 million of restricted cash associated with its insurance programs. Restricted cash was included in prepaids and other current assets and intangible and other assets, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Investments Available-for-sale investments. The Company’s investments may consist of U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, taxable and tax-exempt municipal notes, corporate notes and bonds, commercial paper, non-U.S. government agency securities, and money market funds. The Company has designated all investments as available-for-sale and, therefore, such investments are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For securities sold prior to maturity, the cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are recorded in interest and other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Investments with remaining maturities at date of purchase greater than 90 days and remaining maturities as of the reporting period less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as long-term investments. All of the Company’s investments are subject to a periodic impairment review. Available-for-sale investments in an unrealized loss position are written down to fair value through a charge to other income, net, if the Company intends to sell the security or it is more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. The Company evaluates the remaining securities to determine what amount of the excess, if any, is caused by expected credit losses. Factors considered in determining whether a credit-related loss exists include the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, the extent of the loss related to credit of the issuer, and the expected cash flows from the security. No significant charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018. Fair Value Measurements The Company measures the fair value of money market funds, certain U.S. treasury securities, and equity investments with readily determinable value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets as Level 1 securities. Marketable securities measured at fair value using Level 2 inputs are primarily comprised of commercial paper, corporate notes and bonds, U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies, municipal notes, and equity investments without readily determinable value. The Company reviews trading activity and pricing for these investments as of the measurement date. When sufficient quoted pricing for identical securities is not available, the Company uses market pricing and other observable market inputs for similar securities obtained from various third-party data providers. These inputs either represent quoted prices for similar assets in active markets or have been derived from observable market data. This approach results in the Level 2 classification of these securities within the fair value hierarchy. Inventory Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventory costs include direct materials, direct labor, and normal manufacturing overhead. The cost basis of the Company’s inventory is reduced for any products that are considered excessive or obsolete based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Additionally, the cost basis of the Company's inventory does not include any unallocated fixed overhead costs associated with abnormally low utilization of our factories. Property, Plant, and Equipment Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally, as follows:
| Useful Lives
Building | Up to 30 years
Building improvements | Up to 15 years
Leasehold improvements | Lesser of useful life or term of lease
Equipment and furniture | 5 years
Operating lease assets | Greater of lease term or 1 to 5 years
Computer and office equipment | 3 years
Enterprise-wide software | 5 years
Purchased software | Lesser of 3 years or life of license
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, was $220.6 million, $156.7 million, and $105.9 million, respectively. Capitalized Software Costs for Internal Use The Company capitalizes direct costs associated with developing or obtaining internal use software, including enterprise-wide business software, that are incurred during the application development stage. These capitalized costs are recorded as capitalized software within property, plant, and equipment. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation activities are expensed as incurred. Once the software is ready for its intended use, amounts capitalized are amortized over an estimated useful life of up to 5 years, generally on a straight-line basis. Implementation Costs in a Cloud Computing Arrangement The Company capitalizes qualified implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract for which it is the customer in accordance with the requirements for capitalizing costs incurred to develop internal-use software. These capitalized implementation costs are recorded within intangible and other assets, net, and are generally amortized over the fixed, non-cancellable term of the associated hosting arrangement on a straight-line basis. Business Combinations The Company accounts for business acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. This standard requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree using acquisition-date fair values. Certain provisions of this standard prescribe, among other things, the determination of acquisition-date fair value of consideration paid in a business combination, including contingent consideration. The excess of the acquisition-date fair value of consideration paid over the fair values of the identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred. The Company includes the results of operations of the businesses that are acquired as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment at least annually during the fourth quarter, or if circumstances indicate their value may no longer be recoverable. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets and liabilities. The Company continues to operate in one segment, which is considered to be the sole reporting unit and, therefore, goodwill was tested for impairment at the enterprise level. Intangible assets are carried at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The Company does not have intangible assets with indefinite useful lives other than goodwill. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the intangible assets’ useful lives, which range from approximately 2 to 9 years. Impairment of Long-lived Assets The Company evaluates long-lived assets, which include finite-lived intangible and tangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the net book value to the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. The Company recognizes an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the net book value exceeds its fair value. No material impairment losses were incurred in the periods presented. Revenue Recognition The Company’s revenue consists of product revenue resulting from the sale of systems, system components, instruments and accessories, and service revenue. The Company accounts for a contract with a customer when there is a legally enforceable contract between the Company and its customer, the rights of the parties are identified, the contract has commercial substance, and collectability of the contract consideration is probable. The Company’s revenues are measured based on the consideration specified in the contract with each customer, net of any sales incentives and taxes collected from customers that are remitted to government authorities. The Company’s system sale arrangements generally contain multiple products and services. For these bundled sale arrangements, the Company accounts for individual products and services as separate performance obligations if they are a distinct product or service that is separately identifiable from other items in bundled packages and if a customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or with other resources that are readily available to the customer. The Company’s system sale arrangements include a combination of the following performance obligations: system(s); system components; system accessories; instruments; accessories; and system service. The Company’s system sale arrangements generally include a five-year period of service. The first year of service is generally free and included in the system sale arrangement, and the remaining four years are generally included at a stated service price. The Company considers the service terms in the arrangements that are legally enforceable to be performance obligations. Other than service, the Company generally satisfies all of the performance obligations up-front. System components, system accessories, instruments, accessories, and service are also sold on a stand-alone basis. The Company recognizes revenue as the performance obligations are satisfied by transferring control of the product or service to a customer. The Company generally recognizes revenue for the performance obligations at the following points in time: System sales. For systems (including system components and system accessories) sold directly to end customers, revenue is recognized when the Company transfers control to the customer, which is generally at the point when acceptance occurs that indicates customer acknowledgment of delivery or installation, depending on the terms of the arrangement. For systems sold through distributors, revenue is recognized generally at the time of shipment. The Company’s system arrangements generally do not provide a right of return. The systems are generally covered by a one-year warranty. Warranty costs were not material for the periods presented. Instruments and accessories. Revenue from sales of instruments and accessories is recognized when control is transferred to the customers, which generally occurs at the time of shipment but also occurs at the time of delivery, depending on the customer arrangement. The Company allows its customers in the normal course of business to return unused products for a limited period of time subsequent to initial purchase and records an allowance against revenue for estimated returns. Service. Service revenue is recognized over the term of the service period, as the customer benefits from the services throughout the service period. Revenue related to services performed on a time-and-materials basis is recognized when performed. The Company offers its customers the opportunity to trade in their older systems for a credit towards the purchase of a newer generation system. The Company generally does not provide specified price trade-in rights or upgrade rights at the time of system purchase. Such trade-in or upgrade transactions are separately negotiated based on the circumstances at the time of the trade-in or upgrade, based on the then fair value of the system, and are generally not based on any pre-existing rights granted by the Company. Accordingly, such trade-ins and upgrades are not considered separate performance obligations in the arrangement for a system sale. Traded-in systems could be reconditioned and resold. The Company accounts for the fair value of the traded-in system in the total consideration in the arrangement by including the net realizable value of the traded-in system less a normal profit margin. The value of the traded-in system is determined as the amount, after reconditioning costs are added, that will allow a normal profit margin on the sale of the reconditioned unit to be generated. When there is no market for the traded-in units, no value is assigned. Traded-in units are reported as a component of inventory until resold, or otherwise disposed. In addition, customers may also have the opportunity to upgrade their systems at a price determined at the time of the upgrade, for example, by adding a second surgeon console for use with the da Vinci Surgical System. Such upgrades are performed by completing component level upgrades at the customer’s site. Upgrade revenue is recognized when the component level upgrades are complete and all revenue recognition criteria are met. For multiple-element arrangements, revenue is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. Standalone selling prices are based on observable prices at which the Company separately sells the products or services. If a standalone selling price is not directly observable, then the Company estimates the standalone selling price considering market conditions and entity-specific factors including, but not limited to, features and functionality of the products and services, geographies, and type of customer. The Company regularly reviews standalone selling prices and updates these estimates as necessary. Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer The Company has determined that certain sales incentives provided to the Company’s sales team are required to be capitalized when the Company expects to generate future economic benefits from the related revenue-generating contracts subsequent to the initial system sales transaction. When determining the economic life of the contract acquisition assets recognized, the Company considers historical service renewal rates, expectations of future customer renewals of service contracts, and other factors that could impact the economic benefits that the Company expects to generate from the relationship with its customers. The costs capitalized as contract acquisition costs included in intangible and other assets, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were $53.1 million and $51.5 million as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The Company did not incur any impairment losses during the periods presented. Intuitive System Leasing The Company enters into lease arrangements with certain qualified customers. Leases have terms that generally range from 24 to 84 months and are usually collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. The Company also leases systems to certain qualified customers under usage-based arrangements that have terms up to 84 months. For these usage-based lease arrangements, the lease fee is generally billed monthly in arrears based on a predetermined per-use fee, and usage is generally defined as the number of da Vinci procedures performed with the system. Revenue related to multiple-element arrangements are allocated to lease and non-lease elements based on their relative standalone selling prices as prescribed by the Company’s revenue recognition policy. Lease elements generally include a system or system component, while non-lease elements generally include service, instruments, and accessories. For some lease arrangements, customers are provided with the right to purchase the system leased at some point during and/or at the end of the lease term. Except for certain usage-based lease arrangements, lease arrangements generally do not provide rights for the customers to exit or terminate the lease without incurring a penalty. Certain lease arrangements may also include upgrade rights that allow customers to upgrade the leased system to newer technology at some point during the lease term. Generally, these upgrade rights do not specify the terms, including the price or structure of the future upgrade transactions, as those terms are negotiated based on the circumstances at the time of the upgrade, including the then-fair value of the system as well as other factors. In determining whether a transaction should be classified as a sales-type or operating lease, the Company considers the following terms at lease commencement: (1) whether title of the system transfers automatically or for a nominal fee by the end of the lease term, (2) whether the present value of the minimum lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the leased system, (3) whether the lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the leased system, (4) whether the lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the leased system that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise, and (5) whether the underlying system is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the Company at the end of the lease term. The Company generally recognizes revenue from sales-type lease arrangements at the time the system is accepted by the customer, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Revenue related to lease elements from sales-type leases is presented as product revenue. Revenue related to lease elements from operating lease arrangements is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term or based upon system usage and is presented as product revenue. Revenue related to usage-based arrangements is recognized as the customers utilize the systems. Other Leasing Arrangements The Company determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. For arrangements where the Company is the lessee, operating leases are included in intangible and other assets, net, other accrued liabilities, and other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020. The Company currently does not have any finance leases. Operating lease right-of-use ("ROU") assets and operating leases liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date. ROU assets also include any initial direct costs incurred and any lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, less lease incentives received. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the lease liabilities, as the Company does not have insight to the inputs necessary to calculate the implicit rate of the leases. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate when the Company is reasonably certain the option will be exercised. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company also has lease arrangements with lease and non-lease components. The Company elected the practical expedient not to separate non-lease components from lease components for the Company's real estate and automobile leases. Additionally, the Company applied a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities for the Company's automobile leases. The Company also elected to apply the short-term lease measurement and recognition exemption in which ROU assets and lease liabilities are not recognized for leases with terms of 12 months or less. Credit Losses Trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. For the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, bad debt expense was not significant. Net investment in sales-type leases. The Company enters into sales-type leases with certain qualified customers to purchase its systems. Sales-type leases have terms that generally range from 24 to 84 months and are usually collateralized by a security interest in the underlying assets. The allowance for loan loss is based on the Company's assessment of current expected lifetime loss on lease receivables. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the lease receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer's ability to pay. Lease receivables are considered past due 90 days after invoice. The Company manages the credit risk in net investment in sales-type leases using a number of factors, including, but not limited to the following: size of operations; profitability, liquidity, and debt ratios; payment history; and past due amounts. The Company also uses credit scores obtained from external providers as a key indicator for the purposes of determining credit quality. The following table presents credit quality by class of net investment in sales-type lease as of December 31, 2020. The following table summarizes the amortized cost basis by year of origination and credit quality indicator as of December 31, 2020 (in millions):
| 2020 |  | 2019 |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Prior |  | Net Investment
Credit Rating: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
High | $ | 78.0 |  |  | $ | 36.4 |  |  | $ | 12.2 |  |  | $ | 7.8 |  |  | $ | 1.5 |  |  | $ | 1.2 |  |  | $ | 137.1 |
Moderate | 74.6 |  |  | 30.1 |  |  | 18.8 |  |  | 3.6 |  |  | 2.0 |  |  | — |  |  | 129.1 |
Low | 5.7 |  |  | — |  |  | 1.1 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 1.3 |  |  | — |  |  | 8.8 |
Total | $ | 158.3 |  |  | $ | 66.5 |  |  | $ | 32.1 |  |  | $ | 12.1 |  |  | $ | 4.8 |  |  | $ | 1.2 |  |  | $ | 275.0 |
For the year ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, credit losses related to net investment in sales-type leases were not significant. Available-for-sale debt securities. The Company's investment portfolio at any point in time contains investments in U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, taxable and tax-exempt municipal notes, corporate notes and bonds, commercial paper, non-U.S. government agency securities, cash deposits, and money market funds. The Company segments its portfolio based on the underlying risk profiles of the securities and have a zero loss expectation for U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities. The Company regularly reviews the securities in an unrealized loss position and evaluates the current expected credit loss by considering factors such as historical experience, market data, issuer-specific factors, and current economic conditions. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the credit losses related to available-for-sales debt securities were not significant. For the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no credit losses recognized related to available-for-sales debt securities. The Company's exposure to credit losses may increase if its customers are adversely affected by changes in healthcare laws, coverage, and reimbursement, economic pressures or uncertainty associated with local or global economic recessions, disruption associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic, or other customer-specific factors. Although the Company has historically not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments of the carrying amount of lease and trade receivables as hospital cash flows are impacted by their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and deferral of elective surgical procedures. Allowance for Sales Returns The allowance for sales returns is based on the Company’s estimates of potential future returns of certain products related to current period product revenue. The Company analyzes historical returns, current economic trends, and changes in customer demand and acceptance of the Company’s products. Share-Based Compensation The Company accounts for share-based employee compensation plans using the fair value recognition and measurement provisions under U.S. GAAP. The Company’s share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company estimates expected forfeitures at the time of grant and revises the estimate, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimated. Expected Term: The expected term represents the weighted-average period that the stock options are expected to be outstanding prior to being exercised. The Company determines expected term based on historical exercise patterns and its expectation of the time that it will take for employees to exercise options still outstanding. Expected Volatility: The Company uses market-based implied volatility for purposes of valuing stock options granted. Market-based implied volatility is derived based on actively traded options with expirations greater than one year on the Company’s common stock. The extent to which the Company relies on market-based volatility when valuing options depends, among other things, on the availability of traded options on the Company’s stock and the term of such options. Due to sufficient volume of the traded options, the Company used 100% market-based implied volatility to value options granted, which the Company believes is more representative of future stock price trends than historical volatility. Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the stock option. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. See “Note 10. Share-Based Compensation,” for a detailed discussion of the Company’s stock plans and share-based compensation expense. Computation of Net Income per Share Basic net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. is computed using the weighted-average number of the Company’s shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential shares primarily consist of employee stock options, restricted stock units, and shares to be purchased by employees under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan. U.S. GAAP requires that employee equity share options, non-vested shares, and similar equity instruments granted by the Company be treated as potential common shares outstanding in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive effect of equity awards, which is calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options and the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized are assumed to be used to repurchase shares. Research and Development Expenses Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and include amortization of intangible assets, costs associated with co-development research and development licensing arrangements, costs of prototypes, salaries, benefits and other headcount-related costs, contract and other outside service fees, and facilities and overhead costs. Foreign Currency and Other Hedging Instruments For subsidiaries whose local currency is their functional currency, their assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates in effect during the period. Gains and losses from foreign currency translation are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For all non-functional currency account balances, the re-measurement of such balances to the functional currency results in either a foreign exchange gain or loss, which is recorded to interest and other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same accounting period that the re-measurement occurred. The Company uses derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. The terms of the Company’s derivative contracts are generally twelve months or shorter. The Company typically hedges portions of its forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and expenses. The Company may also enter into foreign currency forward contracts to offset the foreign currency exchange gains and losses generated by re-measurement of certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. The hedging program is not designated for trading or speculative purposes. The Company’s accounting policies for these instruments are based on whether the instruments are designated as hedging or non-hedging instruments. The Company records all derivatives on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are de-designated as hedges when it is probable that the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two-month time period. Gains and losses in OCI associated with such derivative instruments are reclassified immediately into earnings through interest and other income, net. Any subsequent changes in fair value of such derivative instruments also are reflected in current earnings. Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments and the ineffective portions of cash flow hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in interest and other income, net. Income Taxes Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that are expected more likely than not to be realized in the future. The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company includes interest and penalty on unrecognized tax benefits as a component of its income tax expense. The Company recognizes excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the provision for income taxes as discrete items in the period when the awards vest or are settled. The Company accounts for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) as period costs when incurred. Segments The Company operates in one segment. The chief operating decision maker regularly reviews the operating results of the Company on a consolidated basis as part of making decisions for allocating resources and evaluating performance. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, 83% and 85% of long-lived assets were in the United States, respectively. Revenue is attributed to a geographic region based on the location of the end customer. Legal Contingencies From time to time, the Company is involved in a number of legal proceedings involving product liability, intellectual property, shareholder derivative actions, securities class actions, and other matters. A liability and related charge are recorded to earnings in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for legal contingencies when the loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The assessment is re-evaluated each period and is based on all available information, including discussion with outside legal counsel. If a reasonable estimate of a known or probable loss cannot be made, but a range of probable losses can be estimated, the low-end of the range of losses is recognized if no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other. If a material loss is reasonably possible but not probable and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Company expenses legal fees as incurred. When determining the estimated probable loss or range of losses, significant judgment is required to be exercised in order to estimate the amount and timing of the loss to be recorded. Estimates of probable losses resulting from litigation are inherently difficult to make, particularly when the matters are in early procedural stages with incomplete facts and information. The final outcome of legal proceedings is dependent on many variables that are difficult to predict and, therefore, the ultimate cost to entirely resolve such matters may be materially different than the amount of current estimates. Consequently, new information or changes in judgments and estimates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations or cash flows. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Financial Instruments In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326) ("Topic 326"), which replaces existing incurred loss impairment guidance and establishes a single allowance framework for financial assets carried at amortized cost. The Company adopted Topic 326 on January 1, 2020, using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires a cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, to the opening balance of retained earnings to be recognized on the date of adoption with prior period not restated. The cumulative-effect adjustment recorded on January 1, 2020, was not material. Refer to the description of the Company's "Credit Losses" accounting policy in the "Significant Accounting Policies" section above. Recent Accounting Pronouncements The Company continues to monitor new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB and does not believe any recently issued accounting pronouncements will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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