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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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 ventures, Intuitive Surgical-Fosun Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Intuitive Surgical-Fosun (HongKong) Co., Ltd. (collectively, the “Joint Venture”) with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (“Fosun Pharma”). 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 and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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, the standalone selling prices used to allocate the contract consideration to the individual performance obligations, the valuation of inventory, the valuation of and assessment of the recoverability of intangible assets and goodwill, the recognition and measurement of current and deferred income taxes, including the measurement of uncertain tax positions, 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, 2024, and 2023, 66% and 65%, respectively, of accounts receivable were from domestic customers.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, domestic revenue accounted for 67%, 66%, and 67% of total revenue, respectively, while OUS revenue accounted for 33%, 34%, and 33%, respectively, of total revenue for each of the years then ended.
The Company’s future results of operations and liquidity could be materially adversely affected by uncertainty surrounding macroeconomic and geopolitical factors in the U.S. and globally, characterized by the supply chain environment, inflationary pressure, elevated interest rates, disruptions in the commodities’ markets as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, including Israel and Iran, and the introduction of or changes in tariffs or trade barriers.
Supply chain constraints have generally improved to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, with some isolated residual stresses, particularly for engineered raw materials and at certain subcontract suppliers that are operationally challenged to meet the
Company’s production requirements. These isolated instances did not have a material impact during 2024. Additionally, material and labor prices to produce some components remain elevated from historical levels due to market dynamics, demand mix, or general cost inflation within the supply chain. With elevated interest rates, access to credit is more difficult, and any insolvency of certain suppliers, including sole- and single-sourced suppliers, may have heightened continuity risks. Incidents of cybersecurity breaches, which have not significantly impacted the Company’s supply chain to date, also remain an active threat to sustained supply continuity. The Company is actively engaged in activities that seek to mitigate the impact of any supply chain risks and disruptions on its operations.
Some hospitals continue to experience challenges with staffing and cost pressures that could affect their ability to provide patient care. Additionally, certain hospitals are facing significant financial pressure as supply chain constraints and inflation have driven up operating costs, and elevated interest rates have made access to credit more expensive. Hospitals may also be adversely affected by the liquidity concerns as a result of the broader macroeconomic environment. Any or all of these factors could negatively impact the number of da Vinci procedures performed or surgical systems placed and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, or results of operations. As of the date of issuance of these Consolidated Financial Statements, the extent to which these macroeconomic factors may materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations is uncertain.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity from the date of purchase of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
Amounts included in restricted cash primarily relate to the Company’s insurance programs and certain employee-related benefits. Restricted cash included in prepaids and other current assets as of December 31, 2024, and 2023 was $20.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Restricted cash included in intangible and other assets, net, as of both December 31, 2024, and 2023, was $15.0 million.
Investments
Available-for-sale debt securities. The Company’s investments may consist of money market funds, U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, high-quality corporate notes and bonds, commercial paper, non-U.S. government agency securities, and taxable and tax-exempt municipal notes. The Company has designated all investments as available-for-sale and, therefore, the investments are subject to periodic impairment under the available-for-sale debt security impairment model. Available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position are written down to fair value through a charge to interest and 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. A decline in fair value attributable to expected credit losses is recorded to interest and other income, net, while any portion of the loss related to non-credit factors is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For securities sold prior to maturity, the cost of the 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 the date of purchase greater than 90 days and remaining maturities as of the reporting period of less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as long-term investments.
Equity investments. From time to time, the Company holds equity investments with readily determinable fair values and equity investments without readily determinable fair values. The Company recognizes equity investments with readily determinable fair values at the quoted market price with changes in value recorded in interest and other income, net. The Company generally recognizes equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer.
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, or have been, 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 its 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, down to the estimated salvage value, if any. The salvage value of operating lease assets is estimated based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the lease term, technological obsolescence, and the expected future demand for refurbished systems.
Depreciation is recognized over the following estimated useful lives:
 Useful Lives
Building
Up to 30 years
Building improvements
Up to 15 years
Leasehold improvementsLesser of useful life or term of lease
Equipment and furniture
5 years
Operating lease assets
1 to 7 years
Computer and office equipment
3 to 5 years
Enterprise-wide software
5 to 8 years
Purchased software
Lesser of 3 years or life of license
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, was $439 million, $382 million, and $326 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, which 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 8 years 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.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company recognized $10.8 million, $10.2 million, and $6.4 million of amortization expense associated with capitalized implementation costs, respectively.
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 3 to 8 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, and 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 the 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 at a point in time. System components, system accessories, instruments, accessories, and service are also sold on a stand-alone basis.
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, historical pricing data, 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.
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 in the following manner:
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 could occur at the time of delivery, depending on the customer arrangement. The Company generally allows its customers in the normal course of business to return unused products for a limited period of time subsequent to the 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.
Transactions involving system trade-ins
Customers can negotiate to trade in their older systems for a credit towards the purchase of a newer generation system. Such trade-in transactions are generally not based on any pre-existing rights granted by the Company and are generally negotiated separately based on the circumstances at the time of the trade-in and based on the then-fair value of the underlying system. Accordingly, such trade-ins are generally not considered separate performance obligations.
When a specified-price trade-in right is granted at the time of a system purchase, it generally provides for a trade-in credit that declines over time and requires the customer to enter into a new purchase agreement to exercise that right. The Company accounts for such rights as a guarantee and reduces the total consideration by the fair value of that guarantee. The remaining consideration is then allocated to each performance obligation based on their relative fair value. The liability recognized for these guarantees was not material for any of the years presented.
Traded-in systems can generally be reconditioned and resold. The Company accounts for the fair value of the traded-in system as additional consideration. When there is no market for the traded-in system, no value is assigned. The value of the traded-in system is reported as a component of inventory until resold.
Purchases of system components
Customers have the opportunity to add additional features to their systems at a price that is separately negotiated, for example, by adding a second surgeon console for use with the da Vinci surgical system. Revenue is recognized when the component level features have been provided and all revenue recognition criteria are met.
Assets Recognized from the Cost 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 sales transaction. When determining the economic life of the contract acquisition assets recognized, the Company considers historical contract renewal rates, expectations of future contract renewals, and other factors that could impact the economic benefits that the Company expects to generate from that arrangement. Capitalized contract acquisition costs are recorded within intangible and other assets, net and are amortized over their economic life on a straight-line basis. The amounts capitalized as contract acquisition costs were $110.9 million and $89.3 million as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company recognized $37.7 million, $33.0 million, and $26.6 million of amortization expense associated with contract acquisition assets, 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 12 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 of up to 84 months. For these usage-based lease arrangements, the lease fee is generally billed monthly in arrears based on a contractual per-use fee where usage is generally defined as the number of 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. For some lease arrangements, customers are provided with the right to purchase the leased system at some point during and/or at the end of the lease term. Except for 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 and are subject to negotiation and mutual agreement of terms based on the circumstances at the time of the upgrade, including the then-fair value of the system as well as other factors. System upgrade transactions generally will result in a modification of the existing lease. The Company accounts for lease modifications at the time a new or amended contract is executed.
In determining whether a transaction should be classified as a sales-type or operating lease (whether fixed-payment or usage-based), 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 fixed-payment operating lease arrangements is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is presented as product revenue. Revenue related to lease elements from usage-based arrangements is recognized as the customers utilize the systems and is presented as product revenue.
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, 2024. The Company currently does not have any finance leases.
Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease 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 into 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 collectibility of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, 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, 2024, and 2023, bad debt expense was not material.
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 the current expected lifetime loss on lease receivables. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, 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 of the net investment in sales-type leases using a number of factors relating to our customers, 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 summarizes the amortized cost basis by year of origination and by credit quality for the net investment in sales-type leases as of December 31, 2024 (in millions):
20242023202220212020PriorNet Investment
Credit Rating:
High$73.2 $30.0 $41.7 $31.4 $7.4 $0.7 $184.4 
Moderate82.8 23.7 43.1 27.5 11.2 1.1 189.4 
Low2.1 1.0 0.9 1.5 0.2 — 5.7 
Total$158.1 $54.7 $85.7 $60.4 $18.8 $1.8 $379.5 
For the year ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, credit losses related to the net investment in sales-type leases were not material.
The Company’s exposure to credit losses may increase if its customers are adversely affected by changes in healthcare laws, procedure coverage, and reimbursement, economic pressures or uncertainty associated with local or global economic recessions, disruption associated with COVID-19, 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 trade and lease receivables as hospital cash flows are impacted by macroeconomic factors, including inflation, high interest rates, and staffing shortages.
Available-for-sale debt 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, financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, the extent of the loss related to the credit of the issuer, and the expected cash flows from the security. The Company segments its portfolio based on the underlying risk profiles of the securities and has a zero-loss expectation for U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities. The basis for this assumption is that these securities have consistently high credit ratings by rating agencies, have a long history with no credit losses, are explicitly guaranteed by a sovereign entity, which can print its own currency, and are denominated in a currency that is routinely held by central banks, used in international commerce, and commonly viewed as a reserve currency. Additionally, all of the Company’s investments in corporate debt securities and municipal securities are in securities with high-quality credit ratings, which have historically experienced low rates of default. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, credit losses related to available-for-sale debt securities were not material.
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 grants long-term equity awards under its stock-based compensation plans to certain employees and non-employee directors of the Company. These awards include restricted stock units, stock options, and performance stock units. The Company accounts for share-based compensation plans using the fair value recognition and measurement provisions under 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.
Restricted stock units. The fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is determined based on the closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant.
Stock options. The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model is used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted and utilizes the following inputs: (1) closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant; (2) expected term; (3) expected volatility; and (4) risk-free interest rate.
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 a sufficient volume of 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.
Performance stock units. Performance stock units (“PSUs”) include predefined performance and market conditions. The fair value of performance stock units with performance conditions is based on the closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The Company estimates the number of awards with performance conditions that will ultimately vest based on the probability of achievement each quarter to determine the amount of compensation expense to recognize each reporting period. The fair value of performance stock units that include a market condition is determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model.
Employee stock purchase plan. The fair value of shares to be issued under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) is computed using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model at the commencement of an offering period in February and August of each year utilizing the following inputs: (1) closing quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the initial date of the offering period; (2) expected term; (3) expected volatility; and (4) risk-free interest rate. Share-based compensation for the ESPP is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the two-year offering period.
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 RSUs, stock options, PSUs, and shares to be purchased by employees under the Company’s ESPP.
Employee equity share options, non-vested shares, and similar equity instruments granted by the Company are 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 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 monetary 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 thirteen 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 the 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 the 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 Consolidated 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.
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, employees, 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 any outside legal counsel that represents the Company. 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
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires all public entities, including public entities with a single reportable segment, to provide in interim and annual periods one or more measures of segment profit or loss used by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Additionally, the standard requires disclosures of significant segment expenses and other segment items as well as incremental qualitative disclosures.
Intuitive adopted ASU 2023-07 effective December 31, 2024, on a retrospective basis. The adoption of 2023-07 did not change the way that the Company identifies its reportable segments and, as a result, did not have a material impact on the Company’s segment-related disclosures. Refer to Note 13 for further information on Intuitive’s reportable segment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires enhanced income tax disclosures, including specific categories and disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation, disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The requirements of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on our related disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disclosure about the types of costs and expenses included in certain expense captions presented on the income statement. The new disclosure requirements are effective for the Company’s annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on our related disclosures.
The Company continues to monitor new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB and does not believe any accounting pronouncements issued through the date of this report will have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.