Latest news with #RobHaworth

Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
War upends the oil trade. How it could play out.
Israel's attack on Iran early Friday sent shock waves through the oil market, which relies on the region for one-third of global supplies. The reverberations won't go away soon. Oil prices spiked 14% in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, before giving back some of those gains. Brent crude, the international benchmark oil price, rose 7% on Friday to $74.23 per barrel. Based on recent history, oil's rise might seem fleeting. For most of the past three years—since the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war—geopolitical events haven't had a lasting impact on oil prices. The Israel-Hamas war and continuing violence in Ukraine have barely impacted the oil market, because they didn't dramatically affect supply and demand. But the price shock from the Israel-Iran conflict could last weeks because major oil infrastructure could be in the line of fire. 'It is something that seems like prices could remain elevated for some time," says Rob Haworth, who oversees investment strategy for U.S. Bank Asset Management Group. If the conflict grows substantially, analysts have predicted oil prices could surge over $100 per barrel, and perhaps as high as $120. The extent of the price-move depends on how the war escalates. Israel didn't directly strike Iran's oil infrastructure on Friday, but some analysts expect Israel to hit those facilities if the war continues. Iran, for its part, is in a position to disrupt oil shipments in the region, which could cause prices to spike even more. Iran produces about 3.2 million barrels of oil a day, and exports between 1.5 million and two million barrels of it. That is a significant piece of the 103 million barrels of global oil production, but not enough to completely disrupt the market. Israel isn't a major player, historically pumping less than 10,000 barrels a day. Israel could disrupt production if it hits Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which houses much of Iran's oil export infrastructure. Iran, in turn, has plenty of ways to respond that could affect the oil market even more. Iran and the military groups it supports, including the Houthis in Yemen, could create much wider disarray. After the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023, the Houthis attacked ships in the Red Sea—some of those carried energy products—causing a brief spike in the price of oil. But the Red Sea doesn't transport that much oil. The most important waterway is the Persian Gulf, which sits between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran and its proxies could block the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and which offers access to markets all over the world. Thirty percent of the world's seaborne oil trade flows through it. China, which buys more of Iran's oil than any other country, is particularly dependent on supplies that come through the strait. Financial firm Lazard thinks oil prices would surge above $120 if the strait is blocked, and the U.S. would probably have to get involved to unblock it. Lazard thinks a short disruption to the strait is possible but considers an extended blockade 'highly unlikely due to catastrophic internal and international consequences and the ability of the U.S. Navy to intervene to open up the strait." Given its location and military capabilities, Iran could impact the market in other ways. Two Saudi Arabian oil facilities were damaged in military strikes in 2019, severely curtailing oil production, and Iran was believed to be behind the attacks. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have eased since then, but Iran could widen the conflict again by hitting Saudi facilities. J.P. Morgan analyst Natasha Kaneva thinks a wider Middle East conflict would cause an oil shock that could take prices over $120. Based on how oil traders reacted to the latest escalation of the war, she thinks the market is implying a 17% chance of a much more severe impact. Such a dramatic price spike feels like a long shot. The overall oil supply-demand picture is still bearish, with global oil supply set to outpace demand this year because of expected production hikes from members of OPEC. 'We expect, absent a wider war, today's rise in prices will likely prove to be a sell-the-news event," wrote Morningstar analyst Allen Good. The conflict, and its higher oil prices, isn't a reason for investors to pile into energy stocks, but it's a reminder of why they can be important pieces of a portfolio. Oil stocks jumped on Friday, even as the broader market and some Big Tech names fell. Exxon Mobil was up 2.2%, and Occidental Petroleum rose 3.8%. 'When tech stalls out, there's a natural rotation to energy companies," says Jay Hatfield, portfolio manager of the Infrastructure Capital Equity Income exchange-traded fund. 'They're actually pretty good hedges." Hatfield's fund owns Exxon and Chevron, which he thinks offer investors exposure to the industry without as much risk as smaller names. Oil's gains may well fizzle out eventually. But this war appears to be far from over, and oil is right in the middle of it. Write to Avi Salzman at
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US stocks end lower, focus now on Nvidia results
STORY: U.S stocks finished lower Wednesday with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all losing about half of one percent each. Shares of chipmakers including Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys fell in late trading. The Financial Times reported that the Trump administration has ordered U.S. firms that offer software used to design semiconductors to stop selling their services to Chinese groups. Other chip companies are dealing with U.S. government controls on their work, too. Nvidia said after the market close that it expects an $8 billion hit to sales from tighter U.S. curbs on exports of its AI chips to China, a key semiconductor market. Nvidia did beat quarterly sales expectations and its shares, which closed down half of one percent in regular trading, were up after-hours. Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director with U.S. Bank Asset Management Group, says Nvidia's results are hugely important for the market. "Nvidia's significance to the market is still fairly large. They're no longer the largest company in the S&P 500, but they really sit at the center of artificial intelligence demand and supply at this point and so I think that's going to have a significant impact around it on the companies around it, right, the ecosystem around it. Particularly, it will tell us a lot about how other companies are doing." Meanwhile, Investors also assessed the minutes of the Federal Reserve's May meeting. U.S. central bank officials acknowledged they could face "difficult tradeoffs" in coming months in the form of rising inflation alongside rising unemployment.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Danaher Corporation (DHR): One of the Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires
We recently published a list of 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) stands against other best healthcare stocks to invest in. Healthcare stocks experienced a challenging year in 2024, lagging behind high-growth sectors like tech and AI. Market uncertainties and policy challenges also created obstacles for certain segments within the industry. In the first half of the year, investors focused on technology and communication services, drawing attention away from healthcare. While the sector showed some improvement in the latter half as the market rally expanded, certain segments continued to struggle with supply and demand imbalances caused by the pandemic. One major factor was the increased demand for delayed medical procedures, as patients sought treatments they had postponed. This benefited healthcare facilities and medical device manufacturers but put financial pressure on managed-care insurers. Additionally, companies specializing in life sciences tools and services faced lower demand, as COVID-19 testing declined and pandemic-related inventory levels were still being reduced. Policy concerns also weighed on the sector, particularly for insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans, as reimbursement rates fell short. Uncertainty surrounding upcoming elections further contributed to the healthcare sector's struggles. On a positive note, innovation remained strong, as the biotech industry saw promising clinical developments, and advancements in treatments for conditions like obesity and diabetes fueled significant growth in the pharmaceutical sector. In the first quarter of 2025, healthcare stocks were among the strongest performers in the S&P index, outpacing the broader market. This marks a sharp contrast to their struggles in recent years. In 2024, the healthcare sector saw a modest gain of 2.06%, trailing the market's 25.02% return. A similar pattern was seen in 2023, with healthcare stocks rising just 2% while the overall market climbed 26%. Despite these challenges, healthcare remains a vital part of the economy, driven by increasing demand for medical products and services as the population ages. It is the fourth largest sector in the market, following technology, financials, and consumer discretionary. In the Russell MidCap Index, which tracks about 800 companies, healthcare ranks fifth, while in the small-cap Russell Index, it holds the third spot behind industrials and financials. Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director for US Bank Asset Management, said: 'Investors can gain exposure to the healthcare sector by owning the S&P 500 through a passively managed index fund or ETF. Investors may also want to take a more selective approach, as the record demonstrates there can be varied performance within the healthcare sector.' Investors are taking a cautious approach as they assess potential policy shifts under the new administration. With a change in leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, major healthcare companies could face greater scrutiny and may need to adjust to evolving policies. As the Trump administration's policies come into focus, concerns are emerging over potential budget cuts that could directly affect healthcare organizations. With the Department of Government Efficiency tasked with cutting $1 trillion from a $6 trillion budget, reductions in healthcare spending appear likely. On January 17, the House Ways and Means Committee released a list of possible cuts to support the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among the proposals are eliminating the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds and potentially revoking the nonprofit status of hospitals and health systems. At the same time, hospital mergers and acquisitions have been steadily rebounding from pandemic-era lows, despite strict federal antitrust policies. However, it remains to be seen how future changes in regulatory leadership might influence M&A activity. Despite policy concerns, some billionaire investors remain confident in the healthcare sector's future. Carl Cook, with an estimated net worth of $10.3 billion, is among the wealthiest figures in the healthcare industry. He took over as CEO of his family's medical device company in 2011 following his father's death. In 2017, the company sold one of its subsidiaries to a drug delivery technology firm for $950 million. Cook also serves as president of a life sciences division focused on developing a cell therapy for urinary incontinence. Another billionaire investor in the healthcare sector is Ronda Stryker, with a net worth of $8.4 billion. Known for her contributions to medical technology and philanthropy, she has played a major role in advancing healthcare innovation. As the granddaughter of Dr. Homer Stryker, founder of a medical technology firm, she is committed to improving lives through medical advancements and social initiatives. A healthcare professional in a lab coat holding a microscope and looking at a slide under the lens. To collect data for this article, we scanned Insider Monkey's database of billionaires' stock holdings and picked the top 10 companies operating in the healthcare sector with the highest number of billionaire investors in Q4 of 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order based on the number of billionaire investors. We have also mentioned the value of billionaire holdings for further insight. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Billionaire Investors: 18 Value of Billionaire Holdings: $3.8 billion Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR) develops, produces, and sells professional, industrial, medical, and research products and services across the US, China, and other markets. The company operates through its Biotechnology, Life Sciences, and Diagnostics segments. On February 20, the company's board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. It is to be paid on April 25, to shareholders on record as of March 28. This represents an 18.5% increase from the prior dividend of $0.27 per share. Danaher has consistently paid dividends for at least 30 years, placing it among the best healthcare stocks. For the fourth quarter of 2024, Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR)'s sales amounted to $6.5 billion, reflecting 1% core revenue growth driven by strong demand for consumables used in commercialized therapies. The adjusted operating profit margin improved by 90 basis points to 29.6% due to cost-saving measures. Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 2.4% year-over-year to $2.14, with free cash flow reaching $1.5 billion for the quarter. Over the full year, Danaher generated $5.3 billion in free cash flow, achieving a free cash flow to net income conversion ratio of approximately 135%. On January 9, Danaher Diagnostics LLC and Danaher Ventures LLC, both subsidiaries of Danaher Corporation (NYSE:DHR), announced a partnership with healthcare AI company Innovaccer Inc. As part of this investment collaboration, Danaher, Innovaccer, and its network of healthcare systems aim to enhance the use of precision diagnostics among clinicians and population health teams, promoting value-based care. Overall, DHR ranks 5th on our list of the best healthcare stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of DHR to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DHR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): The Best Healthcare Stock to Buy According to Billionaires
We recently published a list of 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) stands against other best healthcare stocks to invest in. Healthcare stocks experienced a challenging year in 2024, lagging behind high-growth sectors like tech and AI. Market uncertainties and policy challenges also created obstacles for certain segments within the industry. In the first half of the year, investors focused on technology and communication services, drawing attention away from healthcare. While the sector showed some improvement in the latter half as the market rally expanded, certain segments continued to struggle with supply and demand imbalances caused by the pandemic. One major factor was the increased demand for delayed medical procedures, as patients sought treatments they had postponed. This benefited healthcare facilities and medical device manufacturers but put financial pressure on managed-care insurers. Additionally, companies specializing in life sciences tools and services faced lower demand, as COVID-19 testing declined and pandemic-related inventory levels were still being reduced. Policy concerns also weighed on the sector, particularly for insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans, as reimbursement rates fell short. Uncertainty surrounding upcoming elections further contributed to the healthcare sector's struggles. On a positive note, innovation remained strong, as the biotech industry saw promising clinical developments, and advancements in treatments for conditions like obesity and diabetes fueled significant growth in the pharmaceutical sector. In the first quarter of 2025, healthcare stocks were among the strongest performers in the S&P index, outpacing the broader market. This marks a sharp contrast to their struggles in recent years. In 2024, the healthcare sector saw a modest gain of 2.06%, trailing the market's 25.02% return. A similar pattern was seen in 2023, with healthcare stocks rising just 2% while the overall market climbed 26%. Despite these challenges, healthcare remains a vital part of the economy, driven by increasing demand for medical products and services as the population ages. It is the fourth largest sector in the market, following technology, financials, and consumer discretionary. In the Russell MidCap Index, which tracks about 800 companies, healthcare ranks fifth, while in the small-cap Russell Index, it holds the third spot behind industrials and financials. Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director for US Bank Asset Management, said: 'Investors can gain exposure to the healthcare sector by owning the S&P 500 through a passively managed index fund or ETF. Investors may also want to take a more selective approach, as the record demonstrates there can be varied performance within the healthcare sector.' Investors are taking a cautious approach as they assess potential policy shifts under the new administration. With a change in leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, major healthcare companies could face greater scrutiny and may need to adjust to evolving policies. As the Trump administration's policies come into focus, concerns are emerging over potential budget cuts that could directly affect healthcare organizations. With the Department of Government Efficiency tasked with cutting $1 trillion from a $6 trillion budget, reductions in healthcare spending appear likely. On January 17, the House Ways and Means Committee released a list of possible cuts to support the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among the proposals are eliminating the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds and potentially revoking the nonprofit status of hospitals and health systems. At the same time, hospital mergers and acquisitions have been steadily rebounding from pandemic-era lows, despite strict federal antitrust policies. However, it remains to be seen how future changes in regulatory leadership might influence M&A activity. Despite policy concerns, some billionaire investors remain confident in the healthcare sector's future. Carl Cook, with an estimated net worth of $10.3 billion, is among the wealthiest figures in the healthcare industry. He took over as CEO of his family's medical device company in 2011 following his father's death. In 2017, the company sold one of its subsidiaries to a drug delivery technology firm for $950 million. Cook also serves as president of a life sciences division focused on developing a cell therapy for urinary incontinence. Another billionaire investor in the healthcare sector is Ronda Stryker, with a net worth of $8.4 billion. Known for her contributions to medical technology and philanthropy, she has played a major role in advancing healthcare innovation. As the granddaughter of Dr. Homer Stryker, founder of a medical technology firm, she is committed to improving lives through medical advancements and social initiatives. A scientist in a lab running tests on a variety of biopharmaceuticals. To collect data for this article, we scanned Insider Monkey's database of billionaires' stock holdings and picked the top 10 companies operating in the healthcare sector with the highest number of billionaire investors in Q4 of 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order based on the number of billionaire investors. We have also mentioned the value of billionaire holdings for further insight. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Billionaire Investors: 23 Value of Billionaire Holdings: $13.7 billion Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), a global pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, develops and markets medications across the US, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions. On February 26, Eli Lilly announced plans to invest at least $27 billion in building four new manufacturing facilities in the United States to meet the growing demand for its weight loss and diabetes treatments while also advancing new drug development. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) had a strong year in 2024, with annual revenue rising 32% from the previous year, surpassing its initial guidance by $4 billion. In the fourth quarter alone, revenue grew by 45%, driven by the success of newly launched products, which contributed over $3.1 billion, led by the rapid adoption of Mounjaro and Zepbound. Eli Lilly also saw solid growth in oncology, immunology, and neuroscience, while revenue from its non-incretin portfolio increased by 20%. Gross margin improved to 83.2% in the fourth quarter due to a favorable product mix. Research and development expenses rose by 18% due to investments in early and late-stage projects. Operating income more than doubled, reaching $5.6 billion, fueled by strong sales from new products. On February 28, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended approval of Jaypirca (pirtobrutinib), a reversible Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. The treatment is intended for adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have previously received a BTK inhibitor. The recommendation now awaits the European Commission's final review, which, if favorable, could serve as a significant catalyst for LLY. Overall, LLY ranks 1st on our list of the best healthcare stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of LLY to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than LLY but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) One of the Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires?
We recently published a list of 10 Best Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) stands against other best healthcare stocks to invest in. Healthcare stocks experienced a challenging year in 2024, lagging behind high-growth sectors like tech and AI. Market uncertainties and policy challenges also created obstacles for certain segments within the industry. In the first half of the year, investors focused on technology and communication services, drawing attention away from healthcare. While the sector showed some improvement in the latter half as the market rally expanded, certain segments continued to struggle with supply and demand imbalances caused by the pandemic. One major factor was the increased demand for delayed medical procedures, as patients sought treatments they had postponed. This benefited healthcare facilities and medical device manufacturers but put financial pressure on managed-care insurers. Additionally, companies specializing in life sciences tools and services faced lower demand, as COVID-19 testing declined and pandemic-related inventory levels were still being reduced. Policy concerns also weighed on the sector, particularly for insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans, as reimbursement rates fell short. Uncertainty surrounding upcoming elections further contributed to the healthcare sector's struggles. On a positive note, innovation remained strong, as the biotech industry saw promising clinical developments, and advancements in treatments for conditions like obesity and diabetes fueled significant growth in the pharmaceutical sector. In the first quarter of 2025, healthcare stocks were among the strongest performers in the S&P index, outpacing the broader market. This marks a sharp contrast to their struggles in recent years. In 2024, the healthcare sector saw a modest gain of 2.06%, trailing the market's 25.02% return. A similar pattern was seen in 2023, with healthcare stocks rising just 2% while the overall market climbed 26%. Despite these challenges, healthcare remains a vital part of the economy, driven by increasing demand for medical products and services as the population ages. It is the fourth largest sector in the market, following technology, financials, and consumer discretionary. In the Russell MidCap Index, which tracks about 800 companies, healthcare ranks fifth, while in the small-cap Russell Index, it holds the third spot behind industrials and financials. Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director for US Bank Asset Management, said: 'Investors can gain exposure to the healthcare sector by owning the S&P 500 through a passively managed index fund or ETF. Investors may also want to take a more selective approach, as the record demonstrates there can be varied performance within the healthcare sector.' Investors are taking a cautious approach as they assess potential policy shifts under the new administration. With a change in leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, major healthcare companies could face greater scrutiny and may need to adjust to evolving policies. As the Trump administration's policies come into focus, concerns are emerging over potential budget cuts that could directly affect healthcare organizations. With the Department of Government Efficiency tasked with cutting $1 trillion from a $6 trillion budget, reductions in healthcare spending appear likely. On January 17, the House Ways and Means Committee released a list of possible cuts to support the extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Among the proposals are eliminating the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds and potentially revoking the nonprofit status of hospitals and health systems. At the same time, hospital mergers and acquisitions have been steadily rebounding from pandemic-era lows, despite strict federal antitrust policies. However, it remains to be seen how future changes in regulatory leadership might influence M&A activity. Despite policy concerns, some billionaire investors remain confident in the healthcare sector's future. Carl Cook, with an estimated net worth of $10.3 billion, is among the wealthiest figures in the healthcare industry. He took over as CEO of his family's medical device company in 2011 following his father's death. In 2017, the company sold one of its subsidiaries to a drug delivery technology firm for $950 million. Cook also serves as president of a life sciences division focused on developing a cell therapy for urinary incontinence. Another billionaire investor in the healthcare sector is Ronda Stryker, with a net worth of $8.4 billion. Known for her contributions to medical technology and philanthropy, she has played a major role in advancing healthcare innovation. As the granddaughter of Dr. Homer Stryker, founder of a medical technology firm, she is committed to improving lives through medical advancements and social initiatives. A medical team performing minimally invasive surgery with a da Vinci Surgical System. To collect data for this article, we scanned Insider Monkey's database of billionaires' stock holdings and picked the top 10 companies operating in the healthcare sector with the highest number of billionaire investors in Q4 of 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order based on the number of billionaire investors. We have also mentioned the value of billionaire holdings for further insight. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Billionaire Investors: 18 Value of Billionaire Holdings: $5 billion Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), a California-based company, develops and markets technologies that help physicians and healthcare providers improve the quality and accessibility of minimally invasive care in the US and globally. On January 24, RBC Capital Markets reaffirmed its positive stance on the stock, maintaining an Outperform rating and setting a price target of $641 on the shares. Analysts appreciated the firm's strong fourth-quarter performance in 2024. ISRG ranks high on our list of the best healthcare stocks to invest in. In 2024, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) reported $8.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a 17% increase from 2023, with 84% of it being recurring. Operating expenses remained at the lower end of their estimated range, while product margins improved due to higher shipment volumes, better factory utilization, and cost efficiencies in components, shipping, and logistics. As a result, net income rose by 29% compared to the previous year. For the fourth quarter, revenue reached $2.41 billion, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. Systems revenue grew by 36%, driven by a 19% rise in da Vinci system placements, a higher average selling price, and a greater mix of purchases. By the end of the year, the company held $8.8 billion in cash and investments, up from $8.3 billion in the third quarter. This increase was due to cash generated from operations, partially offset by $312 million in capital expenditures. On January 27, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) announced a $45 million donation to the Intuitive Foundation to further its mission of reducing disease and suffering worldwide. The funds will support philanthropic initiatives, research, and education aimed at improving patient outcomes. With this contribution, Intuitive's total donations to the Foundation since its establishment in 2018 have surpassed $170 million. Overall, ISRG ranks 3rd on our list of the best healthcare stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of ISRG to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that certain AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ISRG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.