Intuitive Surgical Announces Record $45.2 Million Fourth Quarter Revenue, Up 64% and $11.7 Million Net Income, $0.32 per Share

February 8, 2005 at 4:08 PM EST

SUNNYVALE, CA, Feb. 08, 2005 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG), the industry leader in surgical robotics, today reported record fourth quarter 2004 sales of $45.2 million, increasing 64% from $27.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. Higher sales were driven by higher da Vinci(R) Surgical System shipments and continued recurring revenue growth.

Intuitive sold 25 da Vinci(R) Surgical Systems during the fourth quarter of 2004, compared to 18 in the fourth quarter of 2003. Fourth quarter 2004 system revenue increased to $27.1 million from $17.5 million during the fourth quarter 2003. Intuitive ended the fourth quarter 2004 with 286 cumulative da Vinci(R) Surgical Systems sold, compared to 210 at the end of the fourth quarter 2003.

Fourth quarter 2004 recurring revenue, consisting of instrument, accessory, service and training revenue, increased to $18.1 million from $10.1 million during the fourth quarter 2003. Recurring revenue growth resulted from the larger installed base of da Vinci(R) Surgical Systems and increased system usage.

Total sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 were $138.8 million, up 51% from $91.7 million in 2003. Recurring revenue totaled $60.0 million in 2004, compared to $29.9 million in 2003. Intuitive sold 76 total da Vinci(R) Surgical Systems in 2004 compared to 61 systems in 2003. The following table compares fourth quarter and fiscal year 2004 revenue to the prior year.

Three Months Ended,        Fiscal Year Ended,
                      12/31/04 12/31/03 Increase 12/31/04 12/31/03 Increase
                      -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Revenue ($Millions)
Systems                 $27.1    $17.5   $ 9.6    $ 78.8    $61.8   $17.0
Instruments/Accessories $11.6    $ 6.1   $ 5.5    $ 37.6    $18.8   $18.8
Service/Training        $ 6.5    $ 4.0   $ 2.5    $ 22.4    $11.1   $11.3
                        -----    -----   -----    ------    -----   -----
                        $45.2    $27.6   $17.6    $138.8    $91.7   $47.1
                        =====    =====   =====    ======    =====   =====
da Vinci(R) Surgical System Unit Sales
Period Unit Sales          25       18       7        76       61      15
Cumulative Unit Sales     286      210      76       286      210      76

Gross profit increased to $29.8 million, or 65.9% of sales, for the fourth quarter 2004, compared to $9.5 million, or 34.6% of sales, for the fourth quarter 2003, which was negatively impacted by $5.9 million, or 21.3% of sales, due to non-recurring Computer Motion write-downs and the Brookhill Wilk settlement charge. Higher fourth quarter 2004 gross profit was driven by leveraging overhead costs across higher fourth quarter revenue.

Fourth quarter 2004 operating expenses of $18.9 million were $3.7 million higher than the fourth quarter 2003.

The company reported fourth quarter 2004 net income of $11.7 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $4.9 million, or ($0.16) per diluted share for the fourth quarter 2003. Intuitive reported fiscal year 2004 net income of $23.5 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $9.6 million, or ($0.41) per diluted share in fiscal 2003.

Intuitive was $10.8 million cash flow positive for the fourth quarter 2004, ending the period with $132.0 million in cash and short-term investments.

Commenting on the announcement, Lonnie Smith, Chairman and CEO of Intuitive Surgical said, "We are pleased with our fourth quarter results and our 2004 accomplishments. This has been an outstanding year for Intuitive Surgical."

The company will also announce these results at a conference call today at 1:30 pm PST. The dial-in numbers for the call are 877-909-3508 for participants located in the U.S. and 484-630-4228 for participants located outside the U.S. The passcode is ISRG and the meeting leader is Mr. Lonnie Smith. To access financial information that will be discussed on the call, please visit Intuitive Surgical's website at www.intuitivesurgical.com.

About Intuitive's Products:

The da Vinci(R) Surgical System consists of a surgeon's viewing and control console having an integrated, high-performance InSite(R) 3-D vision system, a patient-side cart consisting of three or four robotic arms that position and precisely maneuver endoscopic instruments and an endoscope, and a variety of articulating EndoWrist(R) Instruments. By integrating computer-enhanced technology with surgeons' technical skills, Intuitive believes that its system enables surgeons to perform better surgery in a manner never before experienced. The da Vinci(R) Surgical System seamlessly and directly translates the surgeon's natural hand, wrist and finger movements on instrument controls at the surgeon's console outside the patient's body into corresponding micro-movements of the instrument tips positioned inside the patient through small puncture incisions, or ports.

The Aesop(R) Endoscope Positioner is a voice-activated robotic arm that automates the critical task of endoscope positioning, providing the surgeon with direct control over a smooth, precise and stable view of the internal surgical field.

The Hermes(R) Control Center is a centralized system designed to voice control a series of networked "smart" medical devices.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors, including the following: timing and success of product development and market acceptance of developed products; regulatory approvals, clearances and restrictions; guidelines and recommendations in the health care and patient communities; intellectual property positions and litigation; competition in the medical device industry and in the specific markets of surgery in which Intuitive Surgical operates; and unanticipated manufacturing disruptions, delays in regulatory approvals of new manufacturing facilities or the inability to meet demand for products. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Intuitive(R), da Vinci(R), InSite(R), EndoWrist(R), Hermes(R), and Aesop(R) are registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    (UNAUDITED)
                          Three Months Ended,     Fiscal Year Ended,
                         12/31/04    12/31/03    12/31/04    12/31/03
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Sales:
  Products              $  38,754   $  23,627   $ 116,338   $  80,586
  Services                  6,440       3,966      22,465      11,089
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Total sales                45,194      27,593     138,803      91,675
Cost of sales:
  Products                 12,601      15,901      40,472      39,977
  Services                  2,789       2,156      10,341       7,669
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Total cost of sales        15,390      18,057      50,813      47,646
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
  Gross profit             29,804       9,536      87,990      44,029
  Gross profit %             65.9%       34.6%       63.4%       48.0%
Operating costs and
 expenses:
  Selling, general,
   and administrative      14,616      10,417      48,994      39,719
  Research and
   development              4,241       4,732      17,812      16,190
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
    Total operating
     costs and expenses    18,857      15,149      66,806      55,909
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Income (loss) from
 operations                10,947      (5,613)     21,184     (11,880)
Other income, net           1,096         758       3,020       2,257
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Income (loss) before
 income tax provision      12,043      (4,855)     24,204      (9,623)
Income tax provision          361           0         726           0
                        ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Net income (loss)       $  11,682   $  (4,855)  $  23,478   $  (9,623)
                        =========   =========   =========   =========
Net earnings (loss)
 per share -
  Basic                 $    0.34   $   (0.16)  $    0.70   $   (0.41)
                        =========   =========   =========   =========
  Diluted               $    0.32   $   (0.16)  $    0.67   $   (0.41)
                        =========   =========   =========   =========
Weighted average
 shares outstanding
 used to compute net
 earnings (loss)
 per share -
  Basic                    34,098      30,616      33,693      23,626
                        =========   =========   =========   =========
  Diluted                  36,244      30,616      34,976      23,626
                        =========   =========   =========   =========
                 INTUITIVE SURGICAL, INC.
               CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                     (IN THOUSANDS)
                                       (Unaudited)
                                        12/31/04        12/31/03 (a)
                                        ---------       ---------
Assets
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                5,771          11,335
   Short-term investments                 126,267         101,614
   Accounts receivable, net                35,443          26,820
   Inventory                                5,966           8,788
   Prepaid expenses and other
    current assets                          3,032           3,203
   Restricted cash equivalents                205             188
                                        ---------       ---------
     Total current assets                 176,684         151,948
Property and equipment, net                27,065          10,288
Restricted cash equivalents                   319             642
Intangible assets, net                      6,221           8,089
Goodwill                                  143,332         143,106
Other assets                                  608             921
                                        ---------       ---------
Total assets                            $ 354,229       $ 314,994
                                        =========       =========
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                        4,485           5,894
    Accrued compensation and
     employee benefits                     10,321           5,267
    Restructuring accrual                     541             971
    Other accrued liabilities               7,057           9,134
    Deferred revenue                       15,372          11,345
    Current portion of notes payable          609           1,030
                                        ---------       ---------
      Total current liabilities            38,385          33,641
Long-term notes payable                         -             695
Deferred revenue                              505           1,148
Other accrued liabilities                     407             553
Stockholders' equity
    Common stock                               34              33
    Preferred stock                             -               -
    Additional paid-in capital            430,362         416,559
    Deferred compensation                       -             (99)
    Accumulated deficit                  (114,936)       (138,414)
    Treasury stock                           (136)              -
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income                                  (392)            878
                                        ---------       ---------
      Total stockholders' equity          314,932         278,957
                                        ---------       ---------
Total liabilities and
 stockholders' equity                   $ 354,229       $ 314,994
                                        =========       =========
(a) - Derived from the audited financial statements included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2003, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required
by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for
complete financial statements.

Contacts:
Ben Gong
408-523-2175
Sarah Norton
408-523-2161

SOURCE: Intuitive Surgical