Compare StocksGS vs ISRG

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) vs Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG)

GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
$923.71
VS
ISRG
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
$457.78

Rewards

GS
  • Gross margin of 82.3% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Share count has been reduced by 11% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $2.53 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
ISRG
  • Gross margin of 66.3% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Intuitive Surgical, Inc. scores 89/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 37.5% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.

Risks

GS
  • High leverage (6.79x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.25 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
  • Insiders have sold $13.0M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
ISRG
  • FCF yield of 1.4% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • PEG ratio of 2.96 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • 7 insider sales totaling $3.1M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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GS
ISRG
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$2.25B
N/A
FCF Yield
1.39%
16.86
Trailing P/E
55.56
14.13
Forward P/E
38.83
Quality & Moat
1.95%
ROIC
N/A
13.17%
ROE
N/A
82.27%
Gross Margin
66.29%
0.70
PEG Ratio
2.96
Balance Sheet Safety
6.79
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
No debt
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
-1.16
1.95%
Dividend Yield
N/A
GS: 4ISRG: 0
GSISRG

Historical Fundamentals

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GS

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

ISRG

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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GS
$5.60
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$26.00B
Δ Market Cap
+$145.60B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
ISRG
Not enough historical data to compute the retained earnings test.

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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GS
62.8% Margin of Safety
Price is 62.8% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $923.71
Fair Value: $2479.85
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
ISRG
127.6% Overvalued
Price is 127.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $457.78
Fair Value: $201.12
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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GS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

ISRG

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $458?

+24.8%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate

Market roughly matching historical growth — reasonable.

Economic Moat Score

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GS
65/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
ISRG
89/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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GS
-2.00
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
ISRG
-3.07
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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GS
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 75.9%Retail & Other 23.6%
No. of Institutional Holders3,722
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
ISRG
Insiders 0.6%Institutions 89.4%Retail & Other 10.1%
No. of Institutional Holders3,195
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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GS
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
HESS JOHN B JR.
Director
$2.00M
@ $511.68 · 2025-04-15
JOHNSON KEVIN RONALD
Director
$1.49M
@ $619.02 · 2025-01-17
FLAHERTY MARK A
Director
$29,545
@ $360.30 · 2024-09-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
ISRG
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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GS
3
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.06M
GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON
Officer
$1.04M
@ $936.18 · 2026-04-23
GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON
Officer
$1.02M
@ $919.19 · 2026-04-17
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$10.94M
@ $941.57 · 2026-02-09
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$255,387
@ $938.92 · 2026-01-29
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$2.64M
@ $927.17 · 2026-01-27
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$4.49M
@ $923.75 · 2026-01-23
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$8.89M
@ $927.51 · 2026-01-23
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$1.62M
@ $920.62 · 2026-01-23
WALDRON JOHN E.
President
$13.69M
@ $750.30 · 2025-08-28
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$5.41M
@ $724.40 · 2025-07-25
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$4.31M
@ $717.39 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.71M
@ $712.31 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.04M
@ $607.17 · 2025-05-14
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$1.50M
@ $622.15 · 2025-02-26
GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON
Officer
$3.31M
@ $636.25 · 2025-01-28
HALIO CAREY
Officer and Treasurer
$2.32M
@ $636.74 · 2025-01-24
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.28M
@ $627.01 · 2025-01-21
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$4.76M
@ $634.69 · 2025-01-21
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$965,120
@ $624.67 · 2025-01-21
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$3.06M
@ $612.08 · 2024-11-29
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.00M
@ $610.91 · 2024-11-29
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$3.83M
@ $596.36 · 2024-11-06
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.77M
@ $594.51 · 2024-11-06
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$7.67M
@ $593.03 · 2024-11-06
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.00M
@ $500.29 · 2024-08-15
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$2.51M
@ $502.43 · 2024-07-16
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.02M
@ $457.32 · 2024-05-10
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
ISRG
7
Sells (3M)
29
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $69.33M
LADD AMY L
Director
$291,886
@ $471.54 · 2026-04-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$51,865
@ $493.95 · 2026-03-10
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$630,475
@ $487.61 · 2026-03-09
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$1.82M
@ $496.19 · 2026-03-05
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$181,915
@ $495.68 · 2026-03-03
WADORS PATRICIA L.
Officer
$109,936
@ $499.71 · 2026-02-27
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$65,830
@ $494.96 · 2026-02-11
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$65,523
@ $520.02 · 2026-01-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$122,500
@ $532.61 · 2026-01-27
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$2.72M
@ $547.47 · 2025-12-15
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$2.63M
@ $547.36 · 2025-12-12
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$58,230
@ $559.90 · 2025-12-10
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$71,124
@ $568.99 · 2025-12-01
GUTHART GARY S
Officer and Director
$13.02M
@ $570.89 · 2025-12-01
CHARLTON HENRY L
Officer
$7.96M
@ $580.00 · 2025-11-12
BARRATT CRAIG H
Director
$435,000
@ $580.00 · 2025-11-12
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$58,800
@ $560.00 · 2025-11-10
MILLER BRIAN EDWARD
Officer
$2.01M
@ $575.00 · 2025-11-10
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$1.14M
@ $550.00 · 2025-11-05
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$4.22M
@ $548.34 · 2025-10-29
BARRATT CRAIG H
Director
$1.20M
@ $548.01 · 2025-10-24
ROSA DAVID J
Chief Executive Officer
$13.41M
@ $547.55 · 2025-10-24
LADD AMY L
Director
$305,588
@ $455.42 · 2025-09-04
GUTHART GARY S
Officer and Director
$13.87M
@ $472.49 · 2025-08-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$2.22M
@ $492.48 · 2025-07-25
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$242,182
@ $561.91 · 2025-06-06
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$355,139
@ $550.60 · 2025-06-04
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$23,596
@ $561.81 · 2025-05-16
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$36,886
@ $558.88 · 2025-05-14
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$483,074
@ $527.95 · 2025-05-02
NACHTSHEIM JAMI DOVER K
Director
$1.25M
@ $520.00 · 2025-05-01
LADD AMY L
Director
$4.44M
@ $505.55 · 2025-04-30
DESANTIS ROBERT
Officer
$508,509
@ $513.65 · 2025-04-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$2.05M
@ $513.18 · 2025-04-25
LOEB GARY
Officer
$872,406
@ $513.18 · 2025-04-25
DESANTIS ROBERT
Officer
$5.76M
@ $499.22 · 2025-03-13
MILLER BRIAN EDWARD
Officer
$6.37M
@ $493.44 · 2025-03-12
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$260,725
@ $533.18 · 2025-03-07
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$824,991
@ $558.94 · 2025-03-06
ROSA DAVID J
President
$9.20M
@ $557.52 · 2025-03-05
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$1.75M
@ $577.30 · 2025-03-03
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$464,762
@ $573.78 · 2025-03-03
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$282,300
@ $573.78 · 2025-03-03
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$106,585
@ $566.94 · 2025-02-28
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$1.39M
@ $581.00 · 2025-02-27
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$61,652
@ $570.85 · 2025-02-26
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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GS
FearGreed
😏Greed(66/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
ISRG
FearGreed
😐Neutral(43/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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GS
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Greed (66)
ISRG
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (43)
View GS Full AnalysisView ISRG Full Analysis
GS vs ISRG: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io