Adjusted earnings reached $2.80 a share, notably exceeding the $2.51 consensus estimate from FactSet analysts. The company successfully placed 468 surgical systems during the quarter, a sharp increase from the 395 units reported during the same period last year. Management now anticipates worldwide da Vinci procedure growth to land between 14% and 15% for the full year.

Despite the fiscal momentum, the market for robotic-assisted surgery is tightening. Rival manufacturers are aggressively expanding their footprints; Stryker officially launched its Mako robotic power system for total knee replacements in the U.S. this week. Simultaneously, Medtronic is currently pursuing regulatory clearances to broaden the clinical applications of its Hugo system to include gynecologic and general surgery.