Income Tax Accounting Policy
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR)
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities, Classification
Analyst Adjustments: Removal of Deferred Taxes
Adjusted Ratios: Removal of Deferred Taxes (Summary)
Adjusted Current Ratio
Adjusted Net Profit Margin
Adjusted Total Asset Turnover
Adjusted Financial Leverage
Adjusted Return on Equity (ROE)
Adjusted Return on Assets (ROA)

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. Intuitive Surgical has elected to account for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“2017 Tax Act”) as period costs when incurred.

Intuitive Surgical 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 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.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04).

Intuitive Surgical Inc., income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations

USD $ in thousands

	12 months ended	Dec 31, 2018		Dec 31, 2017		Dec 31, 2016		Dec 31, 2015		Dec 31, 2014
	Federal
	State
	Foreign
	Current
	Federal
	State
	Foreign
	Deferred
	Income tax expense

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Item	Description	The company
Current	Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to taxable income (loss) from continuing operations.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s current increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018.
Deferred	Amount of deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s deferred increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly declined from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level.
Income tax expense	Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s income tax expense increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018.

Intuitive Surgical Inc., effective income tax rate (EITR) reconciliation

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Federal statutory tax rate
	Effective income tax rate

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Item	Description	The company
Effective income tax rate	Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s effective income tax rate increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018.

Intuitive Surgical Inc., components of deferred tax assets and liabilities

USD $ in thousands

		Dec 31, 2018		Dec 31, 2017		Dec 31, 2016		Dec 31, 2015		Dec 31, 2014
	Share-based compensation expense
	Expenses deducted in later years for tax purposes
	Intangible assets
	Research and other credits
	Other
	Gross deferred tax assets
	Valuation allowance
	Deferred tax assets
	Fixed assets
	Intangible assets
	Other
	Deferred tax liabilities
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Item	Description	The company
Gross deferred tax assets	Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s gross deferred tax assets declined from 2016 to 2017 but then increased from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.
Deferred tax assets	Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s deferred tax assets declined from 2016 to 2017 but then increased from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, without jurisdictional netting.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s net deferred tax assets (liabilities) declined from 2016 to 2017 but then increased from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.

Intuitive Surgical Inc., deferred tax assets and liabilities, classification

USD $ in thousands

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Current deferred tax assets
	Long-term deferred tax assets
	Long-term deferred tax liabilities

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Item	Description	The company
Long-term deferred tax assets	Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, with jurisdictional netting and classified as noncurrent.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s long-term deferred tax assets declined from 2016 to 2017 but then increased from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	Amount, after deferred tax asset, of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable differences, with jurisdictional netting and classified as noncurrent.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s long-term deferred tax liabilities declined from 2016 to 2017 but then increased from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.

Intuitive Surgical Inc., adjustments to financial data

USD $ in thousands

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Adjustment to Current Assets
	Current assets (as reported)
	Less: Current deferred tax assets, net
	Current assets (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Total Assets
	Total assets (as reported)
	Less: Current deferred tax assets, net
	Less: Noncurrent deferred tax assets, net
	Total assets (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Total Liabilities
	Total liabilities (as reported)
	Less: Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities, net
	Total liabilities (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
	Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity (as reported)
	Less: Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)
	Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity (adjusted)
	Adjustment to Net Income Attributable To Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (as reported)
	Add: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
	Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (adjusted)

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Intuitive Surgical Inc., Financial Data: Reported vs. Adjusted

Intuitive Surgical Inc., adjusted ratios

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	Current Ratio
	Reported current ratio
	Adjusted current ratio
	Net Profit Margin
	Reported net profit margin
	Adjusted net profit margin
	Total Asset Turnover
	Reported total asset turnover
	Adjusted total asset turnover
	Financial Leverage
	Reported financial leverage
	Adjusted financial leverage
	Return on Equity (ROE)
	Reported ROE
	Adjusted ROE
	Return on Assets (ROA)
	Reported ROA
	Adjusted ROA

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted current ratio	A liquidity ratio calculated as adjusted current assets divided by adjusted current liabilities.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted current ratio deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level.
Adjusted net profit margin	An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted net profit margin deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.
Adjusted total asset turnover	An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly deteriorated from 2017 to 2018.
Adjusted financial leverage	A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted financial leverage increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly declined from 2017 to 2018.
Adjusted ROE	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders’ equity.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted ROE improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018.
Adjusted ROA	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted ROA improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018.

Intuitive Surgical Inc., Ratios: Reported vs. Adjusted

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Current assets
	Current liabilities
	Ratio
	Current ratio¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Adjusted current assets
	Current liabilities
	Ratio
	Adjusted current ratio²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ Current ratio = Current assets ÷ Current liabilities
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted current ratio = Adjusted current assets ÷ Current liabilities
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted current ratio	A liquidity ratio calculated as adjusted current assets divided by adjusted current liabilities.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted current ratio deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 not reaching 2016 level.

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Revenue
	Ratio
	Net profit margin¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Revenue
	Ratio
	Adjusted net profit margin²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ Net profit margin = 100 × Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Revenue
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted net profit margin = 100 × Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Revenue
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted net profit margin	An indicator of profitability, calculated as adjusted net income divided by total revenue.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted net profit margin deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level.

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Revenue
	Total assets
	Ratio
	Total asset turnover¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Revenue
	Adjusted total assets
	Ratio
	Adjusted total asset turnover²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ Total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Total assets
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Adjusted total assets
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted total asset turnover	An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly deteriorated from 2017 to 2018.

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Total assets
	Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Financial leverage¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Adjusted total assets
	Adjusted total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Adjusted financial leverage²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ Financial leverage = Total assets ÷ Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted financial leverage = Adjusted total assets ÷ Adjusted total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
= hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted financial leverage	A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted financial leverage increased from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly declined from 2017 to 2018.

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	ROE¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Adjusted total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
	Ratio
	Adjusted ROE²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ ROE = 100 × Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted ROE = 100 × Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Adjusted total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. stockholders’ equity
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted ROE	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted shareholders’ equity.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted ROE improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018.

		Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015	Dec 31, 2014
	As Reported
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Total assets
	Ratio
	ROA¹
	Adjusted for Deferred Taxes
	Selected Financial Data (USD $ in thousands)
	Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
	Adjusted total assets
	Ratio
	Adjusted ROA²

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-04), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-06), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-06).

2018 Calculations

¹ ROA = 100 × Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Total assets
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

² Adjusted ROA = 100 × Adjusted net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. ÷ Adjusted total assets
= 100 × hidden ÷ hidden = hidden

Ratio	Description	The company
Adjusted ROA	A profitability ratio calculated as adjusted net income divided by adjusted total assets.	Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s adjusted ROA improved from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018.

	Intuitive Surgical Inc.	Other companies (not purchased previously)
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Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation
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Long-term Trends
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Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Valuation
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Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG)

Analysis of Income Taxes

Income Tax Accounting Policy

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Effective Income Tax Rate (EITR)

Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities, Classification

Analyst Adjustments: Removal of Deferred Taxes

Intuitive Surgical Inc., Financial Data: Reported vs. Adjusted

Adjusted Ratios: Removal of Deferred Taxes (Summary)

Intuitive Surgical Inc., Ratios: Reported vs. Adjusted

Adjusted Current Ratio

Adjusted Net Profit Margin

Adjusted Total Asset Turnover

Adjusted Financial Leverage

Adjusted Return on Equity (ROE)

Adjusted Return on Assets (ROA)