NVO vs. ISRG
NVO (Novo Nordisk A/S) and ISRG (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) are both stocks. Both are in the Healthcare sector — NVO in Drug Manufacturers - General, ISRG in Medical Instruments & Supplies. Over the past 10 years, NVO returned 7.56%/yr vs 19.09%/yr for ISRG. At a 0.25 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
NVO vs. ISRG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NVO achieves a -10.74% return, which is significantly higher than ISRG's -27.42% return. Over the past 10 years, NVO has underperformed ISRG with an annualized return of 7.56%, while ISRG has yielded a comparatively higher 19.09% annualized return.
NVO
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- -6.80%
- YTD
- -10.74%
- 6M
- -9.50%
- 1Y
- -43.34%
- 3Y*
- -15.59%
- 5Y*
- 2.92%
- 10Y*
- 7.56%
ISRG
- 1D
- -0.45%
- 1M
- -4.91%
- YTD
- -27.42%
- 6M
- -24.20%
- 1Y
- -19.87%
- 3Y*
- 9.23%
- 5Y*
- 7.37%
- 10Y*
- 19.09%
NVO vs. ISRG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | -10.74% | -39.22% | -15.93% | 54.84% | 22.66% | 63.52% | 23.33% | 28.70% | -12.98% | 52.92% |
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | -27.42% | 8.51% | 54.72% | 27.14% | -26.15% | 31.76% | 38.39% | 23.43% | 31.23% | 72.64% |
Correlation
The correlation between NVO and ISRG is 0.20, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 16, 2000 | 0.25 |
The correlation between NVO and ISRG shifts across timeframes, from 0.20 (1 year) to 0.32 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NVO:
$195.21B
ISRG:
$147.90B
NVO:
DKK 27.42
ISRG:
$8.24
NVO:
10.34
ISRG:
49.88
NVO:
0.44
ISRG:
3.05
NVO:
3.85
ISRG:
14.04
NVO:
6.21
ISRG:
8.40
NVO:
DKK 327.80B
ISRG:
$10.58B
NVO:
DKK 268.30B
ISRG:
$7.02B
NVO:
DKK 181.54B
ISRG:
$3.76B
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Return for Risk
NVO vs. ISRG — Risk / Return Rank
NVO
ISRG
NVO vs. ISRG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) and Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NVO | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.85 | 0.90 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.80 | -0.62 | -0.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.18 | -1.24 | +0.06 |
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Drawdowns
NVO vs. ISRG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NVO drawdown since its inception was -74.70%, smaller than the maximum ISRG drawdown of -82.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NVO and ISRG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NVO | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -74.70% | -82.26% | +7.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -54.34% | -32.14% | -22.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -74.70% | -34.10% | -40.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -74.70% | -49.90% | -24.80% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -74.70% | -49.90% | -24.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -68.11% | -32.66% | -35.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.79% | -21.28% | +3.49% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 37.62% | 16.00% | +21.62% |
Volatility
NVO vs. ISRG - Volatility Comparison
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) has a higher volatility of 10.68% compared to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) at 9.70%. This indicates that NVO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ISRG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NVO | ISRG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.68% | 9.70% | +0.98% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 38.04% | 20.72% | +17.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 51.88% | 30.69% | +21.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 38.33% | 33.19% | +5.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.56% | 32.40% | +0.16% |
Dividends
NVO vs. ISRG - Dividend Comparison
NVO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.11%, while ISRG has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
NVO Novo Nordisk A/S | 4.11% | 3.31% | 1.68% | 1.00% | 1.20% | 1.35% | 1.87% | 2.14% | 1.45% | 1.52% | 2.87% | 0.92% |
Financials
NVO vs. ISRG - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Novo Nordisk A/S and Intuitive Surgical, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NVO vs. ISRG - Profitability Comparison
NVO - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Novo Nordisk A/S reported a gross profit of 83.23B and revenue of 96.82B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 86.0%.
ISRG - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.83B and revenue of 2.77B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 66.1%.
NVO - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Novo Nordisk A/S reported an operating income of 59.62B and revenue of 96.82B, resulting in an operating margin of 61.6%.
ISRG - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. reported an operating income of 855.30M and revenue of 2.77B, resulting in an operating margin of 30.9%.
NVO - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Novo Nordisk A/S reported a net income of 48.56B and revenue of 96.82B, resulting in a net margin of 50.2%.
ISRG - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. reported a net income of 821.50M and revenue of 2.77B, resulting in a net margin of 29.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NVO and ISRG have a correlation of 0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NVO has higher volatility (10.68%) compared to ISRG (9.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NVO dropped -74.70% vs ISRG's -82.26%.
ISRG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.65 vs -0.84), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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