The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[semi_infinite]

In the referenced RBC session, it is apparent that Pope (trxc ceo) has gone out of his way not to be trampled by ISRG. That is, avoiding situations where trxc is being used as leverage against ISRG monopoly pricing. Smart imo but I am not sure how well it is actually going to work. A surgical physician assistant from SSM/WU (St. Louis) has been posting her experience dealing with Da Vinci Si and Xi surgeries (husband is surgical dept head) and they are very upset with ISRG instrument pricing since the release of the Xi. Prices have doubled with the Xi, but what are you going to do if you bought an Xi system? Cases now routinely cost $4000 extra or 10X conventional lap cost. That's what I call monopoly power.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-23/monopolies-don-t-explain-why-stocks-do-better-than-the-economy

(see postings under Liz, trxc board on yhoo)