Medical device stocks tumble after HCA flags weak surgical volumes

Investing.com -- Shares of major medical device manufacturers fell Tuesday after hospital operator HCA Healthcare (NYSE: HCA) posted preliminary second quarter results showing weaker-than-expected surgical volumes.

GE Healthcare (NASDAQ: GEHC) dropped 7%, while Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) declined 6%. Stryker (NYSE: SYK) fell 5.4%, Globus Medical (NYSE: GMED) slid 5.25%, and Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) dropped 4.7%. Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX), Baxter International (NYSE: BAX), and Tandem Diabetes (NASDAQ: TNDM) each fell 4%, while Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: ZBH) declined 3% and Inspire Medical (NYSE: INSP) dropped 3.75%.

HCA Healthcare's preliminary results highlighted softer surgical procedure volumes during the quarter, raising concerns about demand for medical devices and equipment across the healthcare sector.

Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen said he expects medical technology stocks to decline on HCA's results and anticipates this will be discussed during second quarter earnings calls for the group.

Biegelsen noted that elective procedures appear to be down mainly in patients under 65 years old who are most exposed, such as orthopedic and spine procedures, whereas non-elective procedures performed in patients over 65 years old, such as cardiovascular procedures, are less exposed to the weakness.

The broad selloff across medical device manufacturers reflects concerns that softer surgical volumes at hospitals could translate into reduced demand for their products and equipment in the coming quarters.

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