Why These 2 Tech & Healthcare Giants Could Keep Climbing Into 2031

The Investment Case Strengthens Despite Recent Market Skepticism

When it comes to outperforming the market over the long haul, most investors assume it requires paying expensive advisors or timing trades perfectly. Yet there’s a more straightforward path: identify companies with genuine competitive moats and structural growth tailwinds. Two candidates stand out as potential market beaters through 2031: Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Both face near-term headwinds that have spooked investors, but the fundamentals tell a different story.

Intuitive Surgical: The Robotics Story Is Just Beginning

The robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) pioneer has taken it on the chin lately. Tariff pressures are squeezing margins, and competition is intensifying in a market Intuitive once dominated unchallenged. Yet dismissing the company based on recent performance misses the bigger picture.

Product Innovation Accelerating

The fifth-generation da Vinci system represents a meaningful leap forward. Its newest capability—Force Feedback Technology—allows surgeons to “feel” tissue pressure during procedures with unprecedented precision. This sensory feedback directly translates to fewer complications and better patient outcomes, creating a powerful driver for both hospital adoption and patient demand. Consider this: the system only launched last year and has already gained traction. We’re nowhere near peak penetration.

Three new procedure approvals announced recently provide another important catalyst. Each new indication expands the addressable market and pulls forward procedure volume growth. This is the engine that drives revenue expansion for Intuitive.

Addressing the Tariff Headwind

Critics point to tariffs as a structural problem. But they’re underestimating management’s tools. The company holds genuine pricing power—its devices demonstrably improve patient outcomes, and there’s an enormous installed base. Modest price increases across the board would offset tariff costs while barely denting demand. Rather than a crisis, tariffs might prove to be a minor speedbump on the road through 2031.

The Competitive Landscape Remains Favorable

Yes, Medtronic recently won U.S. approval for its Hugo system in urologic procedures. But gaining real market share will take years. More importantly, the RAS market remains significantly underpenetrated globally—there’s room for multiple players to thrive. Intuitive’s five-year head start and installed base advantage shouldn’t be underestimated.

Meta Platforms: The AI Bet Deserves More Credit

Meta’s stock recently stumbled after earnings, with investors fretting that the company’s massive AI infrastructure buildout won’t generate adequate returns. That concern deserves scrutiny, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

AI Is Already Delivering

The AI narrative isn’t theoretical. Meta’s algorithm enhancements are tangibly boosting user engagement across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company’s AI-driven advertising platform is automating campaign launches and optimization at scale, fueling rapid revenue and earnings growth. These aren’t vague promises—they’re measurable contributions happening right now.

Management’s stated goal of full campaign automation by end-2026 maps onto realistic technological timelines. With a moat of 3+ billion daily active users, the value creation potential from even incremental efficiency gains is enormous.

Management Has Pivoted Before—Credibly

Here’s what bears miss: Meta already faced this exact scenario. The company’s metaverse bet consumed billions and delivered disappointing results. Did it trigger a death spiral? No. Management quickly recognized the opportunity cost, reined in spending, and refocused on the core advertising engine. The company didn’t just survive—it emerged stronger.

This flexibility matters. If AI investments underperform relative to spending levels, Meta has demonstrated it can course-correct. Meanwhile, its financial performance should remain robust enough to drive upside through 2031.

The Path Forward

Neither company offers risk-free upside through 2031. But both possess the competitive positioning, product roadmaps, and management credibility to outpace broader market returns over this timeframe. The recent selloffs have created opportunity for investors patient enough to ride out near-term volatility.