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The two stocks named in Prosper Junior Bakiny’s October 5, 2026, The Motley Fool opinion piece are Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) and Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG). Its long-term cases rest on different growth drivers: Netflix must turn its audience into stronger engagement and revenue, while Intuitive Surgical is betting on wider adoption of robotic surgery. Neither is a guaranteed decade-long winner, and the article does not provide a matched valuation analysis or assess suitability for individual investors.
What “beaten down” means in this article
The article describes Intuitive Surgical shares as having fallen about 30% during 2026, as of October 5, 2026. It does not provide a comparable decline figure for Netflix, so “two beaten-down stocks” should not be read as meaning both shares had fallen by the same measure or over the same period. The recommendations are Bakiny’s investment view, not an independently validated forecast.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Netflix eGift Card | $15 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Netflix eGift Card | $100 | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Netflix Physical Gift Card | $50 | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Netflix Physical Gift Card - $60 | $60.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Netflix Physical Gift Card - $30 | $30.00 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The article’s figures and claims below are attributed to that piece; they have not been independently verified here. They are a snapshot reported in October 2026, not a substitute for checking current company disclosures, share prices, or subsequent developments.
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Bakiny’s Netflix thesis starts with the company’s large paid-subscriber ecosystem and the possibility of generating more engagement and revenue from it. The article points to sports rights and advertising as potential ways to deepen viewing and monetization. It also discusses a possible broader streaming hub, but describes that as something management had reportedly considered—not a confirmed plan. The route to making the business more valuable remains uncertain.
#1 Best Overall
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
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- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance
- Redemption: Online
Engagement is the key test
The article reports that Netflix viewing hours grew 2% year over year in the first half of 2026. That modest reported growth matters because the bullish case depends on viewers spending more time with the service, or Netflix otherwise earning more from its audience. The piece also flags weak engagement and viewing-hours growth amid competition for viewers as a risk.
What could go wrong
- Sports rights and advertising may not produce enough additional viewing or revenue to justify the effort and cost.
- A broader streaming hub remains uncertain; the article does not establish that Netflix has adopted or will execute such a plan.
- Competition for viewers could limit engagement growth, undermining the thesis that the subscriber ecosystem can be monetized more effectively.
Bakiny wrote, “In my view, at current levels, the stock is a buy.” That is the author’s opinion, not a company statement or a personalized recommendation.
Rank #2
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Redemption: Online
- No Returns and Refunds on Gift Cards
Why Intuitive Surgical could benefit from broader robotic surgery adoption
Intuitive Surgical makes da Vinci robotic-surgery systems. The article’s case for long-term growth rests on its installed base and the prospect that robotic assistance will be used in a larger share of relevant procedures. Bakiny reports nearly 12,000 devices in the da Vinci installed base and says fewer than 8% of relevant soft-tissue procedures are performed robotically, attributing that adoption figure to Johnson & Johnson.
Those figures indicate the scale of the installed base and a potential adoption opportunity as presented in the article; they do not establish how quickly procedure adoption will increase or how much revenue Intuitive will capture. The argument that newer systems will expand the market is a thesis, not a guaranteed result.
Rank #3
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
Competitive and execution risks
- New robotic-surgery competitors could challenge Intuitive’s position and make it harder to maintain growth.
- The article identifies margin pressure partly tied to the rollout of da Vinci 5. A successful product rollout does not automatically mean margins will recover or improve.
- The potential market depends on more procedures being performed robotically, and the article does not establish when or how far that adoption will expand.
How the two investment cases differ
| Investment question | Netflix (NFLX) | Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) |
|---|---|---|
| Potential growth driver | More engagement and monetization through its subscriber ecosystem, including sports and advertising opportunities. | Growth in the da Vinci installed base and wider robotic adoption in relevant soft-tissue procedures. |
| Execution test | Whether viewing and monetization improve despite competition for viewers. | Whether new systems and broader adoption support growth while the company manages rollout-related margin pressure. |
| Risks highlighted by the article | Weak engagement or viewing-hours growth; uncertain streaming-hub direction. | New competitors; margin pressure partly associated with the da Vinci 5 rollout; uncertain pace of adoption. |
The comparison is qualitative. The article does not supply a matched valuation framework, price targets, or investor-specific suitability analysis, so its two picks cannot be treated as a direct comparison of which stock is cheaper or better suited to a particular portfolio.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before treating either stock as a decade-long holding
- For Netflix: Review current disclosures for viewing and engagement trends, advertising progress, and the economics of sports-related investments. Treat a broader streaming hub as uncertain unless the company confirms a plan.
- For Intuitive Surgical: Check current installed-base and procedure-adoption disclosures, progress with da Vinci 5, and operating-margin trends. Consider how competition could affect growth and profitability.
- For both: Compare each company’s current valuation with its own growth prospects, examine subsequent company disclosures and market developments, and decide whether the risks fit your time horizon and ability to withstand losses.
The Motley Fool’s article disclosure said Bakiny held Intuitive Surgical and Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool disclosed positions in and recommendations of Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, and Netflix, as well as specified Intuitive Surgical options positions.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
Rank #4
- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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