9. Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK)
Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) lands at No. 9 as one of the strongest medical technology stocks in the healthcare sector, although the relatively modest gap between its July 30 closing price and CFRA’s price target limits its ranking on this particular list.
Unlike pharmaceutical companies whose fortunes may depend heavily on drug approvals and patent protection, Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) makes many of the physical technologies surgeons use in operating rooms. Its portfolio spans orthopedics, neurotechnology, surgical equipment and other medical technologies, giving the company direct exposure to rising demand for procedures involving hips, knees, shoulders, the spine and other parts of the body.
The centerpiece of the investment story is the Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery system.
Robotic surgery has become one of the most closely watched areas of medical technology because hospitals and surgeons are increasingly using advanced systems to improve planning and precision during procedures. Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) has established an important position in robotic orthopedics through Mako, which helps surgeons perform certain joint replacement procedures using detailed surgical planning and robotic-arm assistance.
CFRA analyst Sel Hardy points to Mako as a meaningful competitive advantage, particularly after Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) recorded a record year for Mako installations in 2025. Every additional system installed can potentially strengthen the ecosystem surrounding the technology because hospitals that adopt robotic platforms may also generate recurring demand for related instruments, implants and services.
Demographics provide another important tailwind.
As populations age, demand for hip and knee replacements can increase because arthritis, joint deterioration and other mobility problems become more common. That gives Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) exposure to one of healthcare’s most predictable long-term trends: older populations generally require more medical procedures.
The opportunity may also extend beyond hips and knees. CFRA sees additional potential in spine and shoulder surgery, markets that could broaden the addressable opportunity for the company’s technology.
Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) also sells industry-leading surgical power tools and operating-room equipment, including drills, saws and reamers. Those products may sound less glamorous than artificial intelligence or breakthrough pharmaceuticals, but they illustrate why the company has built such a durable healthcare business. Operating rooms require reliable equipment regardless of whether the stock market is rising or falling.
CFRA has a “buy” rating and a $360 price target for Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK), compared with a July 30 closing price of $348.04. That leaves relatively limited implied upside based strictly on the analyst target, which is why the stock sits lower in this ranking.
Nevertheless, investors searching for medical device stocks, robotic surgery stocks and long-term healthcare stocks may find Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK) particularly interesting. Its strength lies less in being statistically cheap and more in owning established technology in medical markets that could continue expanding for years.
