MAKO Surgical Corp., a medical device company, markets its advanced robotic arm solution and orthopedic implants for orthopedic procedures in the United States and internationally. MAKOplasty, introduced in 2011, is MAKO’s patented RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, which is designed to support a surgeon’s ability to more accurately align and position a hip implant.

On the positive side, Piper Jaffray rated MAKO a buy, saying MAKO’s “hip launch is about 2 months earlier than anticipated and pricing is expected to be favorable, and the firm believes the Street is underestimating MAKO hip opportunity.” William Blair & Company concurred, reporting that the perceived weakness has made for a buying opportunity. Blair added news of a competitive robotic system from Stryker (SYK) could be introduced within six months, but it expects Stryker will encounter great difficulty competing with MAKO’s broad intellectual and patent holdings with RIO and MAKOplasty.