Post by Bozur on Jan 29, 2008 1:31:58 GMT -5
America's 25 Fastest-Growing Tech Companies
forbes.com — It has been a rough 12 months for the stock market, including technology stocks. The S&P 500 is off 2.1% over the past 12 months (dividends excluded) and the Nasdaq 100 Tech Index is off 8.7%. But you could have done well owning these really hot technology companies.
------
It has been a rough 12 months for the stock market, including technology stocks. The S&P 500 is off 2.1% over the past 12 months (dividends excluded) and the Nasdaq 100 Tech Index is off 8.7%. But you could have done well owning the really hot technology companies. A year ago we published our annual list of America's 25 fastest-growing technology companies. Those stocks have gained 16% over the same time period.
We are back with a new group of 25 rapidly growing technology companies, 12 of which are repeats from our prior list. One company, sixth-ranked Cognizant Technology Solutions (nasdaq: CTSH - news - people ), has appeared every year since the inception of the list six years ago.
America's 25 Fastest-Growing Tech Companies
-------
Rank Company (SYMBOL) Business
01 Google ( finance.yahoo.com/q?s=Goog ) online search engine, web portal
02 Salesforce.com (CRM) sales mgmt software
03 Ceradyne (CRDN) aerospace, defense ceramics
04 Euronet Worldwide (EEFT) banking software
05 FalconStor Software (FALC) archive, backup software
06 Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) consulting
07 Celgene (CELG) biotechnology
08 LifeCell (LIFC) biotechnology
09 Martek Biosciences (MATK) nutritional supplements
10 j2 Global Communications (JCOM) internet telecom svcs
11 Red Hat (RHT) Linux software
12 Digital River (DRIV) e-commerce services
13 Genentech (DNA) biotechnology
14 DRS Technologies (DRS) aerospace, defense
15 L-3 Communications Holdings (LLL) communications equipment
16 Vocus (VOCS) public relations mgmt software
17 CommVault Systems (CVLT) archive, backup software
18 FARO Technologies (FARO) measuring equipment
19 Comtech Telecommunications (CMTL) telecommunications equipment
20 Network Appliance (NTAP) data storage hardware, software
21 NII Holdings (NIHD) Latin America wireless telecom svcs
22 Diodes (DIOD) semiconductors
23 Dolby Laboratories (DLB) audio technology
24 Gen-Probe (GPRO) DNA diagnostic technology
25 Adobe Systems (ADBE) imaging software
Our focus is on sales growth--we require at least 10% annualized sales gains over the past five years--but candidates for our list must be profitable over the past 12 months and have Thomson IBES consensus earnings forecasts of at least 10% annualized earnings growth over the next three to five years. Our only other financial hurdle is that we require at least $25 million in sales over the past four quarters. We exclude companies with significant legal problems or with possible accounting or corporate governance issues. For the last two items, we are guided by scores from Audit Integrity of Los Angeles.
Topping the list? Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ), which generated nearly $15 billion in revenues in the 12 months ending in September.
After falling out of contention last year, two companies, j2 Global Communications (nasdaq: JCOM - news - people ), and L-3 Communications (nyse: LLL - news - people ), rejoined the list this year. With the exception of 2007, both companies have been Fast Tech members since the list's inauguration.
It is not too surprising the companies on last year's list attracted some corporate buyers. In 2007, shareholders realized healthy premiums when Altiris, WebEx Communications, and Color Kinetics (nasdaq: CLRK - news - people ) were acquired by other firms. There is more: Finnish telecommunications equipment company Nokia (nyse: NOK - news - people ) is in the process of acquiring 2007 Fast Tech member Navteq (nyse: NVT - news - people ) in an $8.1 billion takeover deal.
_______
Top 15
Company (SYMBOL) Business
Ansys (ANSS) engineering simulation software
Atheros Communications (ATHR) semiconductors for communications
Bruker BioSciences (BRKR) precision instruments
Daktronics (DAKT) LED displays, scoreboards
Digi International (DGII) computer equipment
Dionex (DNEX) analytical instruments, chemicals
FormFactor (FORM) semiconductor testing equipment
Manhattan Associates (MANH) supply chain management software
Macrovision (MVSN) digital rights management technology
Power Integrations (POWI) high-voltage analog circuits
Progress Software (PRGS) business management software
Rimage (RIMG) digital media recording equipment
Sigma Designs (SIGM) semiconductors for digital media
SiRF Technology Holdings (SIRF) GPS technology
X-Rite (XRIT) color management hardware, software
The Fast 15
More on The Fast 15
One member of the Fast 15 is Daktronics (nasdaq: DAKT - news - people ), a Brookings, S.D., company that makes large electronic signs and scoreboards. In December, Daktronics landed a deal to build the main video display and scoreboard, as well as other displays, for the new Yankee Stadium, which opens for the 2009 baseball season.
-------
forbes.com - article
forbes.com — It has been a rough 12 months for the stock market, including technology stocks. The S&P 500 is off 2.1% over the past 12 months (dividends excluded) and the Nasdaq 100 Tech Index is off 8.7%. But you could have done well owning these really hot technology companies.
------
It has been a rough 12 months for the stock market, including technology stocks. The S&P 500 is off 2.1% over the past 12 months (dividends excluded) and the Nasdaq 100 Tech Index is off 8.7%. But you could have done well owning the really hot technology companies. A year ago we published our annual list of America's 25 fastest-growing technology companies. Those stocks have gained 16% over the same time period.
We are back with a new group of 25 rapidly growing technology companies, 12 of which are repeats from our prior list. One company, sixth-ranked Cognizant Technology Solutions (nasdaq: CTSH - news - people ), has appeared every year since the inception of the list six years ago.
America's 25 Fastest-Growing Tech Companies
-------
Rank Company (SYMBOL) Business
01 Google ( finance.yahoo.com/q?s=Goog ) online search engine, web portal
02 Salesforce.com (CRM) sales mgmt software
03 Ceradyne (CRDN) aerospace, defense ceramics
04 Euronet Worldwide (EEFT) banking software
05 FalconStor Software (FALC) archive, backup software
06 Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) consulting
07 Celgene (CELG) biotechnology
08 LifeCell (LIFC) biotechnology
09 Martek Biosciences (MATK) nutritional supplements
10 j2 Global Communications (JCOM) internet telecom svcs
11 Red Hat (RHT) Linux software
12 Digital River (DRIV) e-commerce services
13 Genentech (DNA) biotechnology
14 DRS Technologies (DRS) aerospace, defense
15 L-3 Communications Holdings (LLL) communications equipment
16 Vocus (VOCS) public relations mgmt software
17 CommVault Systems (CVLT) archive, backup software
18 FARO Technologies (FARO) measuring equipment
19 Comtech Telecommunications (CMTL) telecommunications equipment
20 Network Appliance (NTAP) data storage hardware, software
21 NII Holdings (NIHD) Latin America wireless telecom svcs
22 Diodes (DIOD) semiconductors
23 Dolby Laboratories (DLB) audio technology
24 Gen-Probe (GPRO) DNA diagnostic technology
25 Adobe Systems (ADBE) imaging software
Prices as of January 11. EPS = Earnings Per Share
1 Annualized, projected over next three to five years.
2 Annualized.
3 Excludes Sales form research grants.
4 Unaudited.
Sources: Audit Integrity; Forbes; FT Interactive Data, Reuters Fundamentals, Thomson IBES and Worldscope via FactSet Research Systems; Standard & Poor's; Value Line
Our focus is on sales growth--we require at least 10% annualized sales gains over the past five years--but candidates for our list must be profitable over the past 12 months and have Thomson IBES consensus earnings forecasts of at least 10% annualized earnings growth over the next three to five years. Our only other financial hurdle is that we require at least $25 million in sales over the past four quarters. We exclude companies with significant legal problems or with possible accounting or corporate governance issues. For the last two items, we are guided by scores from Audit Integrity of Los Angeles.
Topping the list? Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ), which generated nearly $15 billion in revenues in the 12 months ending in September.
After falling out of contention last year, two companies, j2 Global Communications (nasdaq: JCOM - news - people ), and L-3 Communications (nyse: LLL - news - people ), rejoined the list this year. With the exception of 2007, both companies have been Fast Tech members since the list's inauguration.
It is not too surprising the companies on last year's list attracted some corporate buyers. In 2007, shareholders realized healthy premiums when Altiris, WebEx Communications, and Color Kinetics (nasdaq: CLRK - news - people ) were acquired by other firms. There is more: Finnish telecommunications equipment company Nokia (nyse: NOK - news - people ) is in the process of acquiring 2007 Fast Tech member Navteq (nyse: NVT - news - people ) in an $8.1 billion takeover deal.
_______
Top 15
Company (SYMBOL) Business
Ansys (ANSS) engineering simulation software
Atheros Communications (ATHR) semiconductors for communications
Bruker BioSciences (BRKR) precision instruments
Daktronics (DAKT) LED displays, scoreboards
Digi International (DGII) computer equipment
Dionex (DNEX) analytical instruments, chemicals
FormFactor (FORM) semiconductor testing equipment
Manhattan Associates (MANH) supply chain management software
Macrovision (MVSN) digital rights management technology
Power Integrations (POWI) high-voltage analog circuits
Progress Software (PRGS) business management software
Rimage (RIMG) digital media recording equipment
Sigma Designs (SIGM) semiconductors for digital media
SiRF Technology Holdings (SIRF) GPS technology
X-Rite (XRIT) color management hardware, software
Prices as of January 11.
P/E = Price to earnings, EPS = Earnings per share
1 Calculated over latest 12 months
2 Annualized; projected over next three to five years
Sources: Audit Integrity; FT Interactive Data, Reuters Fundamentals, Thomson IBES and Worldscope via FactSet Research Systems; Standard & Poor's; Value Line; Forbes
The Fast 15
More on The Fast 15
One member of the Fast 15 is Daktronics (nasdaq: DAKT - news - people ), a Brookings, S.D., company that makes large electronic signs and scoreboards. In December, Daktronics landed a deal to build the main video display and scoreboard, as well as other displays, for the new Yankee Stadium, which opens for the 2009 baseball season.
-------
forbes.com - article