Speed Demons.

Navigation: Main page

Author: Yen, Jody

The technology-laden Nasdaq index eked out a 1.4% gain in 2005, but these 25 fast-growing tech stocks thrived anyway, racking up an average price increase of 13.2%. Google, which went public in August 2004, makes its debut and leads our 25-fastest list, thanks to stupendous five-year sales growth. Seventeen companies from last year's list have returned this year, but other newcomers include digital map provider Navteq and biotech giant Genentech. To make this list, a company must have a minimum of $25 million in sales and have been profitable over the last 12 months. Companies also must have had sales growth of 10% a year (or better) for the last five years and consensus earnings forecasts of at least 10% annualized growth over the next three to five years. Culled are any companies with legal problems or other open-ended liabilities. For more see www.forbes.com/fasttech.

Legend for chart:
A - COMPANY/BUSINESS
B - RECENT PRICE
C - EPS GROWTH[1]
D - 5-YEAR SALES GROWTH[2]
E - LATEST 12-MO SALES ($MIL)

                 A                        B      C    D         E

GOOGLE/Online search engine           $466.25   30% +250%   $5,251

IMCLONE SYSTEMS/Biotechnology           35.32   12   163       392

WEBEX COMM/Online videoconferencing     24.91   20   131       292

ATROAD/IT services                       5.46   20   122        85

ALTIRIS/Software                        18.90   14   114       190

MARTEK BIOSCIENCES/Food supplements     27.56   28   101       218

J2 GLOBAL COMM/Online faxing            47.12   25    69       135

ECOLLEGE.COM/Online education           19.99   25    69        98

WEBSENSE/Software                       65.63   24    67       140

EBAY/Online auctions                    45.97   28    62     4,552

DIGITAL RIVER/Software                  33.25   20    56       207

GILEAD SCIENCES/Biotechnology           59.40   19    56     1,789

CELGENE/Biotechnology                   66.64   46    54       493

NAVTEQ/Digital maps                     47.00   27    50       470

OPEN SOLUTIONS/Software                 24.56   30    50       170

UNICA/Software                          14.06   30    48        64

DIGITAL INSIGHT/IT services             35.22   19    46       206

COGNIZANT TECH SOLUTIONS/IT Services    49.35   35    44       802

COLOR KINETICS/Lighting systems         16.29   45    44        49

L-3 COMM HLDGS/Defense electronics      75.45   12    39     8,456

EDO/Defense electronics                 27.39   13    37       618

LIFECELL/Biotechnology                  21.79   35    33[3]     82[3]

PACKETEER/Software                       9.61   19    33       107

GENENTECH/Biotechnology                 87.46   30    32     5,488

KANBAY INTERNATIONAL/IT services        15.83   25    30       220

Prices as of Jan 13. 1 Annualized; projected over the next three to five years. 2 Annualized. 3 Excludes sales from research grants. Sources: FT Interactive Data, Reuters Fundamentals and Thomson IBES via FactSet Research Systems; Bloomberg Financial Markets

~~~~~~~~

By Jody Yen