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8/3/2019 Best Ssi Entrepre

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By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Safe Bets

By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Under The Radar

Small businesses are dynamic--and sometimes volatile. You see that reflected in share

prices (our list gained 26% over the last 12 months, compared with 8% for the Russell2000). Annual turnover of the companies on our list is also an indicator of volatility, andthis year the turnover reached its highest level since 2002. Clusters of hot industrieschasing shifts in consumer demand, government spending and pockets of cyclicalindustries can cause turmoil even for small "value" companies. Last year the oil and gaspatch dominated the list as oil marched to $70 a barrel; this year it's medical equipmentplayers like No. 17, Ventanna Medical Systems (nasdaq:VMSI -news -people ) andNo. 31, Cutera (nasdaq: CUTR- news -people ). Ventanna, it should be noted, iscurrently fighting a hostile takeover bid by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche Holdings.

This volatility makes reviewing and selecting 200 companies a challenge. Earnings

announcements, management turnover and acquisition activity can have a big impact onthe make-up of our list. To wit: soon after press time for the printed edition of this list,the U.S. military's go-to maker of unmanned aircraft, No. 26, United Industrial (nyse:UIC - news -people ), announced it would be acquired by defense contractor and makerof Bell Helicopters, Textron (nyse: TXT - news -people ). Also making moves was therecipient of last year's top honors, Nutrisystem (nasdaq:NTRI - news -people ). ThePennsylvania weight-loss specialist announced Oct. 5 that sales would miss analystestimates by some 10%--shares were down by a third at the close of trading that sameday. The stock jitters might have been worse were it not for strong cash flow bolsteringits balance sheet.

There are a smattering of household names on the list with new management. At No. 142on our list, Nathan's Famous saw corporate counsel Eric Gatoff take the helm as chiefexecutive in January, just three years after joining the New York maker of hot dogs. Andjust two years after joining Lo-Jack (No. 78) as head of operations, Richard Riley tookover last year with plans to build on a strong product pipeline of auto recoverytechnologies--and big expectations from shareholders.

By The Numbers: The 10 Best Small Companies In America

By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Fastest Growing

By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Top Newcomers

By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Safe Bets

By The Numbers: Best Small Companies--Under The Radar
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/safe-small-stocks-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011safe_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/small-no-coverage-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011undertheradar_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=VMSIhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=VMSIhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=VMSIhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=VMSIhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=VMSIhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=CUTRhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=CUTRhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=CUTRhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=CUTRhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=UIChttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=UIChttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=UIChttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TXThttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TXThttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=TXThttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=NTRIhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/10/biz_07200best_all_slide_2.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/fastest-growing-small-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011fast_slide_2.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/best-small-newcomers-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011newcomers_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/safe-small-stocks-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011safe_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/small-no-coverage-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011undertheradar_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/safe-small-stocks-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011safe_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/small-no-coverage-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011undertheradar_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=VMSIhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=VMSIhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=VMSIhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=CUTRhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=CUTRhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=CUTRhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=UIChttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=UIChttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=UIChttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TXThttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TXThttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=TXThttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=NTRIhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/10/biz_07200best_all_slide_2.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/fastest-growing-small-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011fast_slide_2.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/best-small-newcomers-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011newcomers_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/safe-small-stocks-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011safe_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/11/small-no-coverage-biz-07200best-cx_jg_1011undertheradar_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000


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The Top 20 Small Public Companies In America+ Comment now

see photos AFP/Getty Images

Click for full photo gallery: The Top 20 Small Public Companies In America

For many small businesses, this economic recovery has felt more like a tensionheadache that just wont go away. Then there are the 100 impressive outfits on Forbesannual ranking ofAmericas best small public companies.

The list features firms with remarkable sales and earnings growth in a host of industries,from heath care to casual dining. Candidates must have been publicly traded for at least ayear, generate annual revenue between $5 million and $1 billion and boast a stock priceno lower than $5 a share. (For apples-to-apples comparisons we excluded financialinstitutions, REITs, utilities and limited partnerships.)

21 images Photos: The Top 20 Small Public Companies InAmerica
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/the-top-20-small-public-companies-in-america/#comment_replyhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-america#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-america#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/best-small-companies/http://www.forbes.com/best-small-companies/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/the-top-20-small-public-companies-in-america/#comment_replyhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-america#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-america#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/best-small-companies/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-americahttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/top-20-small-companies-in-america


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16 images Photos: 15 Small Company Stocks You ShouldOwn Now

The rankings are based on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity in the past12 months and over five years; dropped were thinly traded names and those with fuzzyaccounting or major legal troubles. Stock performance versus each companys peer groupcounted, too. Shares of last years members outpaced the Russell 2000 small-companyindex by an average of 10 percentage points. Last years top performersDeckersOutdoor, of UGGs boots fame, and gun maker Sturm, Rugersaw their stocks doubleover the past 12-months. (For 15 undervalued winners from this years list, click here.)

In Pictures: The Top 20 Small Public Companies In America

Eleven health care companies made the cut, including No. 1 ranked QuestcorPharmaceuticals. The companys main drug (accounting for most of its $143 million insales) is Acthar, approved in 1952 and used to fight a myriad of conditions includingmultiple sclerosis, respiratory diseases and rheumatic disorders. Last year the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration approved Acthar to treat infantile spasms. Prescriptions forpatients suffering from MSabout $50,000 a pophave soared in recent months.

Questcors shares have tripled in the last 12-months, and are up 4,000% over the pastfour years. (Questcor is one of 27 newcomers to the Forbes best small public companieslist; other highly-ranked newcomers can befound here.)

No. 2 American Public Education leads a group of four education companies, includingNo. 4 Grand Canyon, No. 33 Strayer Education and No. 37 Capella Education.Americans online classesit offers 87 degree programs to 96,000 adult studentsaregeared towards government employees and active members of the military. Earningshave been on a tear, up 72% annually over the past five years.

Software makers dominated the list with 15 entries. No. 5-ranked SolarWinds sounds like

a play on green technology, but it actually designs software that helps computer networksrun better. The $171 million (sales) firm was cofounded by formerWal-Mart executiveDonald Yonce, who still owns a 22% stake. The companys 67% average return on equityover the past five years is the best of any in the top 100.

Another software maker, Interactive Intelligence, at No. 8, writes code that manageseverything from customer service calls to tech support e-mails to e-mail marketingcampaigns, putting it head to head with giants like Avaya and Cisco. The company
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2011/10/19/fifteen-small-company-stocks-to-buy-right-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/1-questcor-pharmaceuticals#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/newcomers-on-americas-best-small-companies/http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/newcomers-on-americas-best-small-companies/http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/newcomers-on-americas-best-small-companies/http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=wmt&tab=searchtabquotesdarkhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=wmt&tab=searchtabquotesdarkhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=csco&tab=searchtabquotesdarkhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mee45edfe/15-small-company-stocks-you-should-own-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2011/10/19/fifteen-small-company-stocks-to-buy-right-nowhttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45gdjh/1-questcor-pharmaceuticals#contenthttp://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/10/19/newcomers-on-americas-best-small-companies/http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=wmt&tab=searchtabquotesdarkhttp://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=csco&tab=searchtabquotesdark


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notched a big win this year with Anchor Bank (beating out Avaya and ShoreTel). It alsoboasts $90 million in cash (about $5 a share), handy for acquisitions.

Unlike other companies too skittish to add payroll, these 100 companies are hiring.During the previous three fiscal years, 84 of them boosted payrollby an average 48%

adding a total of 56,885 heads. A vast majority of those came aboard during the naturalcourse of business, not via acquisition.

84 open positions still to fill, mainly in sales and marketing. (For a list of the mostprolific employers from the list, click here.)

Rank Company SalesSales

Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

1

QuestcorPharmaceuticals

$143M

62% 36% 34%

2

American PublicEducation

$224M

50% 72% 31%

3

IEC Electronics

$126M

39% 103% 36%

4

Grand CanyonEducation

$404M

51% 362% 27%

5

SolarWinds

$171M

42% 21% 67%
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlh45m/10-hot-companies-that-are-hiring-like-crazy-2#gallerycontenthttp://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlh45m/10-hot-companies-that-are-hiring-like-crazy-2#gallerycontent


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Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

6

IPG Photonics

$403

M

21% 29% 16%

7

LSB Industries

$724M

8% 31% 38%

8

Interactive Intelligence

$192M

20% 23% 31%

9

Allegiant Travel

$715M

36% 57% 19%

10

KapStone Paper &

Packaging

$829M

42% 130% 16%

11

Winmark

$47 M 10% 33% 28%

12

Medifast

$283M

41% 44% 22%

13

Rue21

$700M

28% 32% 62%


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Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

14

Quality Systems

$371

M

24% 18% 34%

15

NVE

$32 M 20% 44% 24%

16

Synaptics

$599

M

26% 48% 21%

17

FutureFuel

$250M

59% 61% 9%

18

Atwood Oceanics

$628M

30% 53% 25%

19

Masimo

$429M

26% 40% 42%

20

NIC

$172M

22% 17% 19%

21

Sturm, Ruger

$278M

12% 133% 17%


8/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

22

Virtusa Corp

$228M

19% 54% 14%

23

CommVault Systems

$340M

23% 19% 32%

24

Buckle

$999

M

15% 23% 30%

25

II-VI

$503M

15% 30% 17%

26

Sirona Dental Systems

$878M

51% 55% 7%

27

Syntel

$588M

18% 30% 36%

28

Hittite Microwave

$266M

20% 20% 26%

29

Balchem

$281M

26% 24% 19%


9/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

30

Wright Express

$462M

8% 37% 36%

31

Air Methods

$580M

16% 23% 18%

32

Lindsay

$450M

16% 30% 13%

33

Strayer Education

$655M

24% 25% 48%

34

Cirrus Logic

$380M

11% 24% 18%

35

HMS Holdings

$339M

38% 41% 12%

36

Rackspace Hosting

$892M

41% 21% 14%

37

Capella Education

$437M

23% 33% 22%

38 $242M

48% 71% 14%


10/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Neutral Tandem

39

Middleby

$778M

18% 13% 33%

40

True Religion Apparel

$396M

30% 20% 33%

41

Coffee Holding

$122M 15% 26% 8%

42

Royal Gold

$216M

47% 12% 5%

43

Industrial Services ofAmerica

$347M

29% 36% 24%

44

AZZ

$433M

14% 29% 20%

45

ExlService Holdings

$296M

27% 21% 12%

46 $534M

23% 25% 18%


11/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Bio-ReferenceLaboratories

47

Boston Beer

$476M

14% 21% 19%

48

Ensign Group

$631M

17% 13% 26%

49

Raven Industries

$348M

8% 9% 27%

50

iRobot

$423M

21% 27% 7%

51

Opnet Technologies

$157M

13% 32% 5%

52

DG

$256M

38% 154% 6%

53

HealthStream

$74 M 20% 28% 14%

54 $682M

24% 30% 16%


12/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Buffalo Wild Wings

55

Dolby Laboratories

$940M

23% 38% 20%

56

Ameresco

$683M

18% 22% 21%

57

AboveNet

$444M

14% 43% 24%

58

j2 GlobalCommunications

$291M

12% 13% 24%

59

Ansys

$627M

28% 35% 10%

60

FactSet ResearchSystems

$727M

12% 16% 30%

61

LHC Group

$657M

33% 30% 20%


13/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

62

Preformed LineProducts

$397

M

10% 19% 12%

63

Portfolio RecoveryAssociates

$423M

19% 10% 18%

64

UFP Technologies

$127M 6% 50% 18%

65

Multi-Color

$365M

14% 8% 14%

66

Informatica

$720

M 18% 18% 17%

67

Steven Madden

$720M

9% 26% 20%

68KMG Chemicals

$255

M 33% 22% 14%

69 $354M

16% 26% 7%


14/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Ancestry.com

70

Morningstar

$604M

18% 18% 18%

71

GeoResources

$112M

73% 13% 12%

72

Team

$545M

14% 10% 17%

73

Iconix Brand Group

$366M

56% 21% 11%

74

Alliance Fiber OpticProducts

$45 M 13% 44% 7%

75

Carbo Ceramics

$539M

12% 10% 15%

76

Tyler Technologies

$296M

12% 28% 16%

77 $725M

16% 17% 11%


15/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Heico

78

Exponent

$267M

10% 19% 15%

79

BJ's Restaurants

$559M

23% 14% 6%

80

ICF International

$799M

31% 33% 15%

81

Volterra Semiconductor

$153M

21% 46% 14%

82

Heritage-Crystal Clean

$123M

13% 11% 21%

83

Hickory Tech

$164M

11% 12% 27%

84

Dorman Products

$498M 10% 22% 13%

85 $633M

48% 31% 6%


16/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

Rovi

86

Liquidity Services

$330M

24% 10% 13%

87

Zoll Medical

$492M

16% 34% 7%

88

Chart Industries

$662M

6% 15% 14%

89

National PrestoIndustries

$463M

19% 31% 15%

90

Altra Holdings

$585M

5% 39% 10%

91

Hibbett Sporting Goods

$697M

8% 7% 24%

92

Emergent Biosolutions

$284M

16% 13% 16%


17/18


Growth

Earnings per

Share Growth

Return on

Equity

93

DreamWorks Animation

$791

M

13% 35% 13%

94

Hawkins

$312M

18% 27% 17%

95

Atlantic Tele-Network

$782M

34% 15% 16%

96

FEI

$747M

8% 11% 7%

97

B&G Foods

$528M

6% 11% 12%

98

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers

$916M

13% 18% 21%

99

Calavo Growers

$482M

9% 36% 15%

100

Copart

$872M

10% 10% 17%

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18/18

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