(FORTUNE Magazine) – It should come as no surprise that the tech world is well represented on our fastest-growing companies list. The 32 tech companies come in all flavors: from computer maker Dell (No. 14) to e-commerce consultant i2 Technologies (No. 44). But tech isn't everything. Our list has 19 industrial firms (Oshkosh Truck, No. 72) and 16 health-care outfits (diabetes product supplier Polymedica, No. 19). To get on this list, compiled by Zacks Investment Research, companies had to be based in the U.S., have been in operation for three years, and have revenues and market capitalization of at least $50 million. Now the tough part: They needed a 30% annual growth rate in both revenue and earnings per share for three years. That narrowed the pickings to 173. We then ranked those companies by growth in revenue and EPS, and by three-year total stock market return. Add the scores in those three categories and...Voila! you have our ranking of 100 fast-moving companies, (most of) which didn't do too badly for investors. (The ranking includes tie scores.) Of course, to stay on this list next year, these companies, like No. 1, Siebel Systems, will have to keep on moving.

FORTUNE's list is determined by how companies rank in EPS growth, revenue growth, and total return

[A] EARNINGS-PER-SHARE GROWTH three-yr. annual rate RANK [B] NET INCOME past four quarters (millions) [C] REVENUE GROWTH three-yr. annual rate RANK [D] REVENUE past four quarters (millions)

100 RANK [A] [B] [C] [D]

1 SIEBEL SYSTEMS 146% $81.0 218% $525.8 SAN MATEO, CALIF. 9 2 2 MERITAGE 302% $18.7 497% $291.8 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. 2 1 3 THQ 136% $28.1 94% $267.4 CALABASAS, CALIF. 11 19 4 NETWORK APPLIANCE 110% $35.6 85% $289.4 SUNNYVALE, CALIF. 20 28 5 CITRIX SYSTEMS 100% $92.8 140% $322.6 FORT LAUDERDALE 27 8 5 SALTON 107% $35.3 69% $441.0 MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL. 21 39 7 LABOR READY 188% $27.4 86% $734.2 TACOMA 5 27 8 VERITAS SOFTWARE 74% $76.9 87% $351.3 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. 44 26 9 JAKKS PACIFIC 74% $10.3 143% $119.0 MALIBU, CALIF. 47 6 9 PILGRIM CAPITAL 111% $13.0 62% $52.4 PHOENIX 19 51 11 ACTRADE INTERNATIONAL 87% $5.9 101% $166.9 NEW YORK CITY 34 17 11 VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR 78% $69.0 63% $254.2 CAMARILLO, CALIF. 40 50 13 CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS 84% $36.4 72% $496.7 HOUSTON 38 36 14 DELL COMPUTER 88% $1,589.0 53% $19,860.0 ROUND ROCK, TEXAS 33 68 15 CREE RESEARCH 123% $12.7 56% $60.1 DURHAM, N.C. 14 64 16 AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS 207% $60.5 32% $633.3 WARRENDALE, PA. 4 99 16 QUALCOMM 62% $104.8 87% $3,803.7 SAN DIEGO 60 25 18 ARGUSS HOLDINGS 51% $4.8 139% $167.9 ROCKVILLE, MD. 77 9 19 POLYMEDICA 147% $8.8 76% $115.7 WOBURN, MASS. 8 33 20 KELLSTROM INDUSTRIES 69% $26.1 152% $280.2 SUNRISE, FLA. 53 5 20 RAILAMERICA 180% $5.0 56% $83.4 BOCA RATON, FLA. 7 63 22 ARMOR HOLDINGS 106% $9.6 118% $104.4 JACKSONVILLE 22 12 23 EXTENDED STAY AMERICA 106% $34.6 213% $354.7 FORT LAUDERDALE 23 3 24 ACTION PERFORMANCE 69% $31.3 114% $331.0 PHOENIX 52 13 24 TEKELEC 187% $18.5 46% $183.2 CALABASAS, CALIF. 6 80 26 LEGATO SYSTEMS 71% $31.7 66% $192.3 PALO ALTO 50 45 27 BIOMATRIX 90% $21.2 65% $72.2 RIDGEFIELD, N.J. 31 46 27 MONACO COACH 85% $35.3 43% $715.3 COBURG, ORE. 37 83 29 ASPECT DEVELOPMENT 122% $11.1 76% $83.8 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. 16 32 29 COMPUWARE 100% $381.7 40% $1,742.9 FARMINGTON HILLS, MICH. 26 88 29 HAUPPAUGE DIGITAL 99% $3.0 53% $50.9 HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. 28 69 29 VISX 56% $73.2 61% $194.2 SANTA CLARA, CALIF. 73 55 29 ZOMAX 39% $8.8 93% $135.7 PLYMOUTH, MINN. 94 21 34 AVT 102% $12.7 38% $99.0 KIRKLAND, WASH. 24 93 34 PACIFIC SUNWEAR OF CALIF. 92% $24.7 43% $341.4 ANAHEIM, CALIF. 30 82 36 MERCURY INTERACTIVE 86% $27.9 47% $151.7 SUNNYVALE, CALIF. 35 76 36 SUMMA INDUSTRIES 61% $6.1 124% $101.5 TORRANCE, CALIF. 63 11 38 AUTONATION 112% $876.3 94% $19,049.1 FORT LAUDERDALE 18 20 39 WHITTMAN-HART 60% $23.7 84% $389.5 CHICAGO 68 29 40 PROFIT RECOVERY GROUP INTL. 101% $23.7 57% $260.5 ATLANTA 25 59 41 BIOGEN 73% $168.6 53% $675.0 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 48 67 42 AAVID THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES 208% $9.3 33% $196.9 CONCORD, N.H. 3 98 43 RAINFOREST CAFE 76% $13.1 125% $242.7 HOPKINS, MINN. 43 10 44 I2 TECHNOLOGIES 55% $28.2 113% $455.5 IRVING, TEXAS 74 14 45 MTR GAMING GROUP 99% $7.4 48% $88.4 CHESTER, W. VA. 29 75 45 OSTEOTECH 79% $12.3 30% $68.9 EATONTOWN, N.J. 39 100 47 RESOURCE AMERICA 39% $30.1 107% $124.5 PHILADELPHIA 95 16 48 TOWER AUTOMOTIVE 50% $106.2 109% $1,942.7 MINNEAPOLIS 79 15 49 CADE INDUSTRIES 123% $4.6 53% $100.0 OKEMOS, MICH. 15 66 49 INSIGHT ENTERPRISES 52% $26.1 64% $1,262.0 TEMPE, ARIZ. 75 47 51 ANALYTICAL SURVEYS 61% $9.9 90% $116.6 INDIANAPOLIS 62 24 51 HNC SOFTWARE 89% $13.0 74% $205.5 SAN DIEGO 32 34 53 CENTURY BUSINESS SERVICES 60% $50.0 140% $445.1 CLEVELAND 65 7 54 CUTTER & BUCK 63% $8.0 67% $107.3 SEATTLE 59 43 55 CIBER 67% $53.9 68% $702.0 ENGLEWOOD, COLO. 54 40 55 FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MTGE. 41% $5.6 51% $113.7 WASHINGTON, D.C. 90 71 55 FUNCO 130% $9.6 36% $216.3 EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN. 12 95 55 MINIMED 59% $16.7 47% $170.5 SYLMAR, CALIF. 70 77 59 COLORADO MEDTECH 46% $6.8 50% $60.7 BOULDER, COLO. 83 74 59 TSR 77% $4.8 41% $84.7 HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. 41 85 61 DYCOM INDUSTRIES 50% $30.0 47% $427.7 PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. 80 78 61 MODTECH HOLDINGS 42% $10.6 81% $121.6 PERRIS, CALIF. 89 31 63 SAPIENT 40% $16.4 83% $216.3 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 93 30 63 SLI 40% $36.7 158% $799.5 CANTON, MASS. 91 4 65 NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS 57% $29.0 59% $397.5 PERRIS, CALIF. 72 56 65 VISIO 65% $39.3 61% $194.1 SEATTLE 58 54 67 NBTY 72% $25.5 57% $594.0 BOHEMIA, N.Y. 49 58 68 DAYTON SUPERIOR 124% $12.3 46% $303.7 DAYTON 13 79 68 KEANE 77% $109.9 44% $1,150.2 BOSTON 42 81 70 NCS HEALTHCARE 61% $15.3 99% $688.7 BEACHWOOD, OHIO 61 18 70 TELLABS 66% $442.5 39% $1,954.9 LISLE, ILL. 56 90 72 OSHKOSH TRUCK 65% $26.0 39% $1,094.1 OSHKOSH, WIS. 57 89 73 QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL 74% $87.3 63% $1,498.7 DURHAM, N.C. 45 49 74 HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GROUP 51% $15.3 63% $196.3 BETHESDA, MD. 78 48 75 MICREL 38% $20.7 43% $158.1 SAN JOSE 96 84 75 PREMIER BANCSHARES 34% $18.9 70% $147.4 ATLANTA 98 38 77 WINDMERE DURABLE HLDGS. 375% $21.1 35% $537.8 MIAMI LAKES, FLA. 1 97 78 MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL 45% $33.7 70% $107.2 PHOENIX 85 37 79 SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS 69% $49.8 56% $526.9 BALTIMORE 51 61 79 URS 31% $26.2 61% $839.7 SAN FRANCISCO 100 53 81 GREATER BAY BANCORP 32% $18.4 62% $136.1 PALO ALTO 99 52 82 FYI 47% $22.5 73% $288.5 DALLAS 82 35 82 RCM TECHNOLOGIES 44% $12.9 91% $263.2 PENNSAUKEN, N.J. 87 23 84 VERITAS DGC 142% $31.5 38% $463.5 HOUSTON 10 94 85 MORRISON KNUDSEN 49% $42.9 92% $2,030.2 BOISE 81 22 86 BLUEGREEN 120% $17.4 35% $262.5 BOCA RATON, FLA. 17 96 87 SCHULER HOMES 86% $19.3 52% $387.5 HONOLULU 36 70 88 CKE RESTAURANTS 59% $74.4 68% $1,959.6 ANAHEIM, CALIF. 69 42 88 REXALL SUNDOWN 74% $67.1 56% $590.2 BOCA RATON, FLA. 46 60 90 RENAL CARE GROUP 44% $40.8 67% $448.8 NASHVILLE 88 44 91 HOLLYWOOD PARK 40% $20.1 68% $617.2 INGLEWOOD, CALIF. 92 41 91 IMPATH 60% $8.2 58% $68.9 NEW YORK CITY 67 57 93 TEJON RANCH 67% $4.3 50% $55.9 LEBEC, CALIF. 54 72 94 EL PASO ENERGY 60% $194.0 50% $6,129.0 HOUSTON 66 73 94 RESMED 45% $14.5 39% $82.8 SAN DIEGO 86 92 96 CONCORD EFS 37% $63.0 56% $572.8 MEMPHIS 97 62 97 DOLLAR TREE STORES 45% $75.4 40% $1,043.8 CHESAPEAKE, VA. 84 87 98 TECH DATA 51% $133.9 55% $13,221.8 CLEARWATER, FLA. 76 65 99 STEWART INFORMATION SVCS. 61% $48.0 39% $1,019.6 HOUSTON 64 91 100 POMEROY COMPUTER RES. 59% $21.0 41% $656.7 HEBRON, KY. 71 86

[E] TOTAL RETURN three-yr. annual rate ([#]=beat S&P 500) [F] [TOTAL RETURN] RANK [G] STOCK PRICE one-year change From August 5, 1998. [H] Price on 8/5/99 [I] P/E est. one year forward

[E] [F] [G] [H] [I]

[SIEBEL SYSTEMS] 105%[#] 6 120% $55.63 63 [MERITAGE] 64%[#] 29 -32% $11.25 5 [THQ] 99%[#] 9 58% $28.50 12 [NETWORK APPLIANCE] 96%[#] 11 159% $54.38 80 [CITRIX SYSTEMS] 65%[#] 28 52% $48.13 40 [SALTON] 119%[#] 3 158% $24.50 9 [LABOR READY] 58%[#] 34 -11% $17.19 19 [VERITAS SOFTWARE] 95%[#] 12 119% $55.94 88 [JAKKS PACIFIC] 60%[#] 32 169% $27.25 21 [PILGRIM CAPITAL] 88%[#] 15 28% $31.38 15 [ACTRADE INTERNATIONAL] 40%[#] 46 -12% $13.63 N.A. [VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR] 103%[#] 7 89% $64.38 71 [CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS] 66%[#] 27 -32% $39.69 13 [DELL COMPUTER] 186%[#] 1 45% $38.75 56 [CREE RESEARCH] 72%[#] 25 312% $27.81 50 [AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS] 125%[#] 2 66% $37.88 25 [QUALCOMM] 75%[#] 20 392% $143.19 71 [ARGUSS HOLDINGS] 73%[#] 24 -8% $16.19 N.A. [POLYMEDICA] 21% 72 93% $18.06 16 [KELLSTROM INDUSTRIES] 32%[#] 57 -59% $10.56 7 [RAILAMERICA] 43%[#] 45 65% $10.00 15 [ARMOR HOLDINGS] 9% 87 1% $9.31 15 [EXTENDED STAY AMERICA] -9% 96 22% $9.94 21 [ACTION PERFORMANCE] 31%[#] 59 10% $30.75 17 [TEKELEC] 55%[#] 38 -44% $11.25 25 [LEGATO SYSTEMS] 61%[#] 31 65% $68.50 62 [BIOMATRIX] 39%[#] 53 -14% $20.75 26 [MONACO COACH] 97%[#] 10 161% $26.69 13 [ASPECT DEVELOPMENT] 13% 84 -37% $18.00 126 [COMPUWARE] 86%[#] 18 16% $27.69 23 [HAUPPAUGE DIGITAL] 57%[#] 35 146% $27.31 63 [VISX] 110%[#] 4 472% $87.81 78 [ZOMAX] 87%[#] 17 317% $50.00 26 [AVT] 87%[#] 16 39% $30.06 26 [PACIFIC SUNWEAR OF CALIF.] 74%[#] 21 25% $24.13 26 [MERCURY INTERACTIVE] 73%[#] 23 137% $46.25 57 [SUMMA INDUSTRIES] 29%[#] 60 49% $13.75 10 [AUTONATION] -15% 98 -20% $15.00 13 [WHITTMAN-HART] 52%[#] 40 9% $23.94 46 [PROFIT RECOVERY GROUP INTL.] 33%[#] 56 100% $47.00 48 [BIOGEN] 67%[#] 26 169% $71.13 51 [AAVID THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES] 46%[#] 42 98% $20.13 15 [RAINFOREST CAFE] -39% 99 -37% $7.13 11 [I2 TECHNOLOGIES] 26% 68 50% $30.81 76 [MTR GAMING GROUP] 36%[#] 54 19% $2.72 N.A. [OSTEOTECH] 81%[#] 19 40% $20.75 24 [RESOURCE AMERICA] 40%[#] 48 -61% $12.50 10 [TOWER AUTOMOTIVE] 28%[#] 66 -6% $21.81 11 [CADE INDUSTRIES] 17% 80 0% $2.78 N.A. [INSIGHT ENTERPRISES] 53%[#] 39 37% $27.63 25 [ANALYTICAL SURVEYS] 19% 77 -9% $21.50 17 [HNC SOFTWARE] -13% 97 -15% $33.75 41 [CENTURY BUSINESS SERVICES] 0% 92 -33% $13.19 23 [CUTTER & BUCK] 28%[#] 65 -12% $14.75 14 [CIBER] 20% 75 -41% $18.00 14 [FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MTGE.] 99%[#] 8 25% $20.81 34 [FUNCO] 29%[#] 62 -3% $15.31 10 [MINIMED] 73%[#] 22 210% $75.25 108 [COLORADO MEDTECH] 94%[#] 13 179% $19.00 24 [TSR] 46%[#] 10 -5% $7.69 44 [DYCOM INDUSTRIES] 93%[#] 34 119% $44.75 14 [MODTECH HOLDINGS] 39%[#] 12 -34% $12.25 52 [SAPIENT] 39%[#] 51 33% $57.75 52 [SLI] 17% 79 9% $22.00 15 [NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS] 40%[#] 47 18% $26.13 9 [VISIO] 28%[#] 63 -11% $31.19 25 [NBTY] 25% 70 -51% $6.31 20 [DAYTON SUPERIOR] 12% 86 3% $19.50 10 [KEANE] 35%[#] 55 -54% $22.63 16 [NCS HEALTHCARE] -44% 100 -86% $3.97 6 [TELLABS] 59%[#] 33 71% $60.63 48 [OSHKOSH TRUCK] 57%[#] 36 138% $55.25 16 [QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL] 9% 89 -20% $35.50 27 [HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GROUP] 32%[#] 58 -30% $11.25 13 [MICREL] 107%[#] 5 127% $72.69 53 [PREMIER BANCSHARES] 40%[#] 49 -24% $17.44 22 [WINDMERE DURABLE HLDGS.] 9% 88 -48% $12.44 15 [MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL] 28%[#] 67 10% $23.00 16 [SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS] 17% 78 -16% $23.31 22 [URS] 55%[#] 37 52% $23.88 14 [GREATER BAY BANCORP] 51%[#] 41 2% $33.63 15 [FYI] 19% 76 25% $34.00 23 [RCM TECHNOLOGIES] 14% 83 -21% $13.69 10 [VERITAS DGC] 3% 91 -48% $16.69 21 [MORRISON KNUDSEN] 0% 93 -23% $10.06 12 [BLUEGREEN] 13% 85 -29% $5.75 8 [SCHULER HOMES] -3% 94 -6% $7.31 7 [CKE RESTAURANTS] 5% 90 -54% $13.56 10 [REXALL SUNDOWN] -3% 95 -43% $11.94 14 [RENAL CARE GROUP] 22% 71 -8% $23.00 20 [HOLLYWOOD PARK] 21% 73 35% $14.75 26 [IMPATH] 14% 82 2% $24.50 22 [TEJON RANCH] 16% 81 39% $28.94 N.A. [EL PASO ENERGY] 25% 69 5% $35.50 17 [RESMED] 62%[#] 30 37% $30.31 22 [CONCORD EFS] 39%[#] 50 39% $32.50 37 [DOLLAR TREE STORES] 46%[#] 43 -10% $37.88 31 [TECH DATA] 21% 74 -17% $35.56 15 [STEWART INFORMATION SVCS.] 29%[#] 61 -13% $22.38 8 [POMEROY COMPUTER RES.] 28%[#] 64 -43% $13.50 7

[SIEBEL SYSTEMS] [Technology] Siebel's Web-based customer services software connects employees and streamlines marketing and sales departments. Customers include Microsoft and Chase. [MERITAGE] [Industrial] This builder of mid-level and luxury homes turned to Goethe for its motto: "Architecture is music frozen in space." Nothing frozen about its 11 straight years of record profits.

[THQ] [Technology] Pop culture has boosted sales for this interactive entertainment software maker. A sampling of its game portfolio: WCW wrestling, Rugrats, and A Bug's Life.

[NETWORK APPLIANCE] [Technology] NetApp takes UNIX workstations, Windows, database applications, and the Web, dumps them into an e-blender, and spits out smooth, compatible pools of data.

[CITRIX SYSTEMS] [Technology] With Citrix server-based software, clients like AT&T, Chevron, and Sears integrate their Windows- and Web-based applications without having to rewrite complex code.

[SALTON] [Industrial] The joy of cooking. Salton sells a broad range of cooking gadgets, from the campy George Foreman Grill to fancy Farberware pots and pans.

[LABOR READY] [Other] Seven hundred of the blue-collar temps who work for this company set up for the Superbowl, and 200 prepared St. Louis for the Pope's visit last year.

[VERITAS SOFTWARE] [Technology] This storage-management software company protects against data loss and file corruption. It has bulked up by acquiring some key competitors. That's the truth.

[JAKKS PACIFIC] [Other] Bets are on "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Action figures licensed from the World Wrestling Federation helped this toymaker pin down the competition.

[PILGRIM CAPITAL] [Financial services] Pilgrim is one of the few investment services outfits on this year's list. It's not likely to be here again. ReliaStar is expected to buy Pilgrim later this year.

[ACTRADE INTERNATIONAL] [Financial services] Actrade: Our commercial transaction system is "the most significant new development in commerce during the past century"--plus 11 consecutive quarters of revenue and earnings growth.

[VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR] [Technology] Most of the world's telecom companies use Vitesse chips, so virtually every long-distance call passes through its integrated circuits.

CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS] [Industrial] CG is buying up commercial printing companies and pulling one of the oldest industries in the U.S. into the high-tech Digital Age.

[DELL COMPUTER] [Technology] Dell's direct-to-customer business model has made it the No. 2 computer maker in the world--and the best-performing stock of the decade.

[CREE RESEARCH] [Technology] Let there be light-emitting diodes. Cree makes the silicon- carbide-based semiconductors that illuminate dashboards, streetlights, and the numbers on your cell phone.

[AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS] [Retail] This youth retailer strives to create a "lifestyle destination" for its 16- to 34-year-old customers. Watch for its clothes on Dawson's Creek.

[QUALCOMM] [Technology] Everybody's going wireless these days. Qualcomm makes that happen with its sleek phones and communications technology.

[ARGUSS HOLDINGS] [Technology] By installing coaxial cable, designing LAN networks, and wiring small businesses with fiber optics, these guys wire the wired world.

[POLYMEDICA] [Health care] This maker of direct-to-consumer diabetes supplies got a gift from Uncle Sam when Medicare expanded its diabetes coverage last summer.

[KELLSTROM INDUSTRIES] [Industrial] This commercial and defense aviation equipment outfit has been buying up companies like Aero Support. It specializes in selling engines and parts to the likes of GE.

[RAILAMERICA] [Other] Gotta move carloads of cattle? Call on RailAmerica. By gobbling up short-line and regional RRs, it now has more than 12,000 miles of track, from Montreal to Chile.

[ARMOR HOLDINGS] [Industrial] In 1996, Armor sold bulletproof vests. Three years and 15 acquisitions later, it sells riot gear of all kinds to multinationals and governments around the world.

[EXTENDED STAY AMERICA] [Other] Furnished studio-apartment-like rooms are the "home away from home" for many a weary business traveler on long-term assignment.

[ACTION PERFORMANCE] [Other] This motor sport merchandise seller is racing full speed ahead with licenses from top drivers and the launch of an e-commerce site: goracing.com.

[TEKELEC] [Technology] Still in recovery from earnings shortfalls as a result of R&D investment, Tekelec develops technology that brings together wire line and wireless voice and data networks.

[LEGATO SYSTEMS] [Technology] Legato Systems helps big companies manage, store, and protect data. Legato's software products are designed to make this simple for the user.

[BIOMATRIX] [Health care] A biotech pioneer in viscoelastic products. Simply put, that means eye drops, scar and wrinkle treatments, and a kneecap shock absorber for arthritis sufferers.

[MONACO COACH] [Industrial] Monaco is capitalizing on an RV renaissance. An aging population means growth for this maker of luxury motor coaches and recreational vehicles.

[ASPECT DEVELOPMENT] [Technology] Aspect's database of parts and supplies saves manufacturers money, but its under-par earnings startled Wall Street this spring. Its new Web presence could turn things around.

[COMPUWARE] [Technology] Software and support services for IT professionals. The Y2K frenzy fueled its rapid growth. Compuware is one of the biggest software makers, with $1.7 billion in sales.

[HAUPPAUGE DIGITAL] [Technology] Its WinTV circuitboards and TV tuner cards allow viewers to watch TV on their PCs.

[VISX] [Health care] Visx's patented lasers allow nearsighted folks to opt for surgery over glasses. Now the lasers have been approved for farsighted patients too.

[ZOMAX] [Technology] Zomax is on an acquisition binge to become the leading provider of outsourcing services to software publishers and computer manufacturers.

[AVT] [Technology] AVT's software enables companies to access e-mail, fax, and voice messages via computer and telephone. Sales are strong for its popular CallXpress program.

[PACIFIC SUNWEAR OF CALIF.] [Retail] This surfboard and skateboard fashion retailer is reaching beyond suburban teens to urban, multicultural shoppers with the opening of its hip-hop-inspired D.E.M.O. stores.

[MERCURY INTERACTIVE] [Technology] Got a software bug? Mercury Interactive's computer network and Web-based software get rid of them. Its products also resolve Y2K and euro-conversion challenges.

[SUMMA INDUSTRIES] [Industrial] If it's plastic, there's a good chance Summa makes it. The company manufactures plastic components for everything from lighting fixtures to irrigation systems.

[AUTONATION] [Retail] The former Republic Industries is shedding operations to focus on its retail car business. The latest spinoff: its name-brand car rental business.

[WHITTMAN-HART] [Technology] Named after characters in the novel The Paper Chase, Whittman-Hart develops IT strategies to help middle-market companies grow. Its own growth is a good case study.

[PROFIT RECOVERY GROUP INTL.] [Other] This recovery audit firm hunts for lost profits (overpayments, underdeductions) and found $800 million last year. No trouble finding profits for itself.

[BIOGEN] [Health care] Sales of Avonex, a drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, generated 71% of this biopharmaceutical company's revenues last year.

[AAVID THERMAL TECHNOLOGIES] [Technology] Aavid is a hot property because it keeps things cool. The maker of devices to prevent computer chips from overheating announced in June that it was considering a sale.

[RAINFOREST CAFE] [Retail] This chain of 35 theme restaurants and gift shops feeds the hungry while it educates them about the rain forest and raises money for environmental causes.

[I2 TECHNOLOGIES] [Technology] This provider of supply chain management and e-business solutions recently entered a partnership with IBM to jointly market e-business software.

[MTR GAMING GROUP] [Other] MTR owns and operates gaming and entertainment complexes in West Virginia and Nevada. Baby-boomers flock to its speakeasy-themed casinos.

[OSTEOTECH] [Health care] Using tissue from deceased human donors, this biomedical company processes bone and connective tissue for grafts and transplants.

[RESOURCE AMERICA] [Financial services] RAI started as a natural gas producer and then expanded into other areas, including real estate financing and commercial equipment leasing.

[TOWER AUTOMOTIVE] [Industrial] A maker of auto chassis, suspension systems, and other car essentials, Tower has been growing through acquisitions and developing new technology.

[CADE INDUSTRIES] [Industrial] Cade stays airborne by supplying aerospace products, jet-engine-testing facilities, and Y2K support to aircraft companies.

[INSIGHT ENTERPRISES] [Technology] This marketer of computers and software was founded by two brothers with $2,000. Today, Insight sells more than a billion dollars' worth of stuff over the phone and on the Web.

[ANALYTICAL SURVEYS] [Technology] This digital mapmaker has had no trouble spreading out. Two major acquisitions doubled both sales and earnings in fiscal year '98.

[HNC SOFTWARE] [Technology] HNC's technology helps predict consumer behavior. It recently launched eFalcon, a Web version of its credit-card-fraud detection software.

[CENTURY BUSINESS SERVICES] [Other] In just over two years this one-stop shop for payroll, HR, and other back office services has acquired 123 smaller firms.

[CUTTER & BUCK] [Retail] A specialty golf clothing maker that sells its wares through golf pro shops and department stores, C&B now has one retail store in Seattle and a second set to open in Denver. [CIBER] [Technology] These IT consultants are growing with e-commerce and ERP. Ten percent of its revenues are from Y2K fixes.

[FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL MTGE.] [Financial services] Created by Congress, Farmer Mac took off in 1996. Similar to cousins Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, it securitizes farm loans.

[FUNCO] [Retail] Coming soon, a FuncoLand store near you. The videogame retailer plans to open 90 new stores in the next year, for a total of 400. It's also hawking its games in virtual space.

[MINIMED] [Health care] MiniMed dominates the market for insulin-injection pumps used to treat diabetes. New digs: now building a $100 million headquarters.

[COLORADO MEDTECH] [Health care] CMED has carved a niche as a full-service provider of medical products. (Think surgical gloves and those balloon catheters that clean your arteries.)

[TSR] [Technology] Another beneficiary of Y2K fear and paranoia. Revenues jumped 23% last year. Its main business is providing IT professionals to major firms in the New York area.

[DYCOM INDUSTRIES] [Industrial] This engineering and construction company splits its business between cable and telephone customers. Nice company to keep as those sectors grow.

[MODTECH HOLDINGS] [Industrial] Remember portable classrooms? Modtech makes 'em. Sales went up when California mandated smaller class size but suffered from that state's budget delays.

[SAPIENT] [Technology] This technology consulting firm got a shot of creative adrenaline this year when it snagged hot West Coast Web-design shop Studio Archetype.

[SLI] [Industrial] Lighting systems made by SLI illuminate exhibits in the Louvre and provide special effects for Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

[NATIONAL RV HOLDINGS] [Industrial] Three years ago National hit gold by introducing motor homes with expandable walls. Now it's revving up for the real gold mine: retiring baby-boomers.

[VISIO] [Technology] Proving that pictures can be worth millions (16 straight quarters of rising profits), Visio's diagramming programs now run on more than three million computers worldwide.

[NBTY] [Health care] Vitamin dealer NBTY hopes to energize its stock price by opening more stores and beefing up its mail-order business.

[DAYTON SUPERIOR] [Industrial] Without Dayton's metal molds, concrete would just...ooze. Its products help bridges and buildings take shape.

[KEANE] [Technology] Keane built a reputation as the go-to consultant for Y2K problems. It recently started a consulting practice for strategic IT planning and opened a branch in Europe.

[NCS HEALTHCARE] [Health care] Not all retirees settle in Sarasota, Fla. NCS provides pharmacy and long-term health-care services to nursing centers and assisted-living facilities located mostly in the Northeast.

[TELLABS] [Technology] Its voice, data, and video transport and network systems are used by telecoms and wireless service providers around the world. Now expanding in Europe.

[OSHKOSH TRUCK] [Industrial] The military transport company is now expanding into glamour vehicles like cement mixers and fire engines. Fast growth? In one day, Oshkosh hired five vice presidents.

[QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL] [Health care] Quintiles does research, testing, and health-care policy consulting for pharmaceutical and medical device providers. It expands its client base through acquisitions.

[HANGER ORTHOPEDIC GROUP] [Health care] Hanger dominates the market for specialty orthotic and prosthetic services. The July purchase of NovaCare, its biggest competitor, will double the size of the company.

[MICREL] [Technology] Micrel designs and manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. It gets a boost from the popularity of laptops and cell phones.

[PREMIER BANCSHARES] [Financial services] Premier has three acquisitions under way--and then it intends to sell itself. BB&T, a bank holding company, expects to complete its acquisition of Premier next year.

[WINDMERE DURABLE HLDGS.] [Industrial] Windmere's gadgets toast your bread, curl your hair, clean your cat's litterbox, and are sold as Kmart and Target brands. New addition: Black & Decker household products.

[MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL] [Health care] Medicis can help clean up your acne or eczema, but you won't find their products at the drugstore. This dermatological prescriptions supplier sells to wholesalers.

[SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS] [Other] The private-education giant is expanding overseas. This year it bought a for-profit university in Spain and plans to build a network of schools in Europe and Latin America.

[URS] [Other] In June, URS bought Dames & Moore Group. The purchase creates a giant global engineering company with $2 billion in revenues and 15,000 employees.

[GREATER BAY BANCORP] [Financial services] This bank holding company has grown through acquisitions and its commitment to client service. Of course, having Silicon Valley as its target market doesn't hurt.

[FYI] [Other] FYI does the document drudge work for its law, banking, and insurance clients. Recent acquisitions have expanded its work force to 8,000.

[RCM TECHNOLOGIES] [Other] A temp agency for geeks. RCM has been acquiring other companies and now has a national base for its skilled IT and engineering professionals.

[VERITAS DGC] [Other] This geophysical data outfit uses high-tech computers to help oil and gas customers like Exxon and Shell decide where, on land or at sea, to drill.

[MORRISON KNUDSEN] [Industrial] Bought when it came out of bankruptcy three years ago, this construction and engineering firm builds big stuff like bridges and pipelines.

[BLUEGREEN] [Other] It began by matching rural landowners with urban refugees, and now sells resort vacations and time shares in the U.S. and Caribbean.

[SCHULER HOMES] [Industrial] Builder of affordably priced residential homes for first-time buyers. Schuler recently bought Rielly Homes and expanded to new geographic markets.

[CKE RESTAURANTS] [Retail] Founder Carl Karcher started with a hot dog cart and built a "quick service" food empire of 4,000 restaurants by eating up competitors like Hardee's.

[REXALL SUNDOWN] [Health care] Founded on a cheap sun block called Sundown, this vitamin vendor is trying to make a comeback with Cellasene, a product to eliminate cellulite.

[RENAL CARE GROUP] [Health care] Nephrology services for patients with kidney disease. A merger with Dialysis Centers of America increased the number of patients it serves to 13,200.

[HOLLYWOOD PARK] [Other] This casino and racetrack operator recently bought two casinos named Boomtown. An omen? The company saw its revenues skyrocket in the lastest quarter.

[IMPATH] [Health care] Physicians around the country FedEx biopsies to Impath for analysis--about 500 specimens a day. The company specializes in tough-to-analyze cancers.

[TEJON RANCH] [Other] Tejon owns--and is building on--270,000 acres of land in Southern California. It recently opened a 51-acre travel plaza on Interstate 5.

[EL PASO ENERGY] [Other] El Paso celebrated its 70th birthday by announcing the acquisition of rival Sonat. The merged company will have 40,000 miles of natural gas pipeline.

[RESMED] [Health care] Resmed makes medical devices for people who have trouble breathing because of sleep disorders. Earnings grew in the second quarter, and so did the R&D budget.

[CONCORD EFS] [Financial services] Concord is easing the shift from greenbacks to e-bucks with its hardware and software for automatic payment processing and electronic funds transfers.

[DOLLAR TREE STORES] [Retail] Who says a dollar can't buy anything anymore? This discount variety retail chain offers merchandise for a buck and sprouted over 125 new branches in 1999.

[TECH DATA] [Technology] The computer products distributor, which just bought Computer 2000, sells more than 75,000 products and services to resellers and retailers.

[STEWART INFORMATION SVCS.] [Financial services] What's good for the housing market is good for this provider of real estate information and title insurance. New technology should cut paperwork processing time.

[POMEROY COMPUTER RES.] [Technology] Run by a father-son team, this reseller provides installation, support, and ongoing maintenance when it sells microcomputers to businesses and local governments.