Top performing stocks of 2006

The overstock retailer recovered a lot of ground in 2006 that it had lost in prior years, sending shares up. Although Big Lots has shuttered 166 underperforming stores since late 2005, revenue grew 7 percent in 2006 under new merchandising initiatives by CEO Steve Fishman.

Just before 2006, Fishman launched a plan called "What's Important Now," or WIN, which included an effort to offer products at a wider range (mostly higher) of price points. The benefits of WIN have exceeded all expectations -- in March 2007, the company reported fourth-quarter earnings up a whopping 610 percent from the year-prior period. And it says it's hoping to achieve 20 percent annual earnings growth for the next few years.

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