(MONEY Magazine) – Houston-based oil-services firm Veritas DGC was the hottest stock of the '90s, with a sizzling 146% annualized return for the past 8 1/2 years. But the top performers list was dominated by companies that rode the decade's technology and financial services boom. The 19 tech winners ranged from big names like Dell Computer (up 103% a year) and Microsoft (up 56%) to less familiar ones like Recoton (up 47%), a Florida firm that supplies electronic equipment for audio systems, which was also one of the best stocks in the bull market period.

Eleven financial services stocks made the top 50, led by Professionals Group (up 61%), a tiny ($133 million market cap) firm that writes liability policies for doctors and lawyers. As if to underscore the massive consolidation that has been driving this industry, 31st-place Conseco, with a market cap of $15 billion, acquired 38th-place Green Tree Financial, with a market cap of $6 billion, on June 30, 1998. --M.F.

% ANNUALIZED GAIN since VALUE PRICE Jan. 1, of $1,000 STOCK[1] (Symbol) June 30 1990 investment[2]

1. Veritas DGC (VTS) $49.94 145.7% $2,080,729 2. Dell Computer (DELL) 92.81 102.7 405,000 3. EMC (EMC) 44.81 82.4 165,462 4. Midcoast Energy Resources (MRS) 23.25 79.2 142,307 5. NBTY (NBTY) 18.38 76.6 126,000 6. Jack Henry & Associates (JKHY) 34.38 74.5 113,837 7. Republic Industries (RII) 25.06 73.1 105,885 8. Theragenics (THRX) 26.06 72.7 104,042 9. Tellabs (TLAB) 71.63 70.2 91,680 10. Clear Channel Communications (CCU) 109.13 69.4 88,194 11. Maxicare Health Plans (MAXI) 6.75 64.9 70,130 12. Professionals Group (PICM) 37.50 60.9 57,043 13. Pre-Paid Legal Services (PPD) 31.56 60.6 56,111 14. Lexford Residential Trust (LFT) 19.13 59.6 53,217 15. Champion Enterprises (CHB) 29.38 57.3 47,000 16. Solectron (SLR) 42.06 56.7 45,627 17. Microsoft (MSFT) 108.38 56.4 44,845 18. HBO (HBOC) 35.25 55.5 42,713 19. American Power Conversion (APCC) 30.00 55.1 41,739 20. WorldCom (WCOM) 48.44 54.9 41,143 21. Westernbank Puerto Rico (WBPR) 16.88 52.8 36,655 22. Best Buy (BBY) 36.13 52.5 36,125 23. Thoratec Laboratories (THOR) 8.25 52.0 35,200 24. Keane (KEA) 56.00 52.0 35,163 25. Dollar General (DG) 39.56 51.4 33,891 26. Parametric Technology (PMTC) 27.13 49.8 31,000 27. Concord EFS (CEFT) 26.13 49.7 30,917 28. Computer Horizons (CHRZ) 37.06 49.7 30,843 29. Maxim Integrated Products (MXIM) 31.69 49.6 30,727 30. USA Waste Services (UW) 49.38 49.1 29,798 31. Conseco (CNC) 46.88 48.8 29,341 32. Cerprobe (CRPB) 13.13 48.7 29,099 33. Iomega (IOM) 5.88 48.5 28,776 34. Irwin Financial (IRWN) 29.06 48.5 28,738 35. Doral Financial (DORL) 17.50 48.2 28,373 36. Gencor Industries (GX) 20.13 48.2 28,302 37. Data Dimensions (DDIM) 17.06 47.6 27,300 38. Green Tree Financial (GNT) 42.81 47.3 26,910 39. TECHNE (TECH) 19.06 47.1 26,522 40. Recoton (RCOT) 33.50 47.0 26,469 41. Charles Schwab (SCH) 32.63 46.3 25,427 42. Paychex (PAYX) 40.69 46.3 25,375 43. SunAmerica (SAI) 57.44 45.8 24,710 44. Linear Technology (LLTC) 60.31 45.3 23,965 45. Electronic Arts (ERTS) 54.00 45.1 23,671 46. Inter-Tel A (INTL) 16.00 44.8 23,294 47. Fidelity National Financial (FNF) 39.81 44.7 23,126 48. ECI Telecom (ECILF) 37.88 44.7 23,079 49. Morgan Keegan (MOR) 25.88 44.3 22,595 50. Tech Data (TECD) 42.88 44.0 22,129 S&P 500 index -- 17.8 --

Notes: [1]With a market cap of at least $100 million [2]Invested Jan. 1, 1990 Source: Prudential Securities