2006 price change: +58.2 percent

BMC Software may be in a boring business -- it provides software that helps businesses manage their servers and databases -- but its profit growth has excited investors. Earnings are expected to climb 33 percent in the current fiscal year.

2007 outlook: Sales have been slowing. And shares are trading near a six-year high. Most Wall Street analysts are recommending a “hold” on the stock. Only two out of 17 analysts polled by Thomson First Call have a “buy” or “strong buy” rating on BMC.