2006 price change: +98.1%

Despite getting ensnared in the stock options backdating scandal and enduring a rough year for the chip sector overall, shares of the graphics chip maker have nearly doubled this year. The company�s chips are used in everything from gaming consoles like the PlayStation 3 to Motorola's Razr phone.

The stock has been on a tear since July, when AMD said it was buying rival graphics chip maker ATI Technologies. That tie-up has fueled speculation that a partnership of some sort will eventually spring up between Nvidia and Intel.

2007 outlook: While Intel is likely to make its way into high-end graphics processors, that doesn�t necessarily mean the company will seek a union with Nvidia. After the big run-up in 2006, it may be difficult for the stock to match this year�s performance.

Furthermore, just as the company finished an internal review of its stock option grants, it came under the scrutiny of the Department of Justice, which is investigating potential anti-competitive practices in the graphics chips industry.