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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Last updated on: September 19, 2011 08:40 IST

Image: Some firms are recording massive revenue.
Although the world is going through some tough economic times, there are companies that are posting astonishing growth.

Fortune magazine has just come out with a list of fastest-growing companies in the world.

Let us take a look at 20 of them. All the figures are based on three-year average.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: SXC is both a pharmacy benefits manager and a service provider to PBMs.

1. SXC Health Solutions

Revenue growth: 151 per cent

Profit growth: 65 per cent

Total return: 105 per cent

Revenue: $2593.9 million

Net income: $68.2 million

Industry: Health Care

SXC is both a pharmacy benefits manager and a service provider to PBMs.

With some $72 billion in branded drugs losing patent protection in the next five years, sales of generic alternatives are likely to rise.

SXC's PBM unit, which acts as middleman between the insurance company and the pharmacy, could be the beneficiary.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: The company dominates the single-serve market.

2. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Revenue growth: 63 per cent

Profit growth: 69 per cent

Total return: 120 per cent

Revenue: $1912.4 million

Net income: $113 million

Industry: Beverages

The company dominates the single-serve market and boasts customers such as ConAgra Foods, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, which use K-cups for hot cocoa, teas and coffees.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: It reported 51 per cent sales gains in 2010.

3. Hi-Tech Pharmacal

Revenue growth: 51 per cent

Profit growth: 234 per cent

Total return: 42 per cent

Revenue: $190.9

Net income: $41.5

Industry: Health Care

This maker of generic drugs for allergies, diabetes and pain reported 51 per cent sales gains in 2010 and has continued strong this year with a 45 per cent year-over-year increase in the most recent quarter.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Baidu's profit rose 78 per cent.

4. Baidu

Revenue growth: 65 per cent

Profit growth: 78 per cent

Total return: 65 per cent

Revenue: $1363.8 million

Net income: $619.7 million

Industry: Technology

Baidu holds 84 per cent of the Internet search market share (by query) in China, with its next closest competitor, Google, clutching a mere 8 per cent, according to iResearch.

20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: It celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2010.

5. Medifast

Revenue growth: 49 per cent

Profit growth: 87 per cent

Total return: 65 per cent

Revenue: $271.3 million

Net income: $21.1 million

Industry: Beverages

The company celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2010 by beefing up profits 73 per cent.

Revenue at its Take Shape for Life personal coaching division, which accounts for 65 per cent of Medifast's total, increased by 62 per cent.

20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Company's first product was a success.

6. Alexion Pharmacueticals

Revenue growth: 75 per cent

Profit growth: 82 per cent

Total return: 37 per cent

Revenue: $589.5 million

Net income: $102.9 million

Industry: Health Care

The company's first product to reach the market, Soliris - which treats a rare, but life-threatening disease that basically destroys red blood cells - has been a success.

Sales rose about 50 per cent in the most recent quarter compared to the equivalent period in 2010.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Discovery's non-US advertising revenue rose 25 per cent in the second quarter.

7. Discovery Communications

Revenue growth: 105 per cent

Profit growth: 79 per cent

Total return: 28 per cent

Revenue: $3855 million

Net income: $788 million

Industry: Entertainment

With programming in 38 languages, Discovery's non-US advertising revenue increased 25 per cent in the second quarter, while affiliate revenues-payments made to Discovery's networks by cable and satellite-TV providers-rose 18 per cent.

For the year, analysts expect earnings to jump 32 per cent.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Nine plants produce 740 million gallons of the fuel annually.

8. Green Plains Renewable Energy

Revenue growth: 299 per cent

Profit growth: 102 per cent

Total return: 22 per cent

Revenue: $2518.7 million

Net income: $40.2 million

Industry: Energy

Green Plains Renewable Energy's first ethanol-producing plant came online in Iowa in 2007, producing 15 million gallons that year.

Now the company's nine plants produce 740 million gallons of the fuel annually, making Green Plains the fourth-largest ethanol producer in North America.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Revenues rose 22 per cent in 2010.

9. Home Inns and Hotel Management

Revenue growth: 46 per cent

Profit growth: 94 per cent

Total return: 26 per cent

Revenue: $464.6 million

Net income: $51.6 million

Industry: Hotels

Tourism is blossoming in China, so it's no surprise that this Chinese budget-hotel chain has been growing, too.

Revenues for the company increased nearly 22 per cent in 2010; in its most recent quarter, that figure was 12 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year.

20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: The firearm manufacturer delivered a bang-up second quarter.

10. Sturm Ruger and Co

Revenue growth: 24 per cent

Profit growth: 848 per cent

Total return: 49 per cent

Revenue: $262.4 million

Net income: $27.9 million

Industry: Industrial

The firearm manufacturer delivered a bang-up second quarter, easily beating analysts' estimates: Sales increased 23 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2010 and profits shot up 33 per cent.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Fiscal year 2011 'was one hell of a year for Cirrus Logic'.

11. Cirrus Logic

Revenue growth: 24 per cent

Profit growth: 340 per cent

Total return: 42 per cent

Revenue: $369.6 million

Net income: $203.5 million

Industry: Technology

As their annual report puts it, fiscal year 2011 (which ended March 26) "was one hell of a year for Cirrus Logic".

The maker of chips for the iPad and iPhone has been booming along with its scaldingly hot customer.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: It saw profit growth of 59 per cent.

12. priceline.com

Revenue growth: 28 per cent

Profit growth: 59 per cent

Total return: 64 per cent

Revenue: $3309.8 million

Net income: $578.5 million

Industry: Technology

The discount travel broker, famous for its "name your own price" deals, lately seems to able to name its own sales.

Priceline.com-beamed to the forefront of America's consciousness with travel bookings growing at warp speed: 47 per cent in 2010.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Its high-quality products have hooked the fashion-conscious.

13. lululemon athletica

Revenue growth: 34 per cent

Profit growth: 47 per cent

Total return: 57 per cent

Revenue: $760.2 million

Net income: $135.6 million

Industry: Retail

Selling yoga pants at $98 a pop, workout gear retailer Lululemon might not seem like a good bet in tough times.

But its high-quality products have hooked the fashion-conscious and the fit-a crowd that still has discretionary income.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Its profit rose 50 per cent.

14. Concho Resources

Revenue growth: 41 per cent

Profit growth: 50 per cent

Total return: 35 per cent

Revenue: $1134.2 million

Net income: $179.4 million

Industry: Energy

When times are good in the oil industry, they're really good.

In this case, high prices have helped propel revenues at oil and natural gas company Concho Resources as its aggressive expansion increased its production to 15.6 million barrels.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: MercadoLibre added 10 million registered users in 2010.

15. MercadoLibre

Revenue growth: 33 per cent

Profit growth: 72 per cent

Total return: 32 per cent

Revenue: $232.2 million

Net income: $60.5 million

Industry: Electronic Auctions

The eBay of Latin America added 10 million registered users in 2010, continuing an extended period of growth in a region that is adding Internet users at a high rate.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: The firm doesn't dig for its own metals.

16. Silver Wheaton

Revenue growth: 39 per cent

Profit growth: 51 per cent

Total return: 31 per cent

Revenue: $495.6 million

Net income: $367.7 million

Industry: Mining

Silver Wheaton seems to have found a profit-generating strategy that's solid gold.

The precious metals company's business model has enabled it to reap the benefits of high silver prices, while keeping its costs under control.

The firm doesn't dig for its own metals. Instead, it pays mines an upfront fee in exchange for the right to purchase, at a fixed price, the silver they produce.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: It manages roughly $13 billion.

17. Ares Capital

Revenue growth: 32 per cent

Profit growth: 68 per cent

Total return: 35 per cent

Revenue: $552.6 million

Net income: $739.2 million

Industry: Financial Services

Managing roughly $13 billion as of June 30, Ares Capital has carved out a niche as a specialty financial company for so-called middle market companies - working with integrated debt and equity financing.

Its portfolio was boosted in 2010 in a merger with Allied Capital.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Trina Solar has increased its profits nearly 20-fold.

18. Trina Solar

Revenue growth: 66 per cent

Profit growth: 68 per cent

Total return: 14 per cent

Revenue: $2071.7 million

Net income: $314.6 million

Industry: Energy

Despite a bumpy 2011, Trina Solar has increased its profits nearly 20-fold to $584 million in 2010.

The Chinese solar company has made a name for itself with low-cost technology and global reach.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: It has grown at a breakneck pace in recent years.

19. Ebix

Revenue growth: 42 per cent

Profit growth: 48 per cent

Total return: 30 per cent

Revenue: $140.6 million

Net income: $61.8 million

Industry: Technology

The software and e-commerce provider to the insurance industry runs online exchanges and performs information technology consulting for more than 100 companies.

It has grown at a breakneck pace in recent years, landing near the top of Fortune's list of fastest growing companies in 2009 and 2010.

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20 fastest-growing companies in the world

Image: Its profit rose 39 per cent.

20. KapStone Paper and Packaging

Revenue growth: 44 per cent

Profit growth: 39 per cent

Total return: 35 per cent

Revenue: $812.9 million

Net income: $73.8 million

Industry: Industrial

With end products including pet food bags, beer cartons, and grocery bags, KapStone Paper and Packaging supplies the material for every paper product you can think of-and some you probably can't such as floors and even laminated house siding.