Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:48:50 GMT Server: Apache/1.1.1 Content-type: text/html Content-length: 136857 Last-modified: Sun, 15 Jun 1997 14:23:15 GMT OCC- Business Week Magazine, May 26, 1997
Optical Cable Corporation
Nasdaq symbol..."OCCF"


Optical Cable Corporation is proud to be ranked #58
in the Hot Growth Companies chart that follows.

Hot
Business Week Magazine - May 26, 1997

They're smart, they're agile--and they're piling up earnings.
Meet the stars of the small-cap set

Gradall Industries Inc. may not fit your idea of a typical hot-growth company. For starters, the New Philadelphia (Ohio) company was founded more than 50 years ago. And while many small-cap wonders soar by riding the latest high-tech wave, Gradall sells giant earthmovers and other equipment used in highway construction and on building sites.

In the early 1980s, Gradall was well on its way to becoming just another Rust Belt relic. Spun off from AlliedSignal Inc. in a 1983 leveraged buyout, Gradall had withered as a result of meager investment in new products. And intense competition from the Japanese cut profits. When a band of former International Harvester Co. executives took over in 1985, they named ex-Harvester manufacturing executive Barry Phillips president. He improved the quality of Gradall's existing machines and began pumping millions into new product development. ''The opportunity was always here,'' says Phillips, who became CEO in 1995. ''Somebody just had to work hard enough to make it happen.''

The hard work has certainly paid off. Earnings at Gradall have skyrocketed an average of 113% annually, to $8.3 million, over the past three years, while return on capital has averaged a stunning 72.7%. And steady sales growth has topped 25% annually, to hit $141 million. The dynamic mix of fast growth and red-hot profits was enough to earn Gradall the No.11 spot on BUSINESS WEEK's 1997 list of the 100 fastest-growing small companies.

That combination of drive, ingenuity, and agility marks all the companies on BUSINESS WEEK's 1997 Hot Growth list. It also keeps them charging ahead faster than much bigger rivals. Sure, many giants of Corporate America continue to boast impressive gains. But these tiny dynamos still put them to shame. For the past three years, the 100 companies saw average annual sales growth of 57.2%, vs. 8.21% for the Standard & Poor's Industrial index. Earnings grew 133%, vs. 22.38% for the S&P, while return on capital hit 32.5%, vs. 12.2%.

NICE NICHES. Unlike Gradall, many of these supercharged superstars are cashing in on the high-tech revolution. Software, computer, and telecom companies alone hogged 41 spots. ''Any company that helps you use information and knowledge efficiently will be hot,'' says Thomas L. Doorley III, senior partner at Boston-based consultants Braxton Associates, which develops growth strategies.

That includes No.1 Yurie Systems Inc., which sells equipment that allows for the speedy transmission of video, voice, and data over satellite and phone links. Vitech America Inc. (No.2) manufactures PCs in the north Brazilian town of Ilheus, selling many direct to local buyers. And i2 Technologies (No.8) makes prepackaged software that aids supply-chain management.

Other small companies are capitalizing on Corporate America's drive to outsource. General Employment Enterprises (No.15) provides computer and networking workers for the financial-services and software industries, while Data Processing Resources Corp. (No.16) does similar staffing for the health-care, auto, and entertainment industries. Health care--along with services geared to the aging U.S. population--also proved lucrative. Chad Therapeutics Inc. (No. 32) makes portable oxygen units, while Help at Home Inc. (No.39) provides home assistance to the elderly.

Yet mining a hot trend isn't the only route to success. Others have found lucrative niches following only their entrepreneurial instincts. Firearms Training Systems (No.6) provides systems for use by the military and law-enforcement agencies that simulate battlefield action or dangerous street arrests. And Apex PC Solutions Inc. (No.3) makes cabinets that help network managers organize their computers.

Still, buyer beware: Although many thrived operationally last year, small-companies--including many Hot Growth stars--saw their shares hammered. Growth stocks slid deeply last summer; tech shares in particular nosedived as Wall Street worried about rich valuations and the impact of a slowing economy. Says John W. Ballen, portfolio manager of MFS Emerging Growth Fund: ''1996 was a disaster if you focused on small growth companies.''

To cut risks, investors poured money into large companies, which were generating surprisingly strong earnings. The combination has made blue-chip stocks a better investment than small caps--and given small-cap investors a jolting roller-coaster ride. It wasn't until January that the Russell 2000 small-cap index made up for its summer losses--then it promptly plunged again in February when interest rates rose. Altogether, the S&P 500 has rung up a 25% gain over the past 12 months, while the Russell 2000 is up just 2%. Even many Hot Growth companies whose sales and earnings sparkled lagged. Stocks on this year's list traded at an average of 64.3% of their 52-week highs, while the S&P 500 is near its 52-week high.

The small-cap correction also put the brakes on the once sizzling market for IPOs. According to S&P, $49.2 billion was raised last year in the IPO market, well above 1995's $31.1 billion. But the pace has fallen off, with only $7 billion raised through April. But so far, venture capitalists haven't fled: Last year, a record $6 billion in venture funding was raised.

Despite the disastrous 1996, some believe small caps may rebound. ''We've already felt the bulk of the pain,'' says Jack H. Laporte, manager of T. Rowe Price's New Horizons Fund. A capital-gains tax cut looks likely, which could give growth stocks a boost. If the U.S. dollar remains strong, earnings at larger companies could be hit; small fry are generally less affected by exchange rates. And should the U.S. economy slow, growth stocks may regain Wall Street's favor.

Of course, even if the market picks up, there's always the risk of a fall for these dynamos (page 104). Some may stumble trying keep up the growth, while others may remain too tied to one trendy product. And for investors, there's the added risk of picking highfliers while Wall Street shuns such stocks. But for those able to ford these difficult streams, potential rewards are high as well.

By Amy Barrett in Washington


The Tops in Sales and Sales Growth

SALES
                     MILLIONS OF DOLLARS*
ALPHANET SOLUTIONS         $146.8
GRADALL INDUSTRIES          142.7
PRI AUTOMATION              140.9
FRENCH FRAGRANCES           140.5
ANCHOR GAMING               140.0
*LATEST FOUR QUARTERS

SALES GROWTH
                     AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE*
YURIE SYSTEMS                385.1 %
WEST COAST ENT.              198.2
SEACHANGE INTL.              194.3
I2 TECHNOLOGIES              151.1
ELTRON INTL.                 139.0
*LATEST THREE YEARS




EARNINGS
                     MILLIONS OF DOLLARS*
SPACEHAB                    $48.3
BELCO OIL & GAS              43.6
ANCHOR GAMING                32.2
INNOVEX                      23.8
BACOU USA                    19.4
*LATEST FOUR QUARTERS

EARNINGS GROWTH
                     AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE*
DATA PROCESSING            1,439.1 %
VITECH AMERICA               640.8
SEACHANGE INTL.              424.4
YURIE SYSTEMS                410.4
OVERLAND DATA                380.2
*LATEST THREE YEARS

DATA: STANDARD & POOR'S COMPUSTAT




The Tops in Market Value and Profitability

MARKET VALUE
                     MILLIONS OF DOLLARS*
I2 TECHNOLOGIES            $1,083.0
REMEDY                          901
BELCO OIL & GAS                 663
INNOVEX                         488
VERITAS SOFTWARE                465
*AS OF MAY 2,1997

PROFITABILITY
                     AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE*
GRADALL INDUSTRIES             72.7
YURIE SYSTEMS                  72.0
ABACUS DIRECT                  69.3
SPACEHAB                       67.5
ACG-COMM                       64.2
*LATEST THREE YEARS RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL

How Investors Fared

THE 1995 WINNERS...
                         TWO-YEAR TOTAL RETURN
APOLLO GROUP                    341.8%
SAFESKIN                        251.0
ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING         245.1
NOBILITY HOMES                  233.9
ENCAD                           212.8
NATIONAL TECHTEAM               175.6
JACK HENRY & ASSOCIATES         161.0
PMT SERVICES                    159.1
EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS              141.4
HIRSCH INTERNATIONAL            140.1

...AND THE LOSERS
                         TWO-YEAR TOTAL RETURN
NETWORK SIX                     -95.7%
BOLLINGER INDUSTRIES            -91.0
NETMANAGE                       -85.3
RIVER OAKS FURNITURE            -83.7
FTP SOFTWARE                    -82.9
GEERLINGS & WADE                -78.1
NOBLE ROMAN'S                   -78.0
WONDERWARE                      -72.5
EIS INTERNATIONAL               -70.5
TRANSMEDIA NETWORK              -67.4

CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF STOCK PRICE AS OF APR. 30;
EXCLUDES COMPANIES NO LONGER TRADING

DATA: STANDARD & POOR'S COMPUSTAT


1997 Hot Growth Companies

To win a position in this table, a company must excel in three ways. The selection process begins by ranking companies according to their three-year results in sales growth, earnings growth, and return on invested capital. The ranks in the table are calculated from these numbers. A company's composite rank is the sum of 0.5 times its rank in return on total capital, plus 0.25 times each of its growth ranks.

Standard & Poor's Compustat, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, which has computerized financial data on 10,000 publicly traded corporations, provided the pool of companies from which winners were selected. To qualify, a company has to have annual sales of more than $10 million and less than $150 million, a current market value greater than $1 million, a current stock price greater than $2, and be actively traded. Banks, insurers, real estate firms, and utilities are excluded. So are companies with sharp declines in current financial results, as well as companies where other developments raise quest ions about future performance.

SALES and EARNINGS are the latest available through the most recent 12 months. Earnings include net income from continuing operations, before gains or losses from extraordinary items.

INCREASES in SALES and PROFITS are calculated using the least-squares method. If results for the earliest year are negative, the average is for two years.

RETURN ON CAPITAL is earnings plus minority interests and tax- adjusted interest expense expressed as a percent of total debt and equity. For ranking purposes, the maximum allowable annual return on invested capital is 100%. If companies have made substantial accounting restatements, long-term returns may be averaged for two years instead of three years.

Time periods vary according to the month of a company's fiscal yearend. Profitability and growth are calculated based on the most recently available data.

STOCK PRICE data are as of May 2, 1997. A red dot indicates that a company also appeared in last year's rankings (BW_May 27, 1996).

COMPANY(STOCK SYMBOL)

CURRENT RESULTS

THREE YEAR AVERAGES

INVESTMENT DATA

SALES
$ MIL.

EARNINGS
$ MIL.

INCREASE (%)
SALES   PROFITS

RETURN ON
CAPITAL

STOCK PRICE
 52 WEEK
HIGH-LOW RECENT

P/E
RATIO

MARKET
VALUE
$ MIL.

1 YURIE SYSTEMS (YURI) Lanham, Md. 301-352-4600 Transports voice, video, and data traffic over a single network

26.2

3.0

385.1

410.4

72.0

17 – 9

11

81

259

2 VITECH AMERICA (VTCH) Miami 305-477-1161
Manufactures and distributes computers in Brazil

78.6

9.0

105.2

640.8

58.1

16 – 8

10

10

107

3 APEX PC SOLUTIONS (APEX) Woodinville, Wash. 206-402-9393
Their switching systems allow one person at one computer to operate multiple servers

37.3

4.6

114.4

95.8

53.6

11 – 7

9

19

108

4 PJ AMERICA (PJAM) Birmingham, Ala. 205-836-1212
Pizza, primarily take-out

16.8

1.4

74.0

138.1

50.5

22 – 12

15

24

71

5 POWERWAVE TECHNOLOGIES (PWAV) Irvine, Calif. 714-757-0530
Designs and makes radio-frequency power amplifiers for wireless networks

66.8

8.7

87.0

162.6

43.4

25 – 11

20

35

216

6 FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS (FATS) Suwanee, Ga. 770-813-0180
Provides simulation systems for small-arms training

79.4

11.6

62.7

113.8

51.7

16 – 9

14

20

286

7 INFINITY FINANCIAL TECH. (INFN) Mountain View, Calif. 415-940-6100
Software applications for financial trading and risk management

47.0

5.9

93.3

97.4

40.9

25 – 9

12

41

225

8 i2 TECHNOLOGIES (ITWO) Irving, Tex. 214-860-6000
Prepackaged software for supply chain management

95.8

7.2

151.1

93.1

36.5

59 – 24

44

176

1083

9 SAPIENT (SAPE) Cambridge, Mass. 617-621-0200
Business consulting and technology solutions

51.8

7.9

111.3

91.3

38.3

58 – 30

40

64

460

10 ABACUS DIRECT (ABDR) Westminster, Colo. 303-657-2800 Marketing and statistical modeling for direct-mail companies

20.3

4.6

59.8

55.5

69.3

33 – 16

27

57

257

11 GRADALL INDUSTRIES (GRDL) New Philadelphia, Ohio 330-339-2211
Need to dig a big hole or move a big load? Call this manufacturer of construction equipment

142.7

9.1

25.8

113.0

72.7

16 – 10

13

11

112

12 WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP (WTT) Paramus, N. J. 201-261-8797 *
Makes test equipment for wireless telecommunications

24.3

7.9

66.8

105.6

37.1

17 – 8

10

22

173

13 FORRESTER RESEARCH (FORR) Cambridge, Mass. 617-497-7090
Analyzes and predicts the course of technology change

28.4

4.5

50.6

62.4

52.2

29 – 16

20

32

168

14 CTC COMMUNICATIONS (CPTL) Waltham, Mass. 617-466-8080 *
Sells local, long-distance, and other telecom services. Watch out, AT&T

36.8

4.7

37.6

282.9

35.3

18 – 6

7

16

67

15 GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES (JOB) Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. 630-954-0400 *
Provides staffing for information-technology businesses

25.7

2.0

27.8

181.6

44.5

16 – 8

11

15

29

16 DATA PROCESSING RESOURCES (DPRC) Newport Beach, Calif. 714-752-9111
Supplies companies with information-technology staffs

74.9

4.5

36.8

1439.1

32.9

30 – 16

19

31

191

17 ROCKSHOX (RSHX) San Jose, Calif. 408-435-7469
Smooth riding: builds suspension systems for bicycles

106.2

8.2

56.7

43.0

63.0

19 – 11

16

22

211

18 LOGAN'S ROADHOUSE (RDHS) Nashville 615-885-9056 * Full-service restaurant: steak, seafood, ribs, and chicken

41.2

4.1

65.6

60.3

40.2

28 – 14

17

24

104

19 DOCUMENT SCIENCES (DOCX) San Diego 619-625-2000
Produces software that helps customize mass-produced documents

16.6

1.4

61.9

48.7

50.0

16 – 3

4

28

46

20 INFINIUM SOFTWARE (INFM) Hyannis, Mass. 508-778-2000
Sells business software: finance, accounting, and human resources

77.1

1.5

13.3

124.9

58.0

20 – 5

6

49

71

21 INTL. TELECOMM. DATA SYSTEMS (ITDS) Stamford, Conn. 203-329-3300
Provides transactional and billing solutions for telecommunications services

18.0

2.0

74.1

45.7

43.4

25 – 10

12

47

103

22 SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL (SEAC) Maynard, Mass. 508-897-0100
Digital video gear for delivering ads, infomercials, and pay-per-view movies

57.1

5.3

194.3

424.4

22.6

40 – 12

19

43

238

23 DAVOX (DAVX) Westford, Mass. 508-952-0200
This provider of technology to telemarketing and customer-service operations is ringing up sales

59.5

11.2

17.5

195.8

42.0

45 – 24

35

26

257

24 REMEDY (RMDY) Mountain View, Calif. 415-903-5200 * Designs, makes, and markets software to track data on requests for service

90.9

19.3

110.9

117.0

26.8

56 – 22

34

53

901

25 SPACEHAB (SPAB) Vienna, Va. 703-821-3000 *
Space is the place; modules for people working in space

94.5

48.3

9.4

75.1

67.5

15 – 5

6

1

67

26 COHERENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (CCSC) Leesburg, Va. 703-729-6400 *
Digital and acoustic echo-cancellation technology

59.3

10.5

34.4

174.7

32.2

30 – 12

18

26

272

27 NCO GROUP (NCOG) Blue Bell, Pa. 610-832-1440
Accounts-receivable management firm

30.8

3.6

59.2

61.1

33.8

30 – 16

24

34

160

28 ACE-COMM (ACEC) Gaithersburg, Md. 301-721-3000
Get directory assistance with their telecom information systems

28.6

2.2

17.3

62.8

64.2

18 – 7

14

50

107

29 STAFFMARK (STAF) Fayetteville, Ark. 501-973-6000
Provider of personnel for businesses and government

104.5

104.5

98.7

95.2

27.3

17 – 10

15

35

198

30 BILLING INFORMATION CONCEPTS (BILL) San Antonio 210-949-7000
Third-party billing vendors for telecommunication companies

108.8

19.0

31.7

42.7

62.6

33 – 16

26

22

390

31 STORAGE COMPUTER (SOS) Nashua, N.H. 603-880-3005 As their name says, specialists in computer storage systems *

31.0

5.1

60.9

112.8

26.9

20 – 8

12

28

130

32 CHAD THERAPEUTICS (CTU) Chatsworth, Calif. 818-882-0883 *
Breathe easy: Maker of portable oxygen units

26.3

5.7

40.5

43.1

43.6

21 – 6

8

14

77

33 FOUNTAIN POWERBOAT INDS. (FPWR) Washington, N. C. 919-975-2000
Manufactures high-performance sport boats, fishing boats, and sport cruisers

48.1

4.4

20.0

203.6

32.6

25 – 9

18

13

57

34 ENCAD (ENCD) San Diego 619-452-0882 *
Color ink-jet printers for floor plans and other large graphics

119.3

14.4

64.9

63.4

29.1

47 – 16

38

32

434

35 CKS GROUP (CKSG) Cupertino, Calif. 408-366-5100
If you make it, they sell it: integrated marketing communications

96.1

10.7

88.3

249.0

20.4

45 – 18

26

35

344

36 DOVER DOWNS ENTERTAINMENT (DVD) Dover, Del. 302-674-4600
Auto racing, harness racing, and video-lottery operation

87.6

14.3

55.1

47.9

34.9

27 – 16

16

17

248

37 INFORMATION MGMT. RESOURCES (IMRS) Clearwater, Fla. 813-797-7080
Provides and maintains suites of software for big-name companies

36.2

3.3

33.7

76.8

34.9

29 – 11

29

106

277

38 AWARD SOFTWARE INTL. (AWRD) Mountain View, Calif. 415-968-4433
Software that interfaces between Windows and computer hardware

15.7

3.4

51.9

51.4

34.3

19 – 6

12

24

80

39 HELP AT HOME (HAHI) Chicago 312-663-4244
Provides care givers for the elderly or disabled

17.6

0.7

81.5

131.6

22.5

8 – 4

4

14

8

40 NEW YORK BAGEL ENTERPRISES (NYBS) Wichita 316-267-7373
Hey, Mista, cream cheese or butta? Bagel shop chain

13.6

0.7

45.7

97.8

29.3

11 – 3

5

23

21

41 FRENCH FRAGRANCES (FRAG) Miami Lakes, Fla. 305-620-9090
Manufactures and distributes fragrances and skin-care products
 

140.5

8.2

56.9

121.2

25.2

10 – 6

8

12

99

42 ELTRON INTERNATIONAL (ELTN) Simi Valley, Calif. 805-579-1800 *
Check out this maker of bar-code-label printers

92.7

10.5

139.0

107.0

22.3

39 – 18

20

15

148

43 PROCOM TECHNOLOGY (PRCM) Irvine, Calif. 714-852-1000
CD-ROMs, servers and arrays, RAID systems, and upgrade storage solutions

93.9

5.7

21.6

57.3

47.7

20 – 9

11

18

116

44 CLAREMONT TECHNOLOGY GROUP (CLMT) Beaverton, Ore. 503-690-4000
They'll design a strategy and system to put your information-technology house in order

61.7

4.6

47.2

26.1

39.4

37 – 14

17

35

132

45 SEMTECH (SMTC) Newbury Park, Calif. 805-498-2111
Semiconductors used for computer, aerospace, and military industries

65.4

7.7

52.8

348.8

21.1

26 – 6

23

19

140

46 ALPHANET SOLUTIONS (ALPH) Cedar Knolls, N. J. 201-267-0088
Manufactures computer hardware and software; provides related services

146.8

4.1

33.0

108.3

30.3

17 – 7

15

19

77

47 MECHANICAL DYNAMICS (MDII) Ann Arbor, Mich. 313-994-3800
Virtual prototyping software for engineering firms and the automotive industry

26.0

2.2

20.6

32.0

57.4

21 – 6

7

17

39

48 WEST COAST ENTERTAINMENT (WCEC) Newtown, Pa. 215-968-4318
Helps take your favorite flicks from the silver screen to your own screen

73.3

3.7

198.2

326.5

13.0

14 – 6

6

16

79

49 WHITTMAN-HART (WHIT) Chicago 312-922-9200
Provider of information-technology, consulting, and systems-integration services

98.7

6.9

56.5

69.9

26.8

28 – 11

23

65

453

 
COMPANY(STOCK SYMBOL)

CURRENT RESULTS

THREE YEAR AVERAGES

INVESTMENT DATA

SALES
$ MIL.

EARNINGS
$ MIL.

INCREASE (%)
SALES   PROFITS

RETURN ON
CAPITAL

STOCK PRICE
 52 WEEK
HIGH-LOW RECENT

P/E
RATIO

MARKET
VALUE
$ MIL.

50 ARBOR SOFTWARE (ARSW) Sunnyvale, Calif. 408-744-9500
Develops, markets, and supports database software for business planning

47.4

5.8

122.6

294.7

13.2

71 – 17

27

53

292

51 HPR (HPRI) Cambridge, Mass. 617-679-8000 * Health-care cost containment systems at your fingertips

35.3

6.1

37.2

58.8

31.3

28 – 10

14

37

214

52 UNISON SOFTWARE (UNSN) Santa Clara, Calif. 408-988-2800 *
Programs for workload, storage, and output management

37.5

5.3

37.1

109.6

27.0

22 – 4

6

14

74

53 VERITAS SOFTWARE (VRTS) Mountain View, Calif. 415-335-8000 *
Programs that help convert large mainframes to smaller computer systems

41.1

10.9

48.1

117.4

23.9

57 – 17

34

45

465

54 AMERICAN COIN MERCHANDISING (AMCN) Boulder, Colo. 303-444-2559
Take a ride with this amusement-park prize vendor

38.3

2.6

47.3

54.6

30.5

9 – 4

7

15

38

55 STRAYER EDUCATION (STRA) Washington, D.C. 202-408-2400
A regional college specializing in business and computer classes

46.4

13.8

14.9

45.7

48.5

27 – 10

26

15

243

56 COMPLETE MANAGEMENT (CMI) New York City 212-868-1188
Doctors Inc.: physicians practice management company

31.0

31.0

86.5

37.9

27.6

17 – 8

11

16

109

57 LUMISYS (LUMI) Sunnyvale, Calif. 408-733-6565
They can convert your X-rays and MRIs to a digital format that can be stored on a CD

23.7

3.5

59.1

63.0

25.3

30 – 6

6

12

41

58 OPTICAL CABLE (OCCF) Roanoke, Va. 540-265-0690
Manufactures tight-buffered fiber-optic cables

47.3

8.5

23.4

47.5

40.8

27 – 4

11

53

435

59 VIDEOSERVER (VSVR) Burlington, Mass. 617-229-2000
Their hardware and software allow you to videoconference with other computer users

54.6

11.2

89.2

208.4

13.1

55 – 12

18

22

230

60 CHANNELL COMMERCIAL (CHNL) Temecula, Calif. 909-694-9160
Manufactures cable enclosure boxes

50.6

10.5

24.8

65.5

31.6

15 – 9

11

9

102

61 Q. E.P. (QEPC) Boca Raton, Fla. 561-994-5550
Manufactures and distributes specialty tools

33.1

1.8

34.8

49.3

31.9

10 – 6

7

8

20

62 INTEVAC (IVAC) Santa Clara, Calif. 408-986-9888
Manufactures equipment used in making disk drives

104.2

6.5

62.5

313.8

13.8

26 – 10

14

28

171

63 CHICAGO MINIATURE LAMP (CHML) Canton, Mass. 617-828-2948
Their bright idea? Miniature lights for car dashboards and appliances

108.9

16.0

72.3

247.9

13.5

45 – 17

23

25

445

64 METRO NETWORKS (MTNT) Houston 713-407-6000
Provides local news, sports, weather, and traffic to radio and TV stations

109.2

16.0

30.5

92.2

28.0

27 – 19

24

19

393

65 HORIZON MENTAL HEALTH MGMT. (HMHM) Lewisville, Tex. 972-420-8200
Contract manager of mental health programs in acute-care hospitals

70.1

6.6

25.8

127.5

26.6

20 – 14

17

17

94

66 SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES (SYMT) Melbourne, Fla. 407-254-1500 *
From voice-mail to telecommunications software and electronics

23.2

1.9

33.5

55.9

31.0

17 – 7

8

6

13

67 CYANOTECH (CYAN) Kailua Kona, Hawaii 808-326-1353
Uses microalgae to produce a variety of products

11.4

4.2

64.7

178.1

15.3

9 – 5

6

24

77

68 MIAMI COMPUTER SUPPLY (MCSC) Dayton 937-291-8282
Distributor of computer supplies, presentation products, and media storage systems

71.1

1.2

28.9

66.7

28.7

14 – 9

10

21

34

69 SCB COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY (SCBI) Memphis 901-754-6577
An information-management consulting firm

59.6

4.7

36.6

208.8

20.4

31 – 14

18

29

136

70 PRI AUTOMATION (PRIA) Billerica, Mass. 508-663-8555
Combines robotics with materials handling software to automate integrated circuit making

140.9

15.2

79.0

120.6

15.3

28 – 5

28

29

417

71 TRANSITION SYSTEMS (TSIX) Boston 617-723-4222
Management-control techniques for health-care delivery

38.5

10.0

25.0

57.8

31.4

36 – 8

13

27

217

72 SYNTHETECH (NZYM) Albany, Ore. 541-967-6575
Provides modified amino acids for the pharmaceutical industry

13.3

4.4

49.9

58.2

26.1

14 – 6

7

20

101

73 SPSS (SPSS) Chicago 312-329-2400
Statistical analysis software for market research and business

86.1

7.8

24.9

30.0

36.5

34 – 17

28

30

213

74 MICREL (MCRL) San Jose, Calif. 408-944-0800 * Designs, manufactures, and markets high-performance analog integrated circuits

74.4

10.6

54.7

203.6

16.4

44 – 12

43

41

404

75 HIRSCH INTERNATIONAL (HRSH) Hauppauge, N. Y. 516-436-7100 *
A stitch in time: Embroidery equipment and software

125.4

8.8

34.4

28.8

31.9

23 – 13

19

17

148

76 ACTION PERFORMANCE (ACTN) Tempe, Ariz. 602-894-0100
Gentlemen, start your engines: sells models of NASCAR and NHRA racers

69.9

7.9

44.2

206.7

18.5

27 – 10

26

44

341

77 ADE (ADEX) Newton, Mass. 617-969-0600
Builds semiconductor inspection systems

83.8

11.1

38.9

375.9

18.4

22 – 8

20

14

167

78 BENCHMARQ MICROELECTRONICS (BMRQ) Dallas 972-437-9195
Manufactures integrated circuits and electronic modules

43.4

7.6

37.4

81.0

24.0

30 – 7

20

20

136

79 ALIGN-RITE INTERNATIONAL (MASK) Burbank, Calif. 818-843-7220 *
Makes photomasks used to manufacture integrated circuits

37.6

5.3

23.7

58.3

29.4

14 – 9

12

11

52

80 K&G MEN'S CENTER (MENS) Atlanta 404-351-7987
Operates men's apparel superstores. Accessories, too

88.1

4.6

32.1

56.2

27.8

20 – 10

17

36

163

81 BACOU USA (BACU) Smithfield, R. I. 401-233-0333
A sight for sore eyes: Manufactures products that protect the eyes and respiratory systems of workers

109.3

19.4

42.1

53.4

26.2

19 – 15

15

13

255

82 COMPUTER MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (CMSX) Jacksonville, Fla. 904-737-8955 *
Management consulting, outsourcing, staffing, and business reengineering

51.9

6.6

53.5

98.5

18.7

25 – 11

15

34

189

83 CYBEX COMPUTER PRODUCTS (CBXC) Huntsville, Ala. 205-430-4000 *
Switches that allow users to access more than 100 PCs at once

34.6

5.8

39.0

61.8

23.6

21 – 13

18

17

97

84 VIASAT (VSAT) Carlsbad, Calif. 760-438-8099
Networking hardware and software for satellite and wireless communications

42.8

2.5

51.9

66.3

20.4

12 – 8

9

23

70

85 PCD (PCDI) Peabody, Mass. 508-532-8800
Designs, manufactures, and markets electronic connectors

26.0

4.8

31.4

118.6

20.6

18 – 10

15

20

86

86 INNOVEX (INVX) Hopkins, Minn. 612-938-4155 * Lead-wire assembly for heads of hard-disk drives

109.5

23.8

40.2

62.9

22.5

35 – 7

34

21

488

87 EQUITY MARKETING (EMAK) Beverly Hills, Calif. 310-887-4300
Designs and manufactures toys used in promotional tie-ins

115.2

7.5

36.0

29.1

28.4

26 – 13

19

15

73

88 OVERLAND DATA (OVRL) San Diego, Calif. 619-571-5555
Maker of magnetic tape systems used to back up and store computer data

55.7

3.9

17.8

380.2

20.2

13 – 5

5

11

52

89 SEATTLE FILMWORKS (FOTO) Seattle, Wash. 206-281-1390
Direct marketer of photofinishing products. They'll turn your film into prints, slides, or digital images

92.5

9.1

25.3

30.7

30.8

15 – 10

10

20

163

90 ANCHOR GAMING (SLOT) Las Vegas 702-896-7568 *
It operates gaming machines, develops games, and operates casinos in Colorado

140.0

32.2

60.0

48.5

20.2

71 – 24

28

12

371

91 GADZOOKS (GADZ) Dallas 214-991-5500
Casual clothes for teenagers

128.4

8.0

49.8

84.6

16.8

41 – 18

26

30

223

92 BELCO OIL & GAS (BOG) New York City 212-644-2200.
Looks for oil and gas, drills for it, and takes it out of the ground

116.4

43.6

81.8

23.1

20.3

37 – 18

21

15

663

93 LCS INDUSTRIES (LCSI) Clifton, N. J. 201-778-5588
Direct-mail advertising services

98.6

7.9

22.1

148.7

19.4

27 – 10

15

9

67

94 ARROW-MAGNOLIA INTERNATIONAL (ARWM) Dallas 972-247-7111
Clean up with these equipment maintenance products

10.6

1.1

18.7

79.2

22.5

5 – 3

5

12

11

95 CONSO PRODUCTS (CNSO) Union, S. C. 864-427-9004 * With their decorative trimmings, your home could be a palace

71.9

7.3

39.9

50.9

20.7

16 – 10

14

14

103

96 OVID TECHNOLOGIES (OVID) New York City 212-563-3006
Database information-retrieval software

34.8

3.1

43.3

58.6

20.1

12 – 7

8

18

46

97 PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES (PTIX) Rochester, N. Y. 716-256-0200
High-performance, fault-tolerant communications and networking products

26.7

3.9

33.0

45.5

24.6

18 – 9

12

15

59

98 AULT (AULT) Minneapolis 612-493-1900
Maker of external power supplies, battery chargers, and AC transformers

38.7

1.5

28.7

111.4

18.2

17 – 6

7

14

29

99 BALLANTYNE OF OMAHA (BTN) Omaha 402-453-4444 * Supplier of commercial motion-picture equipment

55.1

5.7

31.9

47.5

23.0

17 – 7

14

22

123

100 INDUS GROUP (IGRP) San Francisco 415-904-5000
Develops, markets, and supports management software

81.5

10.2

43.5

54.3

19.4

26 – 13

15

28

279



YURIE SYSTEMS: High-Tech Hot Rod
DATA PROCESSING RESOURCES: Calling All Programmers
ROCKSHOX: Cycling's Easy Riders
FORRESTER RESEARCH: Sassy, Quirky and Rich
SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL: Cable Ads, By Special Delivery
POWERWAVE TECHNOLOGIES: Pump up the Volume
THE CLASS 0F '95: Where are they now ?

E-Mail:

Ken Harber, VP Finance -
kharber@occfiber.com
Robert Kopstein, President/CEO - kopstein@occfiber.com


E-mail: sadams@occfiber.com ............... http://www.occfiber.com

Optical Cable Corporation,
                                         P.O. Box 11967 *   Roanoke, VA 24022-1967 USA,
                              Phone (540) 265-0690 * Fax (540) 265-0724,
                                    Sales Dept. (800) 622-7711