CENTILLIUM COMMUNICATIONS

2000 FY estimated revenues: $50.2 million

2000 FY estimated revenue growth: 1,256%

2000 stock market performance: -2%

2001 estimated revenue growth: 133%

For most of its four years, Centillium has generated phenomenal growth by providing chip sets that enable DSL. That DSL gravy train went dry last autumn, however: Centillium stock fell 78% in one month after DSL companies Copper Mountain Networks and Covad Communications announced slower-than-anticipated deployment, forcing 2000's No. 2 firm, Covad, off this year's list. Investors' logic: Slower DSL growth means less demand for Centillium's products.

But analysts point out that this company is no one-trick pony. They fawn over CEO Faraj Aalaei and his decision to expand Centillium into two new markets: chips that allow voice to travel over data networks and chips that enable home networking. Those two markets are booming, and that's why analysts give Centillium a 50% estimated compound annualized growth rate for the next five years.

--Clint Willis, Forbes ASAP, 02.19.01

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