Microsoft (MSFT), Wal-Mart (WMT) and Yahoo (YHOO): From 2001 to 2007

As many U.S. citizens sit back for a brief period today to remember those victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, we'll reflect on many things. The war on terror, the innocent casualties of war, the downturn of the stock market after the attacks and the triumphant return years later and many other things. To give a welcome piece of relief, let's take a quick look at some companies and look at where they've arrived in the last six years in terms of growth.

Let's begin with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). In the September 2001 time frame, the world's largest software company was just on the cusp of releasing the Windows XP operating system to OEM computer manufacturers and consumers. In the fiscal year ended in June 2001, Microsoft's annual revenue stood at roughly $25 billion. By contrast, the software giant's revenues annually for the year just ended in June 2007 stood at $51 billion. That's a doubling of the revenue base in six years, which is exponential growth if you consider the 30-year history of the company.

Now, there are others that have accomplished this as well. Consider Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), which stood at annual revenue of $717 million in 2001 to over $6 billion last year, despite its much-publicized problems in 2007. And Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)? How about $191 billion in 2001 to $344 billion in 2006? If one thing is to be learned here, it's that the stock market recovery -- the indexes, individual equities, most everything else -- has come roaring back from the sad and frustrating days at the end of September 2001.

[photo luisvilla]