Few would dispute that this year's winner, New York money manager BlackRock, deserves to be so honored; its revenue, earnings and share price all have shown impressive gains under Chairman and CEO Laurence Fink.

No. 2 on this year's list is Research in Motion, the Canadian wireless-communications company whose CrackBerry -- oops, BlackBerry -- handheld device has become an addiction among corporate types and, increasingly, regular Janes and Joes. In the past five years RIM's shares have rallied from the single digits to a recent 133, testament to the company's vision and success in defining and growing its market.

With oil prices soaring above $120, it's no surprise to find a pair of petroleum plays -- National Oilwell Varco and Schlumberger -- among the top five.

With oil prices soaring above $120, it's no surprise to find a pair of petroleum plays -- National Oilwell Varco and Schlumberger -- among the top five.

Two more -- Smith International and McDermott International -- are in the top 10.

Two more -- Smith International and McDermott International -- are in the top 10.

Likewise, the bull market in commodities has elevated companies such as Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (No. 6) on the list.

This year's No. 5, discount broker Charles Schwab, managed to prosper despite the turmoil in financial markets, or perhaps because of the resultant surge in trading. Like BlackRock, Schwab has no capital-markets operations, and therefore suffered none of the billion-dollar write-offs of bigger brokerages that made huge credit-related bets.