HotTopics: Financial Performance Scorecard, Third Quarter 2004: Rational Exuberance

This latest quarterly update of our Outsell 100SM Financial Performance Scorecard declares that the information industry is in the midst of a 'rational exuberance' brought on by outstanding industry performance. Among the highlights of third quarter 2004 are 12.9 percent total growth (a level not seen since the dot-com bull market); broad-based growth, with 60 percent of the companies in the Outsell 100 showing double-digit growth; rising levels of acquisitions accounting for 23 percent of total growth; and strong operating incomes throughout. This HotTopics includes comparative data on growth, operating income, Top 10 and Bottom 10 performers, and segment information. Industry executives should be measuring their performance against Outsell's industry benchmarks. If performance isn't up to these levels, alarm bells should be ringing.