Crocs Marching to $100

Editor's Note: Jon D. Markman writes a weekly column for CNBC on MSN Money that is republished here on TheStreet.com.

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Crude oil, fertilizer, titanium, delirium. The businesses of the top-performing stocks this year are dull enough to make your head buzz from absolute ennui.

What ever happened to the good old days, when the market's hottest companies were in fascinating businesses and run by mouthy chief executives who provided some color and texture to the game?

Well, it turns out that there is one high-momentum company this year that actually makes stuff that comes in colors bright enough to light the dark corners of your closet. And as well as it has done, with a 90% move this year alone, there is probably quite a bit of upside left ahead.

That company is Crocs(CROX Quote), manufacturer of the ugliest line of shoes in America -- and also, ironically, one of the most popular. If you have never heard of them, just ask any woman of a certain age or her daughter. They probably have at least one pair -- maybe more.

Crocs went public in February 2006, without a lot of fanfare. Most straight-thinking analysts and investors on the Street figured that its line of funny-looking but comfortable, low-slung plastic molded shoes were a fad with the half-life of a marshmallow, and its shares tripped along between $20 and $30 for seven months.