This article is part of our Rising Star Portfolios series.

Timberland's (NYSE: TBL) stock is heading skyward after a stellar fourth-quarter earnings report. Best of all, the company has plenty of growth left in it, with a brand that seems to be catching on among coveted consumers.

Fourth-quarter net income surged 88.8% to $42.1 million, or $0.82 per share. Timberland's revenue jumped 26.7% to $491.1 million, while global same-store sales increased an impressive 17.6%.

There are many reasons to like Timberland at the moment -- particularly the $272.2 million on its balance sheet, with no debt.

Furthermore, Timberland's aiming to attract more female shoppers through its Earthkeepers line of eco-friendly footwear, which I considered a big idea that could make big bucks back in November. Earthkeepers are manufactured with organic, renewable, and recycled components, making them a forward-looking brand for green-minded consumers.

Timberland happens to be the debut stock purchase for my Rising Star Portfolio, which focuses on socially responsible investing. It's been the portfolio's best performer so far, returning more than 70% since November.

No company can rest on its current laurels, of course. Timberland still has plenty of competitors to contend with, even in growth-oriented areas like eco-friendly shoes. Deckers (Nasdaq: DECK) has a green footwear brand called Simple, for example. Furthermore, Timberland's recent run-up might make it sound pretty pricey for a shoe stock, trading at about 20 times trailing earnings.

But by comparison, Nike (NYSE: NKE) trades at 21 times earnings, Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX) at a whopping 30 times earnings, and Deckers at 25 times earnings. Skechers (NYSE: SKX), which has fallen on hard times as the toning-shoe fad fades, sports a price-to-earnings ratio of just 7.

In that light, Timberland doesn't sound too overvalued, although it certainly needs to keep delivering the kind of robust growth it unveiled today.Timberland's management has big plans for its "big idea," aiming to expand its Earthkeepers brand even more in 2011. (It's currently growing in the triple digits on an annual basis.) Investors should keep an eye on this shoe stock, especially given its additional halo of eco-friendly, socially responsible excitement.

To keep an extra close eye, consider adding Timberland to your Fool watchlist.

This article is part of our Rising Star Portfolios series, where we give some of our most promising stock analysts cold, hard cash to manage on the Fool's behalf. We'd like you to track our performance and benefit from these real-money, real-time free stock picks. See all of our Rising Star analysts (and their portfolios).