Based on the aggregated intelligence of 170,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, speech-software specialist Nuance Communications (Nasdaq: NUAN) has earned a respected four-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Nuance's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

Nuance facts

   
Headquarters (Founded) Burlington, Mass. (1992)
Market Cap  
Industry Application software
Trailing-12-Month Revenue $1.16 billion
Management Chairman/CEO Paul Ricci
CFO Thomas Beaudoin
Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years) (1.2%)
Cash/Debt $559.42 million / $858.89 million
Competitors AT&T (NYSE: T)
IBM (NYSE: IBM)
Microsoft

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 96% of the 5,622 members who have rated Nuance believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include mattar12 and Greenesthorn.

About two months ago, mattar12 tapped Nuance as a great way to go for growth: "[A]uto contracts, expanding to iphone/ipad apps. Their technology far exceeds its competitors for a high demand speech to text application."

Over the next five years, in fact, Nuance is expected to grow its bottom line at a solid rate of 12.5% annually. That's faster than much larger broad-sense rivals including AT&T (3.9%), IBM (11.2%), and Microsoft (10.3%).

CAPS member Greenesthorn expands on the Nuance investment case:

This is a good combination of high future potential and socially conscious investing. Voice control devices have to be a strong need for the future -- whenever that will be -- for all of us iphone-toting consumers tired of typing on tiny keyboards or worse. And an immediate need for those with special needs, like ALS patients.

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