The average computer user keeps about 25 passwords. If you're anywhere close to average, there's a good chance that some of yours reside on sticky notes on the side of your computer monitor. As identify theft and online security breaches grow increasingly common, AuthenTec
AuthenTec develops chips that provide fingerprint identification for PCs and wireless devices from blue-chip clients such as Hewlett-Packard
AuthenTec has 33 issued U.S. patents on its technology -- the largest portfolio in its industry. That's a hefty competitive advantage against rivals such as Atrua, Validity Sensors, and Atmel
Thanks to those powerful patents, the company's having little trouble getting business. Last year, it posted a 72.9% increase in revenue, to $33.2 million. Alas, those sales translated to a $9.7 million net loss in 2006, but that deficit's understandable. Management is investing in sales, R&D, and other infrastructure to make sure it doesn't miss out on burgeoning growth possibilities.
According to a report from Frost and Sullivan, AuthenTec enjoys a massive market opportunity. The market for fingerprint sensors is expected to grow 50.6% annually, to $2 billion by 2013.
So far today, AuthenTec's stock has risen a couple of percentage points. IPOs do tend toward volatility, especially within the first couple months of the offering, as highfliers like Riverbed Technologies
Further fake-free Foolishness:
Fool contributor Tom Taulli, author of The Complete M&A Handbook, does not own shares mentioned in this article. He is currently ranked 1,831 out of 30,414 in CAPS. The Fool has a disclosure policy.