Google's Rally in Perspective

From CNET:

Google's stock has amazed investors and the public, but the returns still lag those experienced by New River Pharmaceuticals, a 19-employee company that has designed an attention deficit disorder drug.

The two companies went public two weeks apart in 2004. New River went public at $8.00 and is now sells at above $33, giving it a 317% return, according to statistics on IPO Home. Google went out at $85 and sells for $286, a 236 percent return. Google also trails China's Shanda Interactive, which has seen its stock rise from $11 to $38, in terms of return.

It's an improvement for the search giant, however. In April, it also trailed WPT Enterprises, which organizes the world poker tournament, and Syneron Medical, an Israeli company specializing in laser hair removal technology.