Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. rang the ceremonial bell at the NASDAQ exchange last, signaling the company’s tenth anniversary as a public company.

Founded in 1945 under the name Dixie Supply Company in Florence, Ala., the company changed its name to Hibbett Sporting Goods in the mid-1960's.

In 1981, Hibbett moved its headquarters to Birmingham, Ala. when it had a total of 16 stores. At the time of its initial public offering on October 11, 1996, which priced at a split-adjusted $3.16 per share, Hibbett Sporting Goods had 79 stores in 10 states. Today, HIBB has 585 stores in 23 states.

Since fiscal 1999, Hibbett has posted a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 25% in earnings per share, 24% in operating income, and 17% in net sales. Based on the $25.92 closing stock price the day before the anniversary, Hibbett has generated a compounded annual return of approximately 23% to its stockholders since its IPO.