Rock of Ages Corporation · Graniteville, VT United States ·(NASDAQ (GM): ROAC)

Rock of Ages (ROA) is into hard rock -- as long as it's granite. The company, which is known for its personalized cemetery memorials (including a full-size Mercedes Benz replica), quarries its own granite and makes finished granite memorials. ROA operates about 10 quarries and a handful of manufacturing and sawing facilities, mostly in Vermont and in Quebec, Canada. ROA has sold its Rock of Ages Memorials retail operation in 2008, which accounted for more than a third of the firm's sales. ROA is also a wholesaler, serving about 100 independent retailers in the US and Canada. Chairman Kurt Swenson and his brother Kevin together control the firm's voting power. ROA was founded in Vermont in 1885. To read the full description, subscribe now.