In 2006, KV Pharmaceutical Co. fell short of the top 25 list of highest profit growth among the region's public companies.

But for 2007, the Brentwood pharmaceutical developer and marketer didn't just make the list. It took the No. 1 spot.

Profit jumped 409 percent to $58 million, thanks in part to a more than $76 million increase in sales of its generic and branded drugs and raw materials.

But the company also benefited from a one-time expense that depressed earnings in 2006. It recorded an expense of $30.4 million related to the 2005 acquisition of FemmePharma.

The company, which recently restated financial results for fiscal years 1996 through 2006 because of improper accounting for stock-option grants, reported 2006 net income of $11 million.

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., based in O'Fallon, Mo., took second place for profit growth, jumping from 11th place last year. MEMC makes silicon wafers for semiconductors and the raw material polysilicon, which it sells to companies making wafers for solar applications.

MEMC saw its bottom line increase 124 percent from 2006 to $826 million. And as rising energy costs create demand for solar power, the company said it expects to see rising profit.

No single industry dominated the top 25, although three of the top 10 companies were in the financial services sector: Centrue Financial Corp. in Clayton, Stifel Financial Corp. in St. Louis and First Clover Leaf Financial Corp. in Edwardsville.

Three well-known companies turned the biggest profits.

Ferguson-based Emerson — which makes a range of products including process controls, cooling equipment, network power products, appliances and tools — saw its profit rise nearly 16 percent to $2.14 billion.

Profit at St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Cos. increased about 8 percent. The maker of beer and other beverages made a $2.12 billion profit.

Monsanto Co., based in Creve Coeur, reported a profit of $993 million, thanks to the ethanol boom that fueled demand for corn seed. Monsanto's profit was up 44 percent from 2006, despite a net loss in the fourth quarter that was wider than analysts expected.

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