Jan. 4--Warning: Reading this story could cause nausea, anxiety and depression.

For investors in South Florida companies, 2009 couldn't have come soon enough. Yes, last year was that bad.

Of the 70 largest publicly traded companies in South Florida tracked by The Miami Herald, only six saw share values climb in 2008.

It gets worse. Of the 64 companies whose stock price fell, 34 had at least half of their market value wiped out. By comparison, the broader U.S. market indexes were off anywhere from about 34 percent to 40 percent.

Can you take any more? Fourteen South Florida companies joined the ignominious ranks of "penny stocks" -- meaning their shares fell below a buck -- last year. That means that just over a quarter of South Florida's largest public companies now hold that dubious distinction.

As a public service, we'll press on to give you a rundown of the best- and worst-performing South Florida companies for the year. But fearful of scaring away too many more readers, we'll start with the handful of gainers.

Given that 2008 was a year for the dogs, it's only fitting that South Florida's best-performing stock is issued by a company that sells pet medicines.

PetMed Express chalked up a 45.7 percent gain for the year, leaving all other South Florida companies in its dust. The stock ended the year at $17.63.

'HELD OUR OWN'

Pompano Beach-based PetMed sees itself as more of a recession-resistant company, so it has performed well despite tough economic times. It sells prescription and over-the-counter medicines by phone and online.

"We definitely held our own," said Bruce Rosenbloom, PetMed's chief financial officer. "One secret to our success is, we are a value play [for] pet owners to save time and save money."

The company also has used the weak advertising market to its advantage by airing more television commercials, Rosenbloom said, helping it attract new customers.

Forbes magazine identified PetMed as one of the five best small companies, in part because of its 26 percent annual sales growth over the past five years.

The only other big gainer among South Florida companies was Miami's World Fuel Service, which provides fuel and related services at more than 2,500 airports, seaports and tanker truck loading terminals in more than 190 countries.

27.5 PERCENT RISE

World Fuel shares climbed 27.5 percent to end 2008 at $37.

"It was a high-octane year," quipped Frank Shea, a World Fuel executive vice president.

World Fuel thrives with volatile fuel prices, and 2008 had the biggest run-up and biggest decline in prices ever seen, Shea noted.