If you’d invested in: Accesso Technology and Hugo Boss

Business is brisk for ticketing and “virtual queueing” systems firm Accesso Technology Group after securing a deal with Merlin Entertainment.

805-ACSO-1200

Accesso Technology Group (Aim: ACSO) makes ticketing and "virtual queueing" systems for theme parks and other public attractions. Business is brisk: in 2015, Accesso signed an agreement with Merlin Entertainments to use its products across all Merlin's sites.

Revenue has risen by 24% in the last year and profits by 41%. Since floating on Aim in 2002, the share price has risen by more than 1,400% and by 170% in the last 12 months.

Be glad you didn't buy...

805-Boss-634

Hugo Boss (Frankfurt: BOSS) is a German fashion retailer going through tough times. Its CEO resigned in February this year after it issued its second profit warning in six months.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

In the first quarter of 2016, earnings before tax were down by almost 50% on the same period the previous year, and full-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation are forecast to be in "low double-digit decline". It's considering closing stores to cut costs. The shares have fallen by over 50% since their peak in April 2015.

Ben Judge

Ben studied modern languages at London University's Queen Mary College. After dabbling unhappily in local government finance for a while, he went to work for The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh. The launch of the paper's website, scotsman.com, in the early years of the dotcom craze, saw Ben move online to manage the Business and Motors channels before becoming deputy editor with responsibility for all aspects of online production for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News websites, along with the papers' Edinburgh Festivals website.

Ben joined MoneyWeek as website editor in 2008, just as the Great Financial Crisis was brewing. He has written extensively for the website and magazine, with a particular emphasis on alternative finance and fintech, including blockchain and bitcoin. As an early adopter of bitcoin, Ben bought when the price was under $200, but went on to spend it all on foolish fripperies.