If you'd invested in: Filtronic and Revolymer
High-flying Filtronic makes microwave electronic components, while Revolymer makes polymers used in consumer goods.
If only...
Leeds-based Filtronic (Aim: FTC) makes microwave electronic components for the communications and defence industries. Despite only having a small number of customers, things are going well with the rollout of a new product launched last year. The firm is not currently profitable, but losses are falling. And in its latest trading update, it reported first-half revenue of £21.6m, compared with just £4.5m for the same period in the previous year. The shares are up by more than 130% in the last year.
Be glad you didn't...
Revolymer (Aim: REVO) makes polymers used in consumer goods. It's been busy making deals this year selling its nicotine gum business and expanding into the US. It counts Neil Woodford among its major shareholders his fund owns 34% of the shares. But it seems the market isn't satisfied with how quickly the loss-making firm is progressing. Since listing in 2012, Revolymer's shares have fallen by more than 70%. In the last year, they've fallen by almost 60%.
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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.
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