If you'd invested in: G4S and Laura Ashley

If only...

Security firm G4S (LSE: GFS) came in for a lot of criticism during the 2012 Olympics, when its operational failures meant British troops had to step in to perform security duties. But a restructuring programme has turned the firm around since then. In 2016 G4S won £2.5bn of new contracts, with revenue rising by 10.6% and profits up by 17.9%. The share price has risen by more than 80% in the last 12 months.

Be glad you didn't

Laura Ashley (LSE: ALY) designs and manufactures home and fashion accessories, which it sells throughits 190 stores and to commercial clients, and licenses to other businesses. Difficult trading conditions, a softening market and increasing costs have taken their toll, and led to a profit warning earlier this year. Like-for-like sales fell by 3.5% in the six months to the end of 2016, and pre-tax profits fell by 29%. Shareholders have not fared well: the shares fell by 57% in the last year.

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