If you'd invested in: Rathbone Brothers and Babcock International
Wealth manager Rathbone is boosting its shareholders' wealth, while support services contractor Babcock has seen three years of unremitting share-price declines.
If only...
Rathbone Brothers (LSE: RAT) is an independent provider of investment and wealth-management services for private investors and trustees. With £36.6bn of assets under management, the firm's shares rose amid its merger talks with industry rival Smith & Williamson. The new entity would have had assets under management of £56bn and around 3,000 staff, but the deal was called off last week.
Be glad you didn't
Babcock International (LSE: BAB) provides facilities management, training and support services to defence, rail transportation, marine and other public-sector organisations in Europe, Africa and North America. The firm has seen three years of unremitting share-price declines, and its stock now trades at just 10.5 times earnings. Earnings per share growth is also expected to slow to 3% in 2018, as Brexit is a big concern for its business.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

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 for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Alice grew up in Stockholm and studied at the University of the Arts London, where she gained a first-class BA in Journalism. She has written for several publications in Stockholm and London, and joined MoneyWeek in 2017.
-
Cash in on the growth prospects of Europe's companies
Opinion Marcel Stötzel, co-portfolio manager of the Fidelity European Trust, selects three stocks
By Marcel Stotzel Published
-
Is the AI boom another dotcom bubble?
25 years on from the dotcom bubble bursting, is it time for investors to consider the sustainability of the AI boom in the stock market?
By Dan McEvoy Published