If you’d invested in: Computacenter and United Utilities

If only

Computacenter (LSE: CCC) provides IT services throughout the UK, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. In the six months ended 30 June, adjusted pre-tax profit rose 65.6% to £41.9m compared with the same period a year ago. In November the firm said its trading results for the year would be "comfortably in excess" of its expectations as it saw a solid start to the fourth quarter and a growing pipeline for the rest of the year.

Be glad you didn't buy

United Utilities (LSE: UU) is the UK's largest listed water company. With the Retail Price Index inflation measure at a five-year high, the firm has endured a turbulent year, despite posting a 10% growth in half-year profits in November. The same month, its battle against rising inflation also drove its shares down to five-year lows after analysts at HSBC raised the alarm regarding its exposure to inflation and increased political risk.

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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.

Alice is now Consumer Editor at The Sun and covers everything from energy bills to Social Security.