If only you’d invested in: Hiscox
Hiscox is a group of companies that operate in the insurance markets in the UK and Europe. In February it reported reduced profits for 2017.
Hiscox (LSE: HSX) is a group of companies that operate in the insurance markets in the UK and Europe. In February it reported reduced profits for 2017 (down to £30.8m from £354.5m in 2016), which it blamed on the £160m it had reserved for insurance claims in a "historic year for catastrophes".
Earnings per share also dropped to 9.3p from 119.8p. During the same period, gross written premiums rose to £2.55bn, up from £2.4bn the year before, while net premiums earned hit £1.88bn, compared with £1.68bn in 2016. Hiscox also increased its dividend by 5.5%.
Be glad you didn't buy
Mears Group (LSE: MER) is a social-housing repairs and maintenance service provider. In March it reported a 7% decline in operating profits for 2017, down to £37m, while group revenue decreased 4% to £900m. It blamed this on the fatal fire at Grenfell Tower, which delayed planned work. This also sent housing revenues down 3% to £766m.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748-320-80.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
Meanwhile, the order book fell to £2.6bn from £3.1bn as Mears had a slow period of securing new contracts. Despite this, and due to positive results at its home-care division, the firm raised its dividend by 3% to 12p per share.
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
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.
-
Skipton launches a retirement bond with monthly income – is it any good?
The building society has launched a new three-year fixed-rate bond for those aged 66 and over. Can it boost your retirement income?
By Katie Williams Published
-
Pensions: 140,000 pensioners to be hit by surprise tax demand
Tens of thousands of pensioners will be written to over the summer because their pensions have gone above the frozen income tax thresholds
By Chris Newlands Published