If you’d invested in: Ashtead Group and Esure

Over the last decade, the shares of construction and industrial equipment rental firm Ashtead Group have risen by almost 2,700%.

If only...

901-Ashtead-634

Be glad you didn't buy

Esure Group (LSE: ESUR)

provides insurance services in the UK. Its share price briefly plunged in September following reports that founder Peter Wood was trying to sell his controlling stake in the firm, currently 30.7%. In March, Esure reported a better-than-expected 35.6% increase in full-year profit before tax, driven by a rise in demand for motor insurance products. Its gross written premiums also rose by 25.2% to £820.2m. Shares rallied. However, the home-insurance division saw declines, and last month Esure warned about increasing competition.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.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

Sign up
Explore More

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.