If you'd invested in: The Gym Group and Card Factory
Budget gym operator The Gym Group reported a 24.3% rise in revenue for 2017, while retailer the Card Factory's profits slid by 14.1%
If only...
The Gym Group (LSE: GYM) operates a chain of budget gyms in the UK. Its shares jumped in January as the group reported a 24.3% rise in revenue for 2017, which was due largely to a 44% increase in the number of branches. This, however, also racked up debt, which stood at £37.5m in January, compared with £5.2m at the end of 2016. The share price then dipped in May as the group's founder John Treharne announced he was stepping down as CEO, but quickly recovered last month as the company reported it had raised £24m to buy 13 easyGym sites.
Be glad you didn't...
Card Factory (LSE: CARD) is a chain of greeting-card and gift stores. Its shares tumbled in September as the firm reported a 14.1% fall in pre-tax profits to £23.2m in the six months to 31 July, a consequence of the weaker pound which raised import prices and higher wage costs. The shares plummeted a further 20% in January as the firm delivered another profit warning. In April, Card Factory posted a 12.3% drop in pre-tax profits on the previous year, down to £76.2m, and said it would not return to profit growth until 2019.
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
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.
-
-
Credit card providers slash 0% balance transfer deals
Customers face a double whammy of rising interest rates and shorter 0% balance transfer periods. We look at what’s going on in the credit card market and why you’ll need to act fast to get the top 0% balance transfer deal
By Ruth Emery Published
-
Weight-loss pills will change the world
Treatments that help fight the flab could have a huge impact on several industries, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
By Merryn Somerset Webb Published