If only…
Huntsworth (LSE: HNT) is a global media group providing marketing and medical communications services to healthcare clients. After a difficult few years following a major restructuring that saw it increasing its focus on the healthcare sector, the firm’s shares have doubled over the past 12 months. Earlier this month Huntsworth reported solid 2017 results, during which sales rose by 9% to £197m, while pre-tax profit rocketed 54% higher to £24.4m. Free cash flow also increased, from £2.9m to £20.7m, giving support for a 15% hike in the total dividend.
Be glad you didn’t…
Vectura Group (LSE: VEC) develops inhaled therapies for respiratory diseases. In the past year the firm has suffered blows from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vectura is working with Hikma Pharmaceuticals on developing a generic replacement for rival GlaxoSmithKline’s Advair asthma treatment, but the FDA withheld approval for the product last May. A launch is now unlikely to happen before 2020. This month Vectura also announced that annual losses grew from £40.1m in 2016 to £102.2m last year, after it wrote down the value of past acquisitions.