We can occasionally stumble on opportunities that yield high returns in a short space of time. Unfortunately, the opposite can also happen where we are forced to watch as one of our investments seemingly falls off a cliff.
This has been the case for shareholders of the embattled AMP Limited (ASX: AMP), whose shares have shed almost a quarter of their value so far in 2018. The shares have fallen 24.3%, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, with more than half of the damage being inflicted during the past 30 days.
Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) and Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) have taken a bath as well, shedding 24.6% and 24.8% respectively, making them the fifth and fourth worst-performing shares from the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) cohort in 2018 respectively. Meanwhile, Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) shares have declined 24.9% and were trading at $126.99 at market's close.
The declines get larger for the second-worst performing share of 2018, Greencross Limited (ASX: GXL), which has fallen 32.4%. Greencross recently released a trading update saying it now expects to deliver underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of between $97 million and $100 million, compared to underlying EBITDA of $104 million in FY2017.
However, the worst-performing share to-date so far in 2018 is Retail Food Group Limited (ASX: RFG). Retail Food Group is the master franchisor behind brands such as Gloria Jean's and Donut King. The company came under immense pressure following a series of expose-style articles from Fairfax Media which began in December 2017. The shares have fallen approximately 81.4% since then, and are down 66.8% so far in 2018.
