Costain Group (LON:COST) Trading Down 14.2% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Costain Group's shares fell 14.2% during trading, closing at GBX 140.15, significantly lower than the previous close of GBX 163.40.
• Insider sales have been notable, with a total of 612,435 shares sold in the last quarter, indicating potential concerns or lack of confidence among company insiders.
• The company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at a markedly high 9.86, raising questions about its financial stability and leverage in the market.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) shares fell 14.2% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 135 ($1.82) and last traded at GBX 140.15 ($1.89). 6,904,513 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 393% from the average session volume of 1,401,311 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 163.40 ($2.21).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on COST shares. Berenberg Bank raised their target price on shares of Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Costain Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.86, a current ratio of 1.40 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 153.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 125.85. The stock has a market capitalization of £351.42 million, a P/E ratio of 11.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64.

Costain Group (LON:COST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 20th. The company reported GBX 5.50 earnings per share for the quarter. Costain Group had a return on equity of 13.56% and a net margin of 2.33%. On average, analysts predict that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Kate Rock bought 10,000 shares of Costain Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 138 per share, for a total transaction of £13,800. Also, insider Helen Willis sold 100,082 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 142, for a total transaction of £142,116.44. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 612,435 shares of company stock worth $87,561,906. 6.43% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Costain Group Company Profile

Costain helps to improve people's lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet thrive. We shape, create and deliver pioneering solutions that transform the performance of the infrastructure ecosystem across the UK's energy, water, transportation and defence markets.