Costain Group (LON:COST) Stock Price Down 16.1% - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Costain Group PLC's share price dropped by 16.1%, closing at GBX 137.10 ($1.85) after reaching a low of GBX 131.88 ($1.78) during the trading day.
• Trading volume surged to 9,494,739 shares, which is an increase of 570% compared to its average session volume of 1,417,399 shares.
• Insider transactions included significant sales, with insider Alex Vaughan selling 241,639 shares at an average price of GBX 144, totaling £347,960.16.

Shares of Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) were down 16.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 131.88 ($1.78) and last traded at GBX 137.10 ($1.85). Approximately 9,494,739 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 570% from the average daily volume of 1,417,399 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 163.40 ($2.21).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

COST has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Up 1.7%

The firm has a market capitalization of £351.42 million, a PE ratio of 11.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 153.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 125.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.86.

Costain Group (LON:COST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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%. Analysts forecast that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Costain Group

In other Costain Group news, insider Kate Rock purchased 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were bought 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 firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 142, for a total transaction of £142,116.44. Insiders sold 612,435 shares of company stock worth $87,561,906 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 6.43% of the company's stock.

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.