Costain Group (LON:COST) Stock Price Down 17.1% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Costain Group PLC shares fell by 17.1% during trading, reaching a low of GBX 134 ($1.80).
• Analysts have mixed ratings for the stock, with a consensus of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of GBX 162.50, following price objective increases from notable banks.
• Insider trading activity has been significant, with several insiders selling a total of 612,435 shares worth approximately $87.5 million over the past ninety days.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) traded down 17.1% on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 134 ($1.81) and last traded at GBX 135.40 ($1.83). 12,026,422 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 739% from the average session volume of 1,433,124 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 163.40 ($2.21).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on shares of Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Performance

The business's fifty day moving average price is GBX 153.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 125.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.86, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.40. 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 posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 20th. The company reported GBX 5.50 earnings per share for the quarter. Costain Group had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 13.56%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Costain Group

In other news, insider Helen Willis sold 100,082 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 142, for a total value of £142,116.44. Also, insider Kate Rock bought 10,000 shares of Costain Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 138 per share, for a total transaction of £13,800. Insiders have sold a total of 612,435 shares of company stock worth $87,561,906 in the last three months. Insiders own 6.43% of the company's stock.

About Costain Group

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.