Costain Group (LON:COST) Shares Down 4.7% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Costain Group's shares fell by 4.7%, trading as low as GBX 126.33 during mid-day on Friday, despite an increase in trading volume by 198%.
• Analysts from Deutsche Bank and Berenberg Bank have set new price targets, raising their estimates from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and from GBX 150 to GBX 175 respectively, with an overall consensus of "Moderate Buy" on the stock.
• Recent insider selling includes significant transactions by insiders Alex Vaughan and Helen Willis, totaling over £490,000 in shares sold.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report)'s share price was down 4.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 126.33 ($1.70) and last traded at GBX 129 ($1.73). Approximately 4,323,770 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 198% from the average daily volume of 1,450,967 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 135.40 ($1.82).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Costain Group Stock Up 0.5%

The firm has a market capitalization of £347.35 million, a PE ratio of 11.58, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64. The business's fifty day moving average price is GBX 152.96 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 125.22. 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 released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 20th. The company reported GBX 5.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Costain Group had a return on equity of 13.56% and a net margin of 2.33%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Alex Vaughan sold 241,639 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 144, for a total transaction of £347,960.16. Also, insider Helen Willis sold 100,082 shares of Costain Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 142, for a total transaction of £142,116.44. In the last three months, insiders sold 612,435 shares of company stock worth $87,561,906. 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.

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