Costain Group (LON:COST) Shares Down 15.2% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Costain Group's share price fell by 15.2% in a single day, closing at GBX 138.63 ($1.87) after trading as low as GBX 131.88 ($1.78).
• Insider activity raised concerns as several insiders sold a total of 612,435 shares in recent months, reflecting potential lack of confidence in the stock.
• The company reported a quarterly earnings per share of GBX 5.50, with equity analysts predicting an EPS of 13.76 for the current fiscal year.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) shares traded down 15.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 131.88 ($1.78) and last traded at GBX 138.63 ($1.88). 12,372,210 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 762% from the average session volume of 1,435,272 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 163.40 ($2.21).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Costain Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Up 1.7%

The stock has a market capitalization of £351.42 million, a PE ratio of 11.71, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64. The firm's fifty day moving average is GBX 153.01 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 125.67. 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 (EPS) for the quarter. Costain Group had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 13.56%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costain Group

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