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

Key Points

• Costain Group's stock price fell by 17.1% in a single trading day, dropping to GBX 135.40 ($1.82) from a previous close of GBX 163.40 ($2.20).
• Insider trading activity included significant sales, with insiders offloading over 612,000 shares in the last three months, amounting to approximately $87.5 million.
• The company reported a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 13.56%, with projections estimating an EPS of 13.76 for the current fiscal year.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 17.1% during trading 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 traded hands during 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).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

COST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on shares of Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of £351.42 million, a PE ratio of 11.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 153.01 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 125.48. 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 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, equities analysts forecast that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Costain Group

In other news, insider Kate Rock bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 138 per share, with a total value of £13,800. Also, insider Helen Willis sold 100,082 shares of the 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. In the last three months, insiders have sold 612,435 shares of company stock valued at $87,561,906. 6.43% of the stock is owned by company 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.