Costain Group (LON:COST) Stock Price Down 15.3% - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Costain Group PLC shares fell by 15.3%, trading at GBX 138.36 ($1.87) amid a significant increase in trading volume, reaching over 12 million shares.
• The company reported a net margin of 2.33% and earnings per share of GBX 5.50 for the last quarter, with analysts predicting approximately 13.76 earnings per share for the current year.
• Insider activity was notable, with two executives selling a total of 612,435 shares in the last quarter, indicating insider confidence may be waning in the company.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report)'s share price was down 15.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 131.88 ($1.78) and last traded at GBX 138.36 ($1.87). Approximately 12,102,026 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 744% from the average daily volume of 1,433,593 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 163.40 ($2.21).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have issued reports on COST shares. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on 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 price objective on Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Costain Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Up 1.7%

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 153.01 and a 200 day moving average price of 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. The company has a market cap of £351.42 million, a P/E ratio of 11.71, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64.

Costain Group (LON:COST - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, August 20th. The company reported GBX 5.50 EPS for the quarter. Costain Group had a return on equity of 13.56% and a net margin of 2.33%. Equities research 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 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 the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 142, for a total value of £142,116.44. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 612,435 shares of company stock worth $87,561,906. 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.