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

Key Points

• Costain Group PLC's shares dropped 17.1% during trading, closing at GBX 135.40 after hitting a low of GBX 134.
• Analysts have mixed ratings for the stock, with a current average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 162.50.
• Insider trading activity includes sales of 612,435 shares worth approximately $87.56 million in the last 90 days, indicating potential concerns about the company's future performance.

Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) traded down 17.1% on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 134 ($1.80) and last traded at GBX 135.40 ($1.82). 12,026,422 shares changed 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 ($2.20).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

COST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Costain Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Performance

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 company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 152.87 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 126.07. The company has a market capitalization of £347.67 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 2.64.

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 for the quarter. Costain Group had a return on equity of 13.56% and a net margin of 2.33%. Equities research analysts predict that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Costain Group

In other Costain Group news, insider Kate Rock acquired 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 138 per share, with a total value of £13,800. Also, insider Helen Willis sold 100,082 shares of Costain Group 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. In the last 90 days, insiders 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.