Costain Group (LON:COST) Shares Down 17.1% - What's Next?

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.

Shares of Costain Group PLC (LON:COST - Get Free Report) fell 17.1% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 134 ($1.81) and last traded at GBX 135.40 ($1.83). 12,026,422 shares were traded during mid-day 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).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on COST. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on Costain Group from GBX 115 to GBX 150 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on Costain Group from GBX 150 to GBX 175 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 162.50.

Costain Group Stock Up 1.7%

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 firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 153.01 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 125.67. The firm has a market capitalization of £351.42 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.71, a PEG 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 EPS for the quarter. Costain Group had a return on equity of 13.56% and a net margin of 2.33%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Costain Group PLC will post 13.7551582 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Alex Vaughan sold 241,639 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 24th. The stock was 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 Costain Group 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. Insiders sold 612,435 shares of company stock valued at $87,561,906 in the last three months. 6.43% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.