Would anyone know why there has been such a large number of shares sold and no buying? Is there something we are not aware of?

Well my little favourite here has passed the 30p mark...go boy go!.

Paul Hill tips COST in the 'Moneyweeks roundtable' today, just 1 of 12 stocks that will weather the storm.
2517

Well this looks the point (see 171 above). sp not seen @ this level for a long time, ok their order book may well be trimmed back, but look interesting again now.
2517

Given the contract today, 50p can be acheived this year IMO

Just can't seem to get going...at this rate the vaue of cash in hand will exceed the market sp ...soon...CRAZY !....the marketmakers are just going to have to price this right up....this sp is nuts...

I mean the market cap...sorry....

Opened a long here in Costain COST.

Both Fundies and TA look positive at the moment.



Costain Group

Strong Buy... 40p SP target.... 63.3% Upside..... Broker... Arbuthnot Securities

Just picked up a dividend, it looks a good one....I see Yell have been rising in the last month or so...

Yep got both.

i think TW is probably a better bet ..... good chart break out
also hold BDEV, but also like PSN which i don't now hold but on which i made a good profit

WOS is also an interesting one for this sector, which must surely be one for strong recovery in the coming months

Probably already seen.

Costain profit falls, increases divi

Date: Wednesday 10 Mar 2010

LONDON (ShareCast) - Engineering and construction group Costain revealed a decline in annual pre-tax profit after it was hit by increased pension interest charge.

However the group cheered investors by recommending a final dividend for the year of 0.55p per share, up 10% from the previous year.

Profit before tax fell to 18.1m for the year ended 31 December from 23.1m the year before. Revenue for the year increased to 1.1bn from 996m previously.

On an upbeat note, Costain said it was confident about future trading.

"We are confident that our position in markets underpinned by strategic capital expenditure, regulatory commitment or essential maintenance requirements will continue to stand us in good stead."

Got TW Cyners. Cracking rise today as was Cape.

Doing my weekend screener at the moment , only one duffer from my new system and the lolly is rolling in.

Hope we get through the election and hung parliament Ok.

Brokers very supportive of COST.

Will post sunday.

One of the reasons ive gone long on COST was this data that I dug out on the SC website relating to the order book for Costain and also future growth, both these Brokers paint a very bullish future......

10.03.10 :-0.25, (24.5) Costain has produced a solid set of FY results, says Panmure Gordon, with the adjusted pretax profit slightly ahead of consensus expectations and the 10% increase in the dividend/share an indication of confidence in its prospects. Keeps buy rating, and 29p target price, citing strong market positioning in infrastructure, energy and environment, supported by one of the best order books in the sector.

10-03-10 10.03.10 :-0.25, (24.5) Costain's FY '09 results are comfortably ahead of forecasts says Arbuthnot. For the current year to December '10 lifts pretax profit forecast to GBP20.5M from GBP18.5M as the loss in Community is much reduced and the IAS19 pension scheme net interest cost is reduced to GBP2.4M from GBP4.8M. Although the prospects for public spending continues to cast a shadow over the sector, says Costain has exposure to growth areas that are reasonably immune and focused on areas of less discretionary spend. Has a strong buy recommendation and 40p target.

sticky - do watch out and be ready to act very fast when the market turns down .... while momentum is currently and assuredly upwards, it cannot but cannot last .... whether or not the current euphoria lasts until say a week after election day is itself somewhat dubious - well that's what i think anyway

Oil is over $85 for Wti and $87 for Brent...if this this holds up or goes further...the oilies should do well at the very least keeping ftse 100 up.

These superb bullish figures from the Brokers following this one might turn a few heads.

Simply far too cheap on a forward P/E of just 9.9 going into 2011, this as to be way undervalued.

Costain Group PLC

FORECASTS 2010 2011

Date Rec Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p)

Panmure Gordon
23-04-10 BUY 19.50 2.18 0.91 22.10 2.46 1.00

Arbuthnot Securities
23-04-10 SBUY 20.55 2.40 0.90 22.00 2.60 1.00

Investec Securities
22-04-10 BUY 20.78 2.29 0.91 21.67 2.39 0.95

Shore Capital
16-04-10 BUY 20.10 2.30 21.00 2.50

Numis Securities Ltd
10-03-10 BUY 19.70 2.30 1.00 21.30 2.50 1.10

FinnCap
04-03-10 HOLD 20.00 2.30 1.00

2010 2011
Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p)

Consensus 20.12 2.30 0.91 21.67 2.49 1.00

1 Month Change -0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00
3 Month Change 0.38 0.02 -0.09 1.51 0.23 0.02


GROWTH
2009 (A) 2010 (E) 2011 (E)

Norm. EPS -21.75% 15.90% 8.26%
DPS 3.33% 17.42% 9.89%

INVESTMENT RATIOS
2009 (A) 2010 (E) 2011 (E)

EBITDA 18.80m 23.64m 25.46m

EBIT 18.80m 22.23m 23.53m

Dividend Yield 3.13% 3.68% 4.04%

Dividend Cover 2.56x 2.53x 2.49x

PER 12.47x 10.76x 9.94x

PEG -0.57f 0.68f 1.20f

Net Asset Value PS -0.76p 0.90p 2.50p

If we put a bit more flesh on the bone and look at the Broker SP targets we have the following......

- Costain Group Industrial Strong Buy 40 24.5 63.3% Arbuthnot Securities

40p target 63.3% upside.

Date Broker name New Price Old price target New price target

- 10-Mar-10 Numis Buy 24.50p 30.00p - Reiteration

- 05-Mar-10 Panmure Gordon Buy 24.00p 29.00p - Reiteration

So very bullish all in all with a SP target range of between 40p and 29p.

Hoping we get off to a solid start to the week.

Scrip Dividend Reference Price

The Company announces that the Scrip Dividend Reference Price for the fully paid shares in the Company to be issued to shareholders who elect to receive the scrip dividend alternative for the final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009 is 24.3 pence per ordinary share of 5 pence each.

The Scrip Reference Price has been calculated in the usual way as the average of the middle market quotations for the Company's shares as derived from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange for the five business days commencing on the ex-dividend date. The Company's ordinary shares were marked ex-dividend on 21 April 2010.

Further Information

Shareholders wishing to receive the scrip dividend in respect of the final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2009 and who have not already submitted a mandate form, should return a mandate form to Equiniti Limited, Share Dividend Team, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA to arrive no later than 29 April 2010.

AGM and Interim Management Statement

Overview

Following on from the excellent performance in 2009, the Group has continued to perform well and in line with the Board's expectations.

The Group's operations continue to benefit from its focus on targeted blue chip customers whose major spending plans are underpinned by strategic national priorities, regulatory commitments or essential maintenance requirements in chosen sectors.

The Group continues to demonstrate its resilience in a difficult economic environment.

Building on our success and as announced in March, we are now implementing the next stage of our strategy, 'Choosing Costain', which will ensure that the Group enhances its position as one of the leading players in the industry. This will expand further Costain's market position across the design and engineering, construction, and operations and maintenance spectrum. This is designed to enhance and broaden the spread of business and earnings profile over the medium-term.