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?

Questor - Daily Telegraph 05-04-05

Costain buoyed up by water

It doesn't take long to wreck a business but it does take an age to rebuild it. Costain, the once-great civil engineer, collapsed under heavy debts in the mid 1990s after a disastrous foray into US mining and is only now emerging from the wreckage.

The dividend has yet to be resumed but a progressive payout is expected from either this year or next. The core UK business has moved from a 5m loss in 2000 to a 10.5m profit last year. And the risky construction contracts have been more or less removed.

The recovery has been quicker than expected - in part because chief executive Stuart Doughty has been so successful in transforming the company into an asset manager for water utilities, in part because of the group's lucrative Spanish land bank.

The Spanish land, overlooking the Med, now features hotels and golf courses. Last year, it contributed 8.4m towards profits and will generate 5m-6m annually for the foreseeable future, as the group has just been granted planning permission on another 1,000 acres.

That land was the diamond down Costain's troubled coal mine. It helped pay for the recovery as did the three shareholders who took an 80pc stake in the rescue. One investor has sold out, increasing the free float to a more reasonable 35pc.

But the real success has been the asset management business. Working on cleaning and filtration plants and laying pipes now accounts for 50pc of the company's turnover. It is good margin, reliable, long term work. And Costain now has 20pc of the UK market with a 1.1billion order book.

There are worries about its pension deficit but the group has proved itself worthy of backing. On 47p, the shares trade at 10.3 times forecast earnings - a discount to the sector. Questor recommended buying at 42p in September. If you didn't then, do so now.

bot some yesterday at 48.25 but do not understand the ask staying at 49 as there seem to be a lot of buying around today willing to pay that lvl

Bit of movement today. Is this the start of the "big push" ??

Hope so

regards

Peter

Costain Group PLC
09 June 2005

Costain Group PLC

('Costain')


Preferred Partner for Bristol Water


Costain announces that it has been selected by Bristol Water as its preferred
partner on its AMP4 programme under a five year framework agreement.

The programme will include Bristol Water's treatment works, reservoirs, trunk
mains and pumping station improvements. The capital value of the contract to
Costain and its supply chain partners, Purac and Black and Veatch Consulting, is
approximately 50 million over the five year period, subject to performance
reviews.

The selection as preferred partner follows an extensive tendering process by
Bristol Water and final selection was based on Costain's ability to deliver long
term service quality to Bristol Water's customers.

Stuart Doughty, Chief Executive of Costain, said:

'We are delighted to have been selected as preferred partner by Bristol Water.
Costain has built a pre-eminent position in the water industry and is now widely
recognised as partner of choice.'


9 June 2005


Enquiries:

Costain Group PLC Tel: 01628 842 444
Stuart Doughty, Chief Executive
Graham Read, Public Relations

College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020
Mark Garraway
Matthew Gregorowski


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange DAAK



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2005 MoneyAM

Broker upgrade to 56p
And the rest please.
These contracts just keep on coming
Peter


AFX 9-06-05


LONDON (AFX) - Costain Group hardened 3/4 pence to 49-1/4 in response to news that the company has been selected by Bristol Water as its preferred partner on its AMP4 programme under a five year framework agreement.

The programme will include Bristol Water's treatment works, reservoirs, trunk mains and pumping station improvements.

Costain said the capital value of the contract to Costain and its supply chain partners, Purac and Black and Veatch Consulting, is some 50 mln stg over the five year period, subject to performance reviews.

Numis advised clients to 'add' to their holdings, with a price target of 56 pence. The house believes that the strategy at the group remains firmly on track, and the stock remains one of its preferred picks in the construction sector.

fjb/ec

i hear broker arbuthnot has issued a buy rec on cost today - does anyone have it and can they post it?.

seem to be hovering around the fifties- some positive news to accompany recent positive news may do it?- they are not even mentioning contract wins under 70m. as confirmed on cost website. figures set to be better 2nd half of year to incorporate vast contract wins.

solid results- positive growth and a dividend in 2006 bodes well for future with this new structure.

what is going on with cost at the moment?

If it gets near 40p, then I'm back in for a lot more.
So undervalued, what on earth is going on
Peter

Seems to be one of those companies that The Market never forgave.My old stockbroker referred to COST as "that old dog....a rubbish share"!!!!!!!
Very sad to see such a survivor doing SO well yet being ignored by investors.Sometimes I find it hard to believe why some companies do not inspire confidence despite the financials proving otherwise.
Still,there must be 10p profit in there????
Ethel

ethel- perhaps your broker should view the 5yr chart for cost- encouraging!.

another nice contract win for cost today- with the mkt acting in its usual way i.e doing f all?. beyond me. perhaps if cost had a major disaster we would see a rally?.

The whole way the MM's look at the share price of Costain really beggars belief.
Getting close to my topping up price anyway.

Peter

Maybe their profit margins are too low for many people.Plus,is'nt there a new man at the top or am I confused?Too tired to check.Is the pension fund in a horrible state?
But the fact remains that there are some cos that the market never really forgives,even if they have recovered.
This is a bit crazy,a company with forward orders worth millions yet the sp is stuck in this silly 40-50p range.Woolworths is stuck in this sort of 10p trading range.Who wants to trade this sort of share?Short term traders.This does'nt reflect any confidence in the future.What does someone know about COST that we don't know?
Will there be work in Pakistan for them?
Lots of questions....
The five year chart does'nt show increases in pounds like some companies I could mention.

i don't know what it is but it is not just costain that is doing nothing- vast majority of my portfolio is either static painfully slow AND moving down?- need some excitement !!!!!- i guess it could be rubbish stock selection?.

Numis out with broker buy note for costain and rok property prefered co's in sector add for balfour. price target for cost 58p. note 17/10/05

excellent news on the spanish land acquisition- also numis reiterates buy rec. also stating potential for dividend in 2006.

yet again more contract WINS for costain the preferred bidder.

guys, I am new in COST, but look like it is going to up up again soon, any comment?

cheers
sw