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?

Would love to think that it could be taken over, but surely there are still the Malaysian shareholders who came to the "rescue" back in the dark days.
Not quite sure what proportion of the equity that they hold, but at one time it was substantial.

Still 50p is great, but the value is very much more, just look at the forward order book and hopefully really good results to come. A dividend, well I hope so, but I think you may have to wait a while yet.

My 2 cents worth.

regards

Peter

Thanks Peter,

My guess is that if an offer was made the Malaysians might well take it!

50 on the offer, we are consolidating above 48 good!

COST results tomorrow, up in anticipation or because they'll be good?

both hopefully !- expected to be inline though.

I would say so, think the divi is the deal breaker, if they still don't announce one, may fade for a while, if they do will push on quickly imo.

If they announce a divi then 60p + is on the cards, but no Divi & back to 45p.

Well that's a disappointment, jam tomorrow - again

eh- looks good to me!?

It may be jam tomorrow, but they have actually got the jam to give, they can repay the pension blackhole over time(which company hasn't got a black hole, Costain's aint the biggest ever).

eps of 6.7p is the bottom line, divi will be restored and everything looks pretty rosie, if it didn't they would be down, I'd be happy with flat-1p rise today with a steady climb to 60p, thats the minmum they should be with these results, divi was the cherry on a very iced cake!!

agree ellio- flat or just up is good. you can deliver impressive results and still be down. but usually the case the share has had a good run to results where cost has been pretty flat. growth is encouraging!.

54p resistance, if we walk that 60p here we come, need to check their peer group but 12x is about average, 70p is fair price for cost, 80p still good value and 100p is generous on forward eps of 8p, the facts are there!

I think the results have gone down well!

might test 54 today,yes!!

i think 100p -is a fair target for cost med term. it may be slow in coming 2yrs+ but i think these are worth holding. good solid progress.

L,

your right no panic on these, nice long term hold, may tuck some into the isa next year

slightly annoying e, you see mkt summary on all related sites- no mention of cost. hope for some positive media attention in tomorrows papers. for what its worth ic report on all results- possibly next weeks edition now though. 60p s/term target still will hold.

In the current enviroiment, what with amec divesting parts and aquisitions all over the place, Costain looks very well positioned(only the pension pot is a small cloud) I like them a lot because most of the others amec, babcock, etc look expensive in comparision!! or rather cost are cheap?? eps of 8p this year =5x, cost has a way to go jst to catch up with the others, order book is huge, olypics coming up etc, not bothered about the wider coverage, market will be aware of cost's progress!!

i think the times at the start of the year proposed stock of the year costain and sector of the year construction. so we will see.

a slow start considering positive results- i think a few broker notes /recommendations are needed. although most brokers hold a add/ buy rating.

new sp targets could do it.