Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. Has $3.02 Million Position in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE)

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. decreased its stake in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Free Report) by 22.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,330 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 12,000 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $3,021,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Sempra Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sempra Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. TCTC Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 265.2% during the fourth quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 336 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the period. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in Sempra Energy during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Mattson Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in Sempra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Sempra Energy Price Performance

Shares of SRE opened at $75.32 on Monday. Sempra Energy has a 12-month low of $61.90 and a 12-month high of $95.77. The business's fifty day moving average is $75.72 and its 200 day moving average is $77.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The stock has a market cap of $49.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.64.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.12. The firm had revenue of $3.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.90 billion. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 22.15% and a return on equity of 8.55%. The business's revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.645 per share. This represents a $2.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 26th. Sempra Energy's dividend payout ratio is 56.70%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on SRE. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on Sempra Energy from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Sempra Energy from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Sempra Energy from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. Argus cut Sempra Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $93.00 to $70.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Sempra Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $80.83.

Insider Transactions at Sempra Energy

In related news, EVP Justin Christopher Bird sold 4,817 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.23, for a total value of $343,114.91. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,778 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,408,786.94. The trade was a 19.59% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Diana L. Day sold 8,015 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.26, for a total transaction of $595,193.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 16,969 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,260,117.94. The trade was a 32.08% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Sempra Energy Profile

Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Sempra California, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The Sempra California segment provides electric services; and natural gas services to San Diego County.

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