GAMMA Investing LLC Boosts Stake in Sempra (NYSE:SRE)

GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Free Report) by 4,338.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 592,074 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 578,733 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC owned about 0.09% of Sempra worth $42,250,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in Sempra in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Sempra in the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. TCTC Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Sempra by 265.2% during the fourth quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 336 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sempra during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Mattson Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sempra during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 89.65% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Sempra news, 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 value of $595,193.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 16,969 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,260,117.94. This represents a 32.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director James C. Yardley purchased 5,019 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $69.74 per share, with a total value of $350,025.06. Following the purchase, the director now owns 5,019 shares in the company, valued at approximately $350,025.06. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders bought 8,619 shares of company stock worth $602,221. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Sempra Stock Performance

NYSE:SRE traded up $0.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $76.82. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,882,702 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,772,576. Sempra has a 1 year low of $61.90 and a 1 year high of $95.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.47. The stock has a market cap of $50.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.92, a PEG ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.64. The business's fifty day moving average is $73.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $79.11.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.12. Sempra had a net margin of 22.63% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The company had revenue of $3.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.34 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Sempra will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sempra 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 given a $0.645 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 26th. This represents a $2.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.36%. Sempra's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 56.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on SRE shares. Morgan Stanley set a $87.00 price target on Sempra and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Guggenheim reduced their price target on Sempra from $95.00 to $87.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Sempra from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $99.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Barclays downgraded Sempra from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $95.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on Sempra from $92.00 to $76.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $80.75.

Sempra Company 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.