Larson Financial Group LLC Boosts Holdings in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE)

Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Free Report) by 107.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,819 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 5,598 shares during the quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC's holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $772,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 8,169 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $583,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in Sempra Energy by 0.7% during the first quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,542,807 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $324,175,000 after acquiring an additional 33,562 shares during the period. Dakota Wealth Management grew its holdings in Sempra Energy by 21.8% in the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 69,811 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,983,000 after purchasing an additional 12,501 shares during the period. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Sempra Energy by 13.3% in the first quarter. Hohimer Wealth Management LLC now owns 65,400 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,667,000 after purchasing an additional 7,696 shares during the period. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. acquired a new stake in Sempra Energy in the first quarter valued at approximately $5,701,000. Institutional investors own 89.65% of the company's stock.

Sempra Energy Stock Up 1.4%

SRE traded up $1.08 on Thursday, hitting $76.32. 2,227,010 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,870,681. Sempra Energy has a twelve month low of $61.90 and a twelve month high of $95.77. The company has a market cap of $49.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $75.86 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $76.19.

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

Sempra Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 26th were paid a $0.645 dividend. This represents a $2.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 26th. Sempra Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 56.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Sempra Energy news, insider Diana L. Day sold 8,015 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.26, for a total value of $595,193.90. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 16,969 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,260,117.94. The trade was a 32.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on SRE. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Sempra Energy from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $88.00 price objective (up previously from $87.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Sempra Energy from $93.00 to $70.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Sempra Energy from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Sempra Energy from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $80.75.

Sempra Energy 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.