Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Trims Position in Sempra Energy $SRE

Key Points

• Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. trimmed its stake in Sempra Energy by 3.1% in Q4, selling 48,353 shares and now holds 1,494,717 shares (0.23%) valued at about $131.97 million.
• Sempra beat quarterly EPS expectations ($1.28 vs. $1.12) while revenue was slightly below estimates, and the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.6575 (annual $2.63, yield 2.7%) with a payout ratio of 95.29%.
• Insiders recently bought shares and institutions own about 89.65% of the stock; analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a $100.73 average target amid mixed individual ratings.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. lessened its stake in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Free Report) by 3.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,494,717 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 48,353 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned 0.23% of Sempra Energy worth $131,969,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Sempra Energy by 19.4% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 85,334 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $7,678,000 after buying an additional 13,864 shares during the period. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ increased its stake in Sempra Energy by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ now owns 203,402 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $18,302,000 after buying an additional 11,020 shares during the period. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. increased its stake in Sempra Energy by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. now owns 2,143,205 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $192,846,000 after buying an additional 106,380 shares during the period. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new position in Sempra Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $150,993,000. Finally, Greenland Capital Management LP increased its stake in Sempra Energy by 282.4% in the 3rd quarter. Greenland Capital Management LP now owns 107,400 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $9,664,000 after buying an additional 79,314 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.65% of the company's stock.

Sempra Energy Trading Down 2.7%

NYSE SRE opened at $96.14 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 1.59. The company has a market capitalization of $62.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 0.67. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $94.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $91.70. Sempra Energy has a one year low of $68.58 and a one year high of $101.04.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $3.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 13.27% and a return on equity of 8.22%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.50 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 19th will be given a $0.6575 dividend. This represents a $2.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 19th. This is an increase from Sempra Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Sempra Energy's payout ratio is presently 95.29%.

Insider Transactions at Sempra Energy

In other news, Director Richard J. Mark acquired 2,692 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $93.30 per share, with a total value of $251,163.60. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 17,376 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,621,180.80. This represents a 18.33% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Cynthia J. Warner acquired 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $92.95 per share, for a total transaction of $232,375.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 11,275 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,048,011.25. The trade was a 28.49% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 6,192 shares of company stock worth $576,979 and have sold 7,539 shares worth $706,906. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Sempra Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Sunday, March 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Sempra Energy from $113.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Barclays set a $95.00 target price on shares of Sempra Energy and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Sempra Energy from $98.00 to $106.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $100.73.

About Sempra Energy

Sempra Energy is a San Diego–based energy infrastructure company that develops, owns and operates businesses delivering electricity and natural gas. Its operations include regulated utility services that provide electric and gas distribution to residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as non‑regulated infrastructure businesses that develop and manage large-scale energy assets.

The company's product and service portfolio spans electricity and natural gas delivery, transmission and storage, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, power generation and electric transmission projects.

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