Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the thirteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $80.83.

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Sempra Energy from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $99.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Argus cut shares of Sempra Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $88.00 price objective (up from $87.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $95.00 to $87.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th.

Insider Transactions at Sempra Energy

In other news, insider Diana L. Day sold 8,015 shares of the business's 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 in the company, valued at approximately $1,260,117.94. The trade was a 32.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Justin Christopher Bird sold 4,817 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.23, for a total transaction of $343,114.91. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,778 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,408,786.94. The trade was a 19.59% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.27% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Sempra Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lindbrook Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 5.4% during the fourth quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,410 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $211,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $719,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,585 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $227,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 6,195 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $543,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 2,639 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. 89.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Sempra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of SRE traded down $0.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $74.09. 10,288,037 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,830,708. The business's 50-day moving average price is $75.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $77.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.57. Sempra Energy has a 12 month low of $61.90 and a 12 month high of $95.77.

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

Sempra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.645 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 26th. This represents a $2.58 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.48%. Sempra Energy's payout ratio is 56.70%.

About Sempra Energy

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.