Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Sempra Energy experienced a significant increase in short interest, rising by 46.9% in July to a total of 10,580,000 shares.
• Insider activity included EVP Caroline Ann Winn selling 5,114 shares at an average price of $82.01, decreasing her ownership by 11.49%.
• The company reported $0.89 EPS for the last quarter, beating analysts' estimates, but had a 20.28% net margin with a slight revenue decrease compared to the previous year.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 10,580,000 shares, agrowthof46.9% from the July 15th total of 7,200,000 shares. Approximately1.6% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,760,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.8 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,760,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.8 days. Approximately1.6% of the company's stock are sold short.

Insider Activity at Sempra Energy

In other news, EVP Caroline Ann Winn sold 5,114 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.01, for a total value of $419,399.14. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 39,380 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,229,553.80. The trade was a 11.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Alexander Lisa Larroque sold 1,576 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $126,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 15,600 shares in the company, valued at $1,248,000. The trade was a 9.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Sempra Energy

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marex Group plc purchased a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $461,000. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 26,250 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,144,000 after buying an additional 669 shares during the last quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $17,292,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 59.9% during the 2nd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 54,055 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,096,000 after buying an additional 20,247 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $125,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.65% of the company's stock.

Sempra Energy Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of NYSE SRE traded up $1.6450 on Tuesday, reaching $82.6350. 3,136,410 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,547,812. Sempra Energy has a fifty-two week low of $61.90 and a fifty-two week high of $95.77. The company has a 50 day moving average of $77.68 and a 200 day moving average of $75.64. The company has a current ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.92 billion, a PE ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.62.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $3 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.35 billion. Sempra Energy had a net margin of 20.28% and a return on equity of 8.42%. The company's quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.89 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $80.00 price objective (up from $70.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $72.00 to $71.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. BMO Capital Markets boosted 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, Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $88.00 price objective (up from $87.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $81.58.

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.

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