Sempra (NYSE:SRE) Hits New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $72.99 and last traded at $74.26, with a volume of 4219835 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $75.35.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Sempra from $93.00 to $70.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Guggenheim cut their price objective on Sempra from $95.00 to $87.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on Sempra from $92.00 to $78.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Argus lowered Sempra from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Sempra from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $80.54.

Sempra Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $49.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.63, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.65. 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's 50 day simple moving average is $70.51 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $80.85.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.47 by $0.03. Sempra had a net margin of 22.63% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The business had revenue of $3.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.73 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.13 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Sempra will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a dividend of $0.645 per share. This represents a $2.58 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This is an increase from Sempra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Sempra's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 58.37%.

Insider Activity at Sempra

In other Sempra news, Director Michael N. Mears bought 1,000 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $67.70 per share, with a total value of $67,700.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 5,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $338,500. The trade was a 25.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Alexander Lisa Larroque sold 2,755 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.93, for a total value of $225,717.15. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,905 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,139,236.65. This represents a 16.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 9,319 shares of company stock valued at $651,676 in the last 90 days. 0.27% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sempra

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Sempra during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Sempra in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sempra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sempra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, TCTC Holdings LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sempra by 265.2% in the fourth quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 336 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.65% of the company's stock.

About Sempra

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.