Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Short Interest Down 26.7% in January

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 8,681,923 shares, a decline of 26.7% from the January 15th total of 11,846,916 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,931,514 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 1.3% of the company’s shares are sold short. Approximately 1.3% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 5,931,514 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on SRE shares. Jefferies Financial Group set a $89.00 target price on shares of Sempra Energy and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $112.00 price objective (down from $115.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. UBS Group restated an “outperform” rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $97.00 price target on Sempra Energy and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, BTIG Research raised Sempra Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $95.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sempra Energy

In related news, CAO Dyan Z. Wold sold 1,510 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.38, for a total transaction of $137,983.80. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 3,481 shares in the company, valued at approximately $318,093.78. This represents a 30.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 7,564 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.29, for a total value of $698,081.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 41,280 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,809,731.20. This represents a 15.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 15,074 shares of company stock worth $1,385,605 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SRE. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the fourth quarter worth $914,924,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Sempra Energy by 14.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 75,725,594 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $6,813,784,000 after buying an additional 9,396,652 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Sempra Energy by 106.3% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,428,007 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $938,325,000 after buying an additional 5,374,277 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its stake in Sempra Energy by 9.2% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 54,071,206 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $4,865,115,000 after buying an additional 4,572,312 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in Sempra Energy by 17.0% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,330,091 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,971,524,000 after acquiring an additional 3,250,783 shares in the last quarter. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Sempra Energy Trading Up 2.2%

Shares of NYSE SRE opened at $94.79 on Friday. Sempra Energy has a twelve month low of $61.90 and a twelve month high of $95.74. The firm has a market cap of $61.86 billion, a PE ratio of 29.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $88.50 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $87.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Sempra Energy Company Profile

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.