SG Americas Securities LLC Has $18.72 Million Stock Position in Sempra Energy $SRE

SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) by 377.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 212,039 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 167,625 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $18,721,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Sempra Energy during the third quarter worth $25,000. Activest Wealth Management increased its stake in Sempra Energy by 74.6% in the 3rd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 391 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Board of the Pension Protection Fund bought a new stake in Sempra Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. lifted its position in Sempra Energy by 117.4% during the 3rd quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 424 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Sempra Energy Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of SRE stock opened at $95.72 on Friday. Sempra Energy has a 52-week low of $61.90 and a 52-week high of $97.44. The stock has a market cap of $62.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.68, a PEG ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.73. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $91.85 and its 200-day moving average is $90.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.57 and a current ratio of 1.59.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $3.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.82 billion. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 8.22% and a net margin of 13.27%.Sempra Energy’s quarterly revenue was down .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.50 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 EPS for the current year.

Sempra Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 19th will be paid a $0.6575 dividend. This is a boost from Sempra Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 19th. This represents a $2.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. Sempra Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 95.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Sempra Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 21st. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $101.00 price target on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Sempra Energy from $113.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Finally, Argus raised Sempra Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $100.73.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sempra Energy

In other Sempra Energy news, Director Richard J. Mark purchased 2,692 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $93.30 per share, with a total value of $251,163.60. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 17,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,621,180.80. This trade represents a 18.33% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 4,872 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.58, for a total transaction of $451,049.76. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 39,029 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,613,304.82. This trade represents a 11.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 6,192 shares of company stock worth $576,979. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Sempra Energy 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.