HighTower Advisors LLC Cuts Stock Position in Sempra Energy $SRE

HighTower Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,318,918 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 18,354 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC owned about 0.20% of Sempra Energy worth $118,676,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SRE. Aberdeen Group plc lifted its holdings in Sempra Energy by 46.2% in the 3rd quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 927,758 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $83,220,000 after purchasing an additional 293,214 shares in the last quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 8.5% during the third quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,661 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $329,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy by 3,541.8% in the third quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,569 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 3,471 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 15.5% during the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 72,518 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $6,525,000 after acquiring an additional 9,713 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its stake in Sempra Energy by 5.7% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 141,927 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $12,771,000 after acquiring an additional 7,706 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.65% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $99.00 price target (up previously from $80.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Wall Street Zen raised Sempra Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 8th. Barclays set a $95.00 price target on Sempra Energy and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. BTIG Research raised shares of Sempra Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sempra Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $95.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sempra Energy

In related news, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 7,564 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.29, for a total transaction of $698,081.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 41,280 shares in the company, valued at $3,809,731.20. The trade was a 15.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Dyan Z. Wold sold 1,510 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.38, for a total value of $137,983.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 3,481 shares in the company, valued at $318,093.78. This trade represents a 30.25% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 15,074 shares of company stock worth $1,385,605 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Sempra Energy Trading Up 2.2%

SRE stock opened at $94.79 on Monday. Sempra Energy has a twelve month low of $61.90 and a twelve month high of $95.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.56, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $88.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $87.98.

About Sempra Energy

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.