Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Short Interest Update

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in 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. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 5,931,514 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Based on an average trading volume of 5,931,514 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Sempra Energy Stock Up 2.2%

Shares of NYSE:SRE traded up $2.00 during trading on Monday, hitting $94.79. 6,225,094 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,131,139. Sempra Energy has a fifty-two week low of $61.90 and a fifty-two week high of $95.74. The stock has a market cap of $61.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $88.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $87.98.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sempra Energy

In other Sempra Energy news, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 7,564 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 41,280 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,809,731.20. The trade was a 15.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Caroline Ann Winn sold 5,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.58, for a total value of $503,690.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 34,164 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,128,739.12. This represents a 13.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 15,074 shares of company stock valued at $1,385,605. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Sempra Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SRE. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Sempra Energy by 19.4% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 85,334 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $7,678,000 after purchasing an additional 13,864 shares during the last quarter. Westerkirk Capital Inc. bought a new position in Sempra Energy in the second quarter valued at $3,091,000. Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy by 20.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 1,903,624 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $142,429,000 after acquiring an additional 327,154 shares during the last quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Sempra Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $212,000. Finally, Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 32.6% in the third quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 74,620 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $6,714,000 after acquiring an additional 18,359 shares during the period. 89.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on SRE shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Sempra Energy from $95.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. BTIG Research raised Sempra Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised Sempra Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $89.00 price objective on Sempra Energy and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, UBS Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $100.00 target price on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.83.

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.