Sempra Energy $SRE Shares Sold by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp lowered its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) by 1.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,714,876 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 36,015 shares during the quarter. Sempra Energy comprises about 0.5% of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp’s holdings in Sempra Energy were worth $244,285,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. West Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. West Wealth Group LLC now owns 10,207 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $942,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy by 24.4% in the second quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 642 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 51.2% in the second quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 375 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Mendel Money Management lifted its position in shares of Sempra Energy by 1.6% in the second quarter. Mendel Money Management now owns 8,476 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $642,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tritonpoint Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Sempra Energy by 2.2% during the second quarter. Tritonpoint Wealth LLC now owns 5,999 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $458,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Sempra Energy Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of SRE opened at $85.92 on Friday. Sempra Energy has a fifty-two week low of $61.90 and a fifty-two week high of $95.72. The company’s fifty day moving average is $89.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $86.71. The firm has a market cap of $56.08 billion, a PE ratio of 26.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.29 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.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.27. Sempra Energy had a return on equity of 8.67% and a net margin of 15.63%.The business had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.99 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.89 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Sempra Energy will post 4.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Sempra Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a $0.645 dividend. This represents a $2.58 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 11th. Sempra Energy’s payout ratio is currently 79.14%.

Insider Transactions at Sempra Energy

In related news, CAO Dyan Z. Wold sold 1,510 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.38, for a total transaction of $137,983.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 3,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $318,093.78. This represents a 30.25% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 7,564 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.29, for a total transaction of $698,081.56. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 41,280 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,809,731.20. This trade 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 19,396 shares of company stock worth $1,785,606 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Sempra Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Evercore ISI set a $105.00 price objective on shares of Sempra Energy and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $99.00 target price (up from $80.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Monday, November 24th. UBS Group reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $100.00 price target on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $95.00 price objective on shares of Sempra Energy in a research report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.83.

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.