Sempra (NYSE:SRE) Sets New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $61.90 and last traded at $62.56, with a volume of 417053 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $65.88.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on SRE. Citigroup reduced their price target on Sempra from $93.00 to $70.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Guggenheim reduced their target price on Sempra from $95.00 to $87.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Sempra from $92.00 to $78.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Sempra from $88.00 to $85.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Sempra from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sempra presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $80.46.

Sempra Trading Up 2.2 %

The firm has a market cap of $44.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.65. The firm's 50-day moving average is $73.60 and its 200-day moving average is $81.88. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89.

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Sempra (NYSE:SRE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 25th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.47 by $0.03. Sempra had a net margin of 22.63% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The firm had revenue of $3.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.73 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.13 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Sempra will post 4.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.645 per share. This represents a $2.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.77%. This is an increase from Sempra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. Sempra's payout ratio is currently 58.37%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Alexander Lisa Larroque sold 2,755 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.93, for a total value of $225,717.15. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,905 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,139,236.65. The trade was a 16.54 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jeffrey W. Martin sold 49,737 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.94, for a total transaction of $4,125,186.78. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2 shares of the company's stock, valued at $165.88. This trade represents a 100.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders bought 9,319 shares of company stock worth $651,676 and sold 57,309 shares worth $4,694,019. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sempra

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its holdings in Sempra by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,410 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $211,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Sempra by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $719,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Sempra by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,585 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of Sempra by 2.1% during the fourth quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 6,195 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $543,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Sempra by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 2,639 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares during the last quarter. 89.65% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Sempra Company Profile

Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Sempra California, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The Sempra California segment provides electric services; and natural gas services to San Diego County.