Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Short Interest Down 26.7% in January

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 8,681,923 shares, a decrease of 26.7% from the January 15th total of 11,846,916 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,931,514 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Currently, 1.3% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,931,514 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SRE has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $112.00 target price (down previously from $115.00) on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Sempra Energy in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Sempra Energy from $95.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. BTIG Research upgraded shares of Sempra Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $89.00 price objective on Sempra Energy and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Sempra Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.83.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Caroline Ann Winn sold 5,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.58, for a total value of $503,690.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 34,164 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,128,739.12. The trade was a 13.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Dyan Z. Wold sold 1,510 shares of Sempra Energy stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.38, for a total transaction of $137,983.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 3,481 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $318,093.78. This represents a 30.25% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 15,074 shares of company stock valued at $1,385,605 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.27% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Sempra Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in Sempra Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Sempra Energy by 51.2% during 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. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd grew its position in Sempra Energy by 57.7% in the fourth quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 347 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in Sempra Energy by 245.1% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 421 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.65% of the company’s stock.

Sempra Energy Stock Up 2.2%

Shares of SRE traded up $2.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $94.79. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 6,225,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,131,139. Sempra Energy has a 1 year low of $61.90 and a 1 year high of $95.74. 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 company has a market cap of $61.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.74. The business has a fifty day moving average of $88.50 and a 200 day moving average of $87.93.

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.