Metis Global Partners LLC Boosts Stock Position in Sempra (NYSE:SRE)

Metis Global Partners LLC increased its stake in Sempra (NYSE:SRE) by 15.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 45,239 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,075 shares during the quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in Sempra were worth $3,783,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in SRE. Eastern Bank purchased a new position in Sempra during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new position in Sempra in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Hollencrest Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Sempra by 250.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Sempra in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. bought a new stake in Sempra during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. 89.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Sempra Price Performance

NYSE SRE opened at $90.44 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average is $84.17 and its 200 day moving average is $79.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.52. Sempra has a fifty-two week low of $66.40 and a fifty-two week high of $93.12. The company has a market capitalization of $57.28 billion, a PE ratio of 19.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.75.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.05 by ($0.16). Sempra had a net margin of 22.63% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The business had revenue of $2.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.08 earnings per share. Sempra’s revenue was down 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Sempra will post 4.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Sempra Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 5th. Sempra’s payout ratio is presently 54.63%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have weighed in on SRE. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Sempra from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Sempra from $87.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Sempra in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $98.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of Sempra from $84.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Sempra from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $89.00.

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.