Short Interest in Sempra (NYSE:SRE) Expands By 24.0%

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 14,660,000 shares, a growth of 24.0% from the October 15th total of 11,820,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,640,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.6 days.

Sempra Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SRE traded up $1.75 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $92.19. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,050,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,316,892. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $84.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $79.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.47. 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 $58.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.75.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.05 by ($0.16). Sempra had a net margin of 22.63% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The company had revenue of $2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.54 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.08 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Sempra will post 4.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sempra Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 5th will be given a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 5th. Sempra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.63%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Sempra from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Sempra in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $98.00 target price for the company. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Sempra in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $94.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Sempra from $93.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Sempra from $87.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Eastern Bank bought a new position in Sempra in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Family Firm Inc. acquired a new stake in Sempra during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Hollencrest Capital Management grew its holdings in Sempra by 250.0% during the 3rd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 378 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 270 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Sempra during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Sempra during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors own 89.65% of the company’s stock.

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.