KeyCorp Lowers Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Price Target to $141.00

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) had its price target cut by analysts at KeyCorp from $143.00 to $141.00 in a report issued on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. KeyCorp’s price target would suggest a potential upside of 16.38% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on SRE. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $152.00 to $148.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 15th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $159.00 to $149.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 5th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $119.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 16th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Sempra Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 18th. Finally, BidaskClub lowered shares of Sempra Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $143.43.

Shares of NYSE:SRE opened at $121.15 on Tuesday. Sempra Energy has a 52-week low of $88.00 and a 52-week high of $161.87. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $126.91 and a 200 day moving average of $125.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.95 billion, a PE ratio of 8.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.80.

Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.52 by ($0.21). Sempra Energy had a net margin of 38.49% and a return on equity of 11.47%. The business had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.62 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.50 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Sempra Energy will post 7.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dimension Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Mirova bought a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the third quarter valued at $30,000. Hall Laurie J Trustee bought a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the third quarter valued at $31,000. Atlas Private Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Sempra Energy by 46.5% during the third quarter. Atlas Private Wealth Management now owns 293 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Planned Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Sempra Energy during the third quarter valued at $37,000. 84.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Sempra Energy

Sempra Energy operates as an energy-services holding company in the United States and internationally. The company's San Diego Gas & Electric Company segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity; and supplies natural gas. It provides electric services to a population of approximately 3.7 million and natural gas services to approximately 3.4 million of that population covering an area of 4,100 square miles.

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