Sempra Energy Raises Dividend 25% to $0.60

Sempra Energy

announced that the company's board of directors has approved a 25-percent increase in the quarterly dividend on shares of the company's common stock to $0.60 per share, or $2.40 per share on an annualized basis, from $0.48 per share, or $1.92 per share on an annualized basis. While this increase represents a higher payout target than the board previously established, the board reaffirmed a target payout ratio of 45 percent to 50 percent over the long term. The first quarterly installment of the new dividend is payable April 15, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 26, 2012.