SAN DIEGO, March 19, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time, Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), an energy services holding company, has been named to "The BusinessWeek 50" 2007 list of the 50 top-performing U.S. companies, published in the March 26, 2007, issue.
"We are pleased to receive this recognition from BusinessWeek as 'best in class' among the largest U.S. companies," said Donald E. Felsinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "We take great pride in our eight-year track record of producing long-term value for our shareholders and maintaining a high level of service to our customers."
To construct its 2007 list, BusinessWeek analyzed companies in the S&P 500 Index based on their average return on capital and sales growth over the previous 36 months, then compared the best-performing companies with others in their sectors. After the comprehensive evaluation, Sempra Energy emerged No. 21 in The BusinessWeek 50 and received an overall "A" grade from the magazine.
From 1998 through 2006, Sempra Energy has produced an average annual total return to investors of approximately 15 percent, including 28 percent last year. During the same period, Sempra Energy's net income has grown at an annual compound rate of 22 percent.
Earlier this month, Sempra Energy earned a No. 4 ranking among electric and gas utilities on Fortune's 2007 "Most Admired Companies" list, the magazine's prestigious annual report card on corporate reputations.
More information on The BusinessWeek 50 is available online at http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/toc/07_13/B40270713bw50.htm. The magazine has published The BusinessWeek 50 rankings for the past 10 years.
Sempra Energy's major subsidiaries include San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas Co., Sempra Commodities, Sempra Generation, Sempra Pipelines & Storage and Sempra LNG.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 14,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.
Sempra LNG and Sempra Pipelines & Storage are not the same companies as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and are not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. Sempra Energy Trading, doing business as Sempra Commodities, and Sempra Generation are not the same companies as the utilities, SDG&E or SoCalGas, and the California Public Utilities Commission does not regulate the terms of their products and services.