** Argus Research upgrades U.S. electric and gas utility Sempra SRE.N to "buy" from "hold"

** Brokerage cites SRE is leveraging LNG and Mexican assets to improve its utility infrastructure and drive a robust capital plan

** SRE has initiated five value creation initiatives for 2025 which includes utility investment, leveraging value in LNG assets, cutting costs, selling non-core assets, and improving safety and productivity, brokerage says

** Last week, co posted Q4 adj profit of $1.28 per share, beating analyst estimates of $1.17 per share - data compiled by LSEG

** 14 of 19 analysts rate stock "strong buy" or "buy" and five "hold"; their median PT is $104 - data compiled by LSEG

** Including session's move, SRE up 8% YTD

(Reporting by Pragyan Kalita in Bengaluru)

((Pragyan.Kalita@thomsonreuters.com;))