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Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services, Inc. is set to release its third quarter 2025 financial results on November 5, 2025, with a subsequent conference call scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time [1][2]. Company Overview - Carriage Services is a prominent provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States, operating 159 funeral homes across 24 states and 28 cemeteries in 9 states as of September 30, 2025 [3]. - The company is committed to delivering premier experiences through innovation, partnership, and elevated service [3].

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services (CSV) is a strong candidate for investors due to its consistent performance in surpassing earnings estimates, particularly in the funeral services industry [1]. Earnings Performance - Carriage Services has recorded a strong streak of beating earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 11.39% over the last two quarters [2]. - In the last reported quarter, the company achieved earnings of $0.74 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.72 per share by 2.78% [3]. - In the previous quarter, Carriage Services reported earnings of $0.96 per share against an expected $0.80 per share, resulting in a significant surprise of 20.00% [3]. Earnings Estimates and Predictions - Estimates for Carriage Services have been trending higher, influenced by its history of earnings surprises [6]. - The company currently has a positive Zacks Earnings ESP of +7.96%, indicating that analysts are optimistic about its earnings prospects [9]. - The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) suggests a high likelihood of another earnings beat [9]. Statistical Insights - Research indicates that stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [7]. - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the Most Accurate Estimate reflecting the latest analyst revisions [8].

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services (CSV) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, indicating a positive earnings outlook that could lead to increased stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in a company's earnings picture, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [2][4]. - Rising earnings estimates for Carriage Services suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, likely resulting in higher stock prices as investors respond positively [5][8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [9][10]. Recent Performance of Carriage Services - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Carriage Services is expected to earn $3.27 per share, with a 3.3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8].

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services (CSV) shares experienced a significant increase of 5.7% to close at $46.91, supported by strong trading volume and a strategic focus on acquisitions, margin recovery, and debt reduction, which enhances the company's growth outlook [1]. Company Performance - Carriage Services is projected to report quarterly earnings of $0.70 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.4%. However, revenues are expected to decline slightly to $100.47 million, a decrease of 0.2% compared to the same quarter last year [2]. - The consensus EPS estimate for Carriage Services has remained stable over the past 30 days, indicating that stock price movements may not sustain without changes in earnings estimate revisions [4]. Industry Context - Carriage Services operates within the Zacks Funeral Services industry, where Service Corp. (SCI) also competes. SCI's stock closed 0.5% higher at $83.18, with a 6.1% return over the past month [4]. - Service Corp.'s consensus EPS estimate for its upcoming report is $0.83, representing a year-over-year change of 5.1%, and it currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5].

Group 1: Macy's - Macy's operates as an omnichannel retail organization with three brands: Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and bluemercury [1] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) and a Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings has increased by 5.1% over the last 60 days [1] - Macy's has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.28, significantly lower than the industry average of 19.10, and possesses a Value Score of A [2] Group 2: First Financial Bank - First Financial Bank is a financial holding company engaged in commercial banking and other financial activities [2] - The company also carries a Zacks Rank of 1 and has seen a 6.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - First Financial Bank has a P/E ratio of 9.17 compared to the industry average of 11, and it holds a Value Score of B [3] Group 3: Carriage Services - Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services and products in the United States [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 and has experienced a 3.5% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - Carriage Services has a P/E ratio of 13.21, which is lower than the industry average of 19.90, and it has a Value Score of B [4]

Group 1 - Carriage Services, Inc. has acquired substantially all the assets of Faith Chapel Funeral Homes & Crematory, which includes two funeral homes and a crematory in the Pensacola, Florida market [1][2] - Faith Chapel has a 60-year history of serving the Pensacola community, and the acquisition is seen as a continuation of their legacy with Carriage Services due to its strong reputation and dedication to service [2] - Carriage Services operates 164 funeral homes across 24 states and 28 cemeteries in 9 states, focusing on delivering premier experiences through innovation and elevated service [3] Group 2 - The acquisition allows Carriage Services to serve approximately 700 families a year in the Pensacola area, enhancing its presence in Florida [2] - The leadership of Carriage Services expresses enthusiasm for continuing their acquisition strategy to create long-term value and accelerate growth towards their 2030 Vision [2]

Group 1 - Carriage Services (CSV) is a member of the Consumer Staples sector, which includes 180 individual stocks and holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 15 [2] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes earnings estimates and revisions, with Carriage Services currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carriage Services' full-year earnings has increased by 3.3% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [3] Group 2 - Year-to-date, Carriage Services has returned 7.1%, significantly outperforming the Consumer Staples sector's average return of 1.9% [4] - Carriage Services belongs to the Funeral Services industry, which has an average return of -0.5% this year, further highlighting CSV's strong performance [5] - In contrast, Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., another stock in the Consumer Staples sector, has also returned 7.1% year-to-date, but it belongs to a different industry [4][6] Group 3 - The Funeral Services industry, which includes Carriage Services, is currently ranked 10 in the Zacks Industry Rank [5] - The Consumer Products - Staples industry, which includes Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., is ranked 167 and has returned -5.3% this year [6] - Investors may want to monitor both Carriage Services and Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. for their solid performance in the Consumer Staples sector [6]

Group 1 - Carriage Services, Inc. has acquired substantially all the assets of Osceola Memory Gardens and related funeral homes and crematories, enhancing its presence in the Orlando, Florida metro market [1][3] - The acquisition includes a combination of a cemetery, six funeral homes, a crematory, and a dedicated cremation business, which serves thousands of families annually [3] - The acquisition aligns with Carriage's growth strategy focused on partnering with premier businesses in large, growing markets, marking a significant step towards its 2030 Vision [3][4] Group 2 - Bob Russell, President of Osceola, expressed confidence in the partnership with Carriage, highlighting their commitment to service and community support [2] - Steve Metzger, President of Carriage Services, emphasized the unique nature of the Osceola businesses and the intention to grow together with the Osceola team [2] - Carlos Quezada, Vice Chairman and CEO, stated that this acquisition reengages Carriage in its long-term growth strategy and reinforces its commitment to purposeful growth [3]

Economic Overview - U.S. consumer confidence dropped to 97.4 in August from 98.7 in July, indicating a decline of 1.3 points, with short-term expectations for income, business conditions, and employment also falling to 74.8 [4][5] - Concerns about the economy have been exacerbated by tariffs imposed by President Trump, which have raised inflation fears and impacted consumer confidence [5][6] - A weak labor market, characterized by slow job additions, has further fueled recession fears, despite low layoffs and unemployment rates [7] Investment Recommendations - Given the economic uncertainty, it is advisable to invest in low-beta defensive stocks from the utility and consumer staples sectors, which include Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO), Fortis, Inc. (FTS), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN), Ingredion Incorporated (INGR), and Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) [2][10] - These stocks are characterized by a beta greater than 0 but less than 1, indicating lower volatility, and they also offer high dividend yields [3] Company Profiles - **Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)**: Engaged in regulated natural gas distribution and storage, serving approximately 3.3 million customers across eight states. Expected earnings growth rate is 7.2% for the current year, with a beta of 0.75 and a dividend yield of 2.09% [8][9] - **Fortis, Inc. (FTS)**: Operates in the electric and gas utility sector, primarily in Canada and the Caribbean. Expected earnings growth rate is 4.6% for the current year, with a beta of 0.48 and a dividend yield of 3.57% [10][11] - **Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN)**: Focuses on natural gas distribution systems and pipeline projects, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Expected earnings growth rate is 25.3% for the current year, with a beta of 0.59 and a dividend yield of 4.72% [12][13] - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: Provides ingredient solutions specializing in nature-based sweeteners and starches, serving various sectors. Expected earnings growth rate is 6.7% for the current year, with a beta of 0.77 and a dividend yield of 2.47% [14] - **Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV)**: A leading provider of death care services in the U.S., offering a range of funeral and burial services. Expected earnings growth rate is 23.4% for the current year, with a beta of 0.86 and a dividend yield of 1.03% [15][16]