HOUSTON, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE:CSV) today announced plans to release 2025 first quarter results on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, after the market closes. In conjunction with the release, Carriage Services has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live via webcast on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. What:Carriage Services First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference CallWhen:Thursday, May 1, 2025 – 8:00 a.m. Central Time How:Live via phone – B ...

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) is a funeral and cemetery provider that was last analyzed in October 2023, prior to its third-quarter earnings report scheduled for October 30, 2024. The company maintains a 'Hold' rating due to its current valuation and market conditions [1]. Company Summary - The company focuses on generating income through investments in undervalued profitable stocks with strong balance sheets and minimal debt [1]. - The investment strategy includes writing calls against positions to generate additional income when opportunities arise [1]. - Risk management is emphasized through position sizing and the use of trailing stop losses over time [1].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of efficiency ratios in evaluating a company's potential for profitability and stock selection [1] Efficiency Ratios - **Receivables Turnover**: This ratio measures a company's ability to extend credit and collect debts, with a high ratio indicating effective collection practices [2] - **Asset Utilization**: This ratio assesses how well a company converts its assets into sales, with higher values suggesting greater efficiency [3] - **Inventory Turnover**: This ratio indicates a company's ability to manage inventory relative to its cost of goods sold, with high values reflecting efficient inventory management [4] - **Operating Margin**: This ratio measures the efficiency of a company in controlling operating expenses relative to sales, with higher values indicating better expense management [5] Screening Criteria - The screening process included a favorable Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) alongside the efficiency ratios to identify potentially profitable stocks [6] - The criteria narrowed down over 7,906 stocks to nine, highlighting companies with efficiency ratios above industry averages [7] Selected Companies - **Carriage Services (CSV)**: A leading provider of death care services in the U.S. with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 27.5% [7] - **Brinker International (EAT)**: Operates various restaurant brands, including Chili's and Maggiano's, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.7% [8] - **Flexsteel Industries (FLXS)**: Engaged in the design and manufacture of upholstered furniture, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.8% [10]

Markets showed signs of a recovery on Wednesday after soft inflation data somewhat eased concerns about a declining economy. However, the crisis is far from over as global tensions, President Donald Trump’s tariffs and uncertainty over the next rate cut persist, which could keep markets volatile.Given this situation, it would be safe to invest in consumer staples stocks, which are considered defensive. In this regard, Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP) , Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) and Tyson Foods (TSN) ...

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services, Inc. has announced an expanded national partnership with Express Funeral Funding, aiming to enhance service delivery and provide more funding options for families [1][2][3] Company Overview - Carriage Services operates 162 funeral homes across 26 states and 31 cemeteries in 11 states, focusing on delivering premier experiences through innovation and elevated service [4] Partnership Details - The collaboration with Express Funeral Funding will allow Carriage Services to refine its product portfolio and reach new markets, integrating EFF's insurance assignment funding into its offerings [2][3] - The partnership is expected to create new opportunities for both companies and enhance the value provided to families [4][6] Leadership Statements - Carlos Quezada, CEO of Carriage Services, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting its potential to broaden product offerings and improve service quality [3] - Andy Buckman, President of Express Funeral Funding, emphasized the partnership's potential to deliver greater value to families [4]

Carriage Services (CSV) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.In ...

Economic Overview - Concerns about a slowing economy have intensified, with the Federal Reserve unlikely to implement rate cuts soon due to persistent inflation [1][8] - Consumer confidence has dropped significantly, with the Conference Board's consumer survey index falling to 98.3 in February, below the expected 102.3 [7] Inflation Data - The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.5% in January, following a 0.4% increase in December, marking the largest jump since August 2023 [5] - Year-over-year, CPI increased by 3% in January, up from 2.9% in December, the highest annual gain since April 2024 [6] Consumer Staples Investment - Investing in consumer staples stocks is recommended as they are considered defensive during economic uncertainty [2] - Suggested stocks include Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV), Lancaster Colony Corporation (LANC), Tyson Foods (TSN), and Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP), all carrying a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [2] Company Profiles - **Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 7.2% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.91, and a dividend yield of 1.12% [12][13] - **Lancaster Colony Corporation (LANC)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.1% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.31, and a dividend yield of 1.99% [14][15] - **Tyson Foods (TSN)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 22.6% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.72, and a dividend yield of 3.26% [16][17] - **Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.5% for the current year, Zacks Rank 1, beta of 0.81, and a dividend yield of 3.07% [18][19] Investment Strategy - The recommended investment strategy focuses on low-beta stocks with high dividend yields and favorable Zacks Ranks [3]

Financial Market Conditions - The fair market value of trust funds may decline below estimated costs, potentially leading to charges against earnings for expected losses[91]. - Earnings from trust funds are influenced by financial market conditions, with declines potentially affecting current revenue and future cash flows[92]. - The financial condition of third-party insurance companies funding preneed contracts could impact the company's ability to collect proceeds, affecting financial condition and cash flows[95]. - Changes in tax laws, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, could have material effects on the company's financial condition, though current assessments indicate minimal impact[98]. - The company faces risks from litigation and claims that could result in significant monetary damages, impacting financial position and cash flows[99]. - Declines in death rates and changing consumer preferences could lead to decreased revenue, with unpredictable fluctuations in death rates affecting operations[100]. - The increasing trend of cremations may result in revenue decline due to lower average revenue per cremation compared to traditional burials[101]. - Compliance with extensive regulations in the funeral and cemetery industry may increase costs and decrease cash flows, impacting overall financial condition[105]. Debt and Financial Obligations - As of December 31, 2024, the company had a total debt of $542.5 million, which includes $400.0 million in Senior Notes and $137.0 million in outstanding borrowings under its Credit Facility[113]. - The company has $110.8 million available under its Credit Facility after accounting for $2.2 million in outstanding letters of credit[113]. - The company may incur additional indebtedness in the future, which could exacerbate existing leverage risks[117]. - The company has outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility of $137.0 million as of December 31, 2024[265]. - A 100 basis points change in the borrowing rate would result in a change in income before taxes of $1.4 million[265]. - The Senior Notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 4.25% with a carrying value of $396.6 million and a fair value of $364.4 million as of December 31, 2024[266][267]. - A 0.25% change in interest rates causes an approximate 0.37% change in the value of fixed income securities[264]. - The company has not entered into interest rate hedging arrangements in the past but continually evaluates their cost and potential benefits[265]. - The company is primarily exposed to interest rate risk and changes in the values of securities associated with preneed and perpetual care trusts[261]. Operational Risks - The company is exposed to significant risks from economic conditions, including potential adverse effects from inflation, which could increase costs and reduce consumer discretionary spending[119][120]. - The company operates over 40% of its businesses in California, Texas, and Florida, areas prone to natural disasters, which could disrupt operations and increase costs[128]. - The company has implemented enhanced cybersecurity measures following a ransomware attack in January 2021, but remains vulnerable to future cyber threats[129][130]. - The company may face challenges in accessing funding sources due to adverse developments in the financial services industry, which could impact liquidity[122][123]. - The company has incurred costs to comply with increasing data privacy regulations, which may rise significantly due to evolving requirements[131][132]. Internal Controls and Risk Management - The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting is crucial for accurate financial reporting and investor confidence[134]. - The company may require significant capital investments to remediate any failures in its information technology systems[133]. - The company does not enter into derivative or other financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes[262]. - Management is actively involved in monitoring exposure to market risk and developing appropriate risk management techniques[261].

Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE:CSV) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call February 27, 2025 10:30 AM ET Company Participants Steve Metzger - President Carlos Quezada - Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman John Enwright - Chief Financial Officer Conference Call Participants Alex Paris - Barrington Research John Franzreb - Sidoti & Company Liam Burke - B. Riley George Kelly - ROTH Capital Partners Operator Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Carriage Services Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Con ...

Core Insights - Carriage Services (CSV) reported quarterly earnings of $0.62 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.51 per share, but down from $0.77 per share a year ago [1] - The earnings surprise for this quarter was 21.57%, following a previous quarter where the company reported earnings of $0.64 per share against an expectation of $0.45, resulting in a surprise of 42.22% [2] - The company generated revenues of $97.7 million for the quarter ended December 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.91%, although this is a decrease from $98.83 million in the same quarter last year [3] Financial Performance - Over the last four quarters, Carriage Services has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates [2][3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.81, with expected revenues of $106.9 million, and for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $2.82 on revenues of $415.26 million [8] Market Position - Carriage Services shares have increased approximately 2.7% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.3% [4] - The Zacks Rank for Carriage Services is currently 3 (Hold), indicating that the stock is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [7] Industry Context - The Funeral Services industry, to which Carriage Services belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 10% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [9]