Service Corporation Q4 Earnings Meet Estimates, Revenues Rise 2%

Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) reported strong fourth-quarter 2025 results, with both revenue and earnings increasing year over year, driven by growth in funeral and cemetery segments, higher gross profit, and disciplined capital management [1][9] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q4 2025 were $1.14, an 8% increase from $1.06 in the same quarter last year, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate [2] - Total revenues reached $1,111.5 million, a 2% increase from $1,093.0 million year over year, although slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,119 million [2] - Gross profit rose by 1.9% to $311.7 million, maintaining a gross margin of 28% [2] Segment Analysis - Funeral Segment: - Total funeral revenues increased to $600.6 million from $587.7 million in Q4 2024, with gross profit rising to $126.2 million [4] - Average revenue per service grew by 3.3% to $5,880 [4] - Comparable funeral revenues rose 0.5% to $580.4 million, with comparable preneed funeral sales production up 11% to $294.1 million [5] - Cemetery Segment: - Total cemetery revenues increased to $510.9 million from $505.3 million in Q4 2024, with gross profit up 2.6% to $185.5 million [6] - Comparable cemetery revenues rose 0.9% to $508.3 million, driven by higher other revenues [7] Operating Income and Expenses - Operating income increased by 5.1% to $275.6 million from $262.2 million in the prior-year quarter [3] - Corporate general and administrative expenses were $33.7 million, significantly higher than $15.0 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to a reduction in legal reserves in the previous year [3] Financial Health and Outlook - At the end of 2025, SCI had $243.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, up from $218.8 million at the end of 2024, with long-term debt totaling $5.1 billion [10] - For 2026, SCI expects diluted EPS in the range of $4.05-$4.35, indicating growth within its long-term target range of 8-12% [13] - Projected net cash provided by operating activities for 2026 is between $1,005 million and $1,065 million after cash taxes [14]