[Gold steady above $5,000/oz amid geopolitical, economic risks][Citi lifts silver prices target, says move to $300 is "extremely unlikely"][Goldman's Risk Appetite Indicator at highest levels since 2021][Weaker dollar could push gold prices to $6,000 this year: Deutsche Bank]By [MarketBeat.com]Author [Dan Schmidt]Published 01/27/2026, 10:28 AMView all comments (0)[WM-0.01%][BTI1.53%][SCI0.22%]The best offense is sometimes a good defense, and that's especially true in markets when stocks turn volatile. Defen ...

Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) demonstrated stable performance in Q3 2025, supported by a steady operating model, effective pricing strategies, cost control, and a balanced business mix [1] Funeral Segment Performance - The funeral segment provided a consistent earnings base, with comparable core funeral services declining by 3.5% year over year, but offset by a 3% increase in the comparable core funeral average [2] - Non-funeral home average revenue per service increased by 13.4%, benefiting from pricing actions and higher-value preneed contracts maturing from the backlog, which helped mitigate the impact of lower service volumes on overall revenues and gross profit [2] Cemetery Operations - Cemetery operations contributed significantly to stability, with comparable cemetery revenues rising nearly 7%, driven by a 9.6% increase in cemetery preneed sales production [3] - Higher property sales and growth in recognized merchandise and services revenue led to a $18 million increase in cemetery gross profit, with operating margins expanding to 34% [3] Cost Management - Cost discipline was a key aspect of SCI's stability, with corporate general and administrative expenses declining year over year and fixed costs managed below inflation, increasing approximately 1.4% during the quarter [4] - These cost management efforts helped preserve operating income despite elevated selling and labor costs [4] Capital Allocation - SCI invested $140 million in Q3 2025 across maintenance capital, cemetery development, growth projects, and acquisitions, with $86 million allocated to maintaining and improving existing locations [5] - This balanced investment approach aims to sustain service quality, operational efficiency, and long-term consistency [5] Stock Performance - SCI's disciplined execution and diversified revenue streams contributed to a 6.4% increase in shares over the past six months, outperforming the industry's growth of 5.9% [6]

Core Insights - Carriage Services, Inc. announced executive leadership promotions and appointments to support its growth strategy and 2030 Vision [1][2][5] Leadership Changes - Steve Metzger has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing Operations, Sales, Marketing, and M&A [7] - John Enwright, Chief Financial Officer, will now also oversee Information Technology and Supply Chain, aligning financial discipline with long-term value creation [4] - Rene Negrete joins as Vice President of Operations, bringing over 20 years of experience in the funeral and cemetery sector [7] - Sam A. Mazzu, III has been promoted to Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, focusing on governance and risk stewardship [7] - Christine Ngo has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources, enhancing leadership in people and culture development [7] - Alfred White has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing, aiming to strengthen the brand and community connections [7] Strategic Objectives - The new leadership structure supports Carriage's three strategic objectives: Purposeful Growth, Relentless Improvement, and Empowered Partnership [5] - The company aims to scale responsibly, invest in its workforce, and deliver meaningful experiences to families and communities [5] Company Overview - Carriage Services is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services in the U.S., operating 155 funeral homes in 24 states and 28 cemeteries in 9 states as of December 31, 2025 [6]

Core Insights - The company has experienced better-than-expected volume performance in its funeral and cemetery segments, with volumes normalizing despite initial expectations of a decline [1] - The third quarter showed a 3% decline in volume, which aligned with the company's anticipated seasonal trends, indicating stability in volume fluctuations [1] - The company anticipates continued foundational strength moving forward, suggesting a positive outlook for future performance [2]

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) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook driven by rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Carriage Services is projected to earn $3.21 per share, reflecting a 21.1% increase from the previous year, with a 13.8% rise in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Institutional Investor Influence - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4][5]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - Carriage Services' upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Group 1 - Service Corporation International (SCI) operates in the funeral and cemetery services sector in North America, holding approximately 17% of the total market share [1] - The company is well positioned to benefit from the recovery of the funeral business following the global pandemic [1]

Core Viewpoint - Carriage Services (CSV) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the correlation between changes in earnings estimates and stock price movements, particularly influenced by institutional investors [4]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Carriage Services is expected to earn $3.20 per share, reflecting a 20.8% increase from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Carriage Services has risen by 13.2% [8]. Zacks Rating 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]. - The upgrade of Carriage Services to Zacks Rank 1 places it in the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for near-term price increases [10].