Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) reported a strong second quarter performance with adjusted earnings per share of $0.88, reflecting an 11% increase year-over-year [2][8] - The company experienced a 14.8% growth in comparable funeral gross profit, driven by higher funeral revenue and effective cost management [2][26] - Cemetery segment sales production increased by 5.3%, contributing to modest revenue growth, with future benefits expected from undeveloped property sales [3][26] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the second quarter of 2025 was $1,065.4 million, up from $1,034.0 million in the same quarter of 2024, marking a $31.4 million increase [5][8] - Operating income rose to $224.5 million compared to $220.8 million in the prior year [5] - Net income attributable to common stockholders was $122.9 million, an increase from $118.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 [5][8] Earnings and Cash Flow - Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.86 from $0.81 year-over-year, while adjusted diluted earnings per share rose to $0.88 from $0.79 [5][9] - Net cash provided by operating activities was $166.5 million, down from $196.9 million in the prior year, primarily due to an increase in cash taxes paid [8][9] - Excluding special items, net cash provided by operating activities increased by over 14% [8][9] Guidance and Outlook - The company confirmed its 2025 earnings per share guidance range of $3.70 to $4.00 and raised its cash flow outlook to $880 million to $940 million [6][7] - The anticipated long-term growth framework for diluted earnings per share from continuing operations is expected to be within 8%-12% [6][7] Segment Performance - Comparable funeral revenue increased by $15.2 million, or 2.7%, driven by a $7.9 million increase in core funeral revenue [21][26] - Comparable cemetery revenue showed a slight increase, with total recognized preneed revenue at $323.0 million, down from $325.1 million [25][26] - The core cremation rate improved to 57.1%, reflecting a 20 basis point increase [26]