Summary of Service Corporation International (SCI) FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Service Corporation International (SCI) - **Industry**: Funeral services and cemetery offerings - **Position**: Largest owner of funeral homes and cemeteries in North America, with approximately 1,500 funeral homes and 500 cemeteries [6][7] Core Business Model and Strategy - **Market Share**: Funeral business has a market share of about 15%, while the cemetery segment has a market share of approximately 28-30% [7] - **Growth Strategy**: Focus on preneed contracts to capture market share and build a trust fund portfolio [2] - **Earnings Growth**: Historical EPS growth of 8% to 12%, with 5% to 6% from organic growth and 2% to 3% from inorganic growth [9][10] Demographic Trends - **Target Demographic**: Aging baby boomer population, with average ages for funeral services at 82-84 years and cemetery services at around 65 years [8] - **Consumer Behavior**: Shift towards lighter celebrations of life rather than formal services, leading to a transformation in service offerings [8] Financial Performance - **Funeral Volume Trends**: Experienced a spike during the pandemic with an additional 130,000 funerals performed, followed by stabilization and a slight decline in volumes [15][16] - **Revenue per Service**: Steady growth in funeral revenue per service in the low single digits, driven by inflationary price increases and enhanced service offerings [17][20] Preneed Sales - **Preneed Merchandise and Services**: Approximately $2.6 billion in annual sales, with $1.2 billion from funeral services and $1.4 billion from cemetery services [22] - **Backlog**: $16 billion backlog, split between trust funds and life insurance policies, with improved economics due to a recent partnership with Global Atlantic [23][24] Cemetery Segment Insights - **Sales Composition**: Preneed cemetery sales consist of large sales (over $80,000) making up 10-15% of total sales, with core sales being more consistent [27][28] - **Consumer Trends**: Increased interest from baby boomers purchasing adjacent cemetery properties after burying loved ones [29] - **Margin Expansion**: Cemetery segment margins have expanded from 12-13% to 30-35% due to tiered pricing strategies and high-end sales [33][55] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: Anticipated return to mid-single-digit growth in preneed cemetery sales as baby boomers continue to influence the market [36] - **EPS Guidance**: Expected EPS growth in the lower end of the 8% to 12% range for 2025, influenced by tax rate changes and stabilization in funeral volumes [58][59] Capital Allocation - **Free Cash Flow**: Projected free cash flow of approximately $550 million, with plans for M&A, construction, dividends, and share repurchases [61][62] Key Takeaways - **Market Position**: SCI is well-positioned to capitalize on demographic trends and has a robust strategy for growth through preneed sales and service innovation [2][8] - **Financial Stability**: Strong cash flow and margin expansion indicate a healthy financial outlook, despite recent fluctuations in funeral volumes [61][55] - **Consumer Relevance**: Continuous adaptation to consumer preferences is crucial for maintaining market share and driving future growth [49][50]