Carriage Services(US:CSV)2025-05-01 13:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the first quarter, total revenue was reported at $107.1 million, an increase of $3.6 million or 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year [9] - GAAP net income for the first quarter was $20.9 million, an increase of $13.9 million or 200.1% [22] - Adjusted diluted EPS for the first quarter was $0.96 per share, an increase of $0.21 or 28% compared to the prior year quarter [13] - Adjusted consolidated EBITDA was $32.9 million, a decrease of $653,000 or 1.9% [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total funeral operating revenue was $69.1 million, an increase of $3 million or 4.6% year-over-year, driven by a 1.8% increase in average revenue per contract and a 2.4% increase in admin volume [9] - Total cemetery revenue reached $27.9 million, an increase of $1.5 million or 5.8% [11] - Financial revenue was $7.4 million, an increase of $613,000 or 9.1%, primarily from preneed insurance funeral sales [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company observed a shift in flu season, impacting volume expectations, with a positive variance of 7.7% compared to the first quarter of the previous year [10] - The preneed cemetery growth rate is expected to be between 10% to 20% for the year [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is maintaining its current guidance while monitoring economic conditions, with plans to potentially raise guidance if momentum continues [14][15] - The Trinity system is in Phase one of implementation, focusing on back office systems, with Phase two expected to begin in the third quarter [16] - The company is excited about the rollout of its express funeral funding partnership, aimed at improving family financial flexibility and unlocking new sales potential [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's momentum and the strength of its financial strategy, despite broader economic uncertainties [14][19] - The company is focused on operational excellence and innovation to create lasting value for shareholders [20] Other Important Information - Cash provided by operating activities for the quarter was $13.8 million, down from $19.7 million in the prior year [23] - The company ended the quarter with a maintained leverage ratio of 4.2 times, down from 5 times [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: How was March and April performance? - Management indicated that momentum has continued strongly from January through April, primarily due to volume increases [30][31] Question: What is the outlook for preneed and terming rates sold? - Management noted that while there was a decline in preneed property rights sold, they expect a return to normal growth rates starting in the second quarter [34][35] Question: What are the expected proceeds from property monetization in Q2? - Management estimated around $6 million in proceeds from property sales in Q2, which is factored into guidance [56] Question: How does the company plan to react in a recessionary environment? - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the industry, noting that demand remains stable even during economic downturns [51][52] Question: What cost-saving measures are currently in place? - Management highlighted ongoing supply chain initiatives and fleet management as key areas for cost savings [47][48]