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Service Corp. International: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 4% year over year: Consolidated revenue was $1,103.3 million, up from $1,065.4 million. Six-month revenue was $2,199.7 million, up from $2,139.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.90 against $0.88: Diluted EPS excluding special items was $0.90, against $0.88 a year earlier; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.90, against $0.86. Higher cemetery gross profit and a lower share count offset lower funeral gross profit. Source
  • Revenue per service offset fewer services: Core funeral revenue rose $7.1 million, or 1.5%. Core average revenue per service rose 3.3%, while core funeral services performed fell 1.7%. Management described the decline in services as better than expected. Source
  • Funeral gross profit margin fell: Comparable funeral gross profit fell $6.8 million to $109.8 million. The gross profit percentage declined 130 basis points, to 18.5% from 19.8%. Source
  • Comparable cemetery revenue up 4.8%: Comparable cemetery revenue rose $22.8 million, or 4.8%. Core revenue rose $14.4 million and other revenue rose $8.4 million, mainly from endowment care trust fund income. Source
  • Cemetery margin slipped on selling costs: Comparable cemetery gross profit rose $6.7 million to $162.2 million. Higher selling compensation tied to preneed production was cited, and management described the margin pressure as temporary. Source
  • Adjusted operating cash flow up 42%: Adjusted operating cash flow grew $70.5 million to $238.8 million. Management attributed this to lower cash taxes from renewable energy credits and to operating income up $7.1 million. Source

“Today, we reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.90 and adjusted net cash provided by operating activities of $238.8 million, both ahead of the prior year and our expectations.”

Tom Ryan, the Company's Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Diluted EPS excluding special items SourceFull year 2026$4.10 to $4.30 (midpoint $4.20)Kept
Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items SourceFull year 2026$1,055 - $1,115 (midpoint $1,085)Raised from $1,005 - $1,065 (midpoint $1,035)
Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items and cash taxes SourceFull year 2026$1,175 - $1,235Raised from $1,125 - $1,185
Cash taxes SourceFull year 2026, at midpoint of EPS guidance$120Kept
Maintenance capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$335Raised from $325
Capital improvements at existing field locations SourceFull year 2026$140Raised from $135
Development of cemetery property SourceFull year 2026$170Raised from $165
Diluted EPS growth framework at guidance midpoint SourceLong-term, measured against 2026 midpoint8%-12%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Total maintenance capital expenditures guidance increased by $10 million, to $335 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: EPS guidance midpoint of $4.20 kept; the range narrowed to $4.10 to $4.30. Source
  • New: Six-month investing cash flows include $40.7 million of tax credit equity investments, a line not shown in the prior-year period. Source

Second quarter results

  • Revenue rose 4% year over year: Consolidated revenue was $1,103.3 million, up from $1,065.4 million. Six-month revenue was $2,199.7 million, up from $2,139.6 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.90 against $0.88: Diluted EPS excluding special items was $0.90, against $0.88 a year earlier; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.90, against $0.86. Higher cemetery gross profit and a lower share count offset lower funeral gross profit. Source
  • Special items moved GAAP EPS: GAAP results included $0.1 million of net losses on divestitures and impairments, against $4.1 million of net gains a year earlier. Prior-year special items included a $6.4 million legal settlement charge and a $1.6 million restructuring charge. Source
  • Operating and net income both rose: Operating income was $231.6 million, against $224.5 million a year earlier. Net income attributable to common stockholders was $124.8 million, against $122.9 million. Source

Funeral segment performance

  • Revenue per service offset fewer services: Core funeral revenue rose $7.1 million, or 1.5%. Core average revenue per service rose 3.3%, while core funeral services performed fell 1.7%. Management described the decline in services as better than expected. Source
  • Funeral gross profit margin fell: Comparable funeral gross profit fell $6.8 million to $109.8 million. The gross profit percentage declined 130 basis points, to 18.5% from 19.8%. Source
  • Selling costs expensed as incurred: Selling compensation on insurance-funded preneed sales is expensed when incurred. The related benefit is realized in future periods, as the funeral services are performed. Source
  • Core cremation rate edged higher: The core cremation rate rose 60 basis points to 58.0%. The total comparable cremation rate, including the non-funeral home channel, was 64.8%. Source
  • Urn revenue deferred to time of need: Non-funeral home preneed sales revenue fell $5.1 million, due to an operational shift that defers urn delivery on preneed contracts to the time of need. Management described the decrease as short-term. Source

“This dynamic puts temporary pressure on cemetery gross margins but expands our backlog with higher-margin deferred property sales, which will benefit us in future periods.”

Tom Ryan, the Company's Chairman and CEO

Cemetery segment performance

  • Comparable cemetery revenue up 4.8%: Comparable cemetery revenue rose $22.8 million, or 4.8%. Core revenue rose $14.4 million and other revenue rose $8.4 million, mainly from endowment care trust fund income. Source
  • Preneed sales production up 8.0%: Comparable cemetery preneed sales production rose $29.7 million, or 8.0%, supported by more contracts sold, a higher sales average and more large sales. The recognition rate was 88.8%, against 91.4%. Source
  • Cemetery margin slipped on selling costs: Comparable cemetery gross profit rose $6.7 million to $162.2 million. Higher selling compensation tied to preneed production was cited, and management described the margin pressure as temporary. Source
  • Preneed property production rose 7%: Recognized preneed property revenue grew 2%, while preneed property production grew 7%, according to management. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Corporate G&A fell on prior-year charge: Corporate general and administrative expenses were $41.8 million, against $49.5 million. The prior year included a $6.4 million legal settlement charge. Lower auto and general liability claims also contributed. Source
  • Interest expense roughly flat: Interest expense was $64.7 million, against $64.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate slightly lower: The GAAP effective tax rate was 25.1%, against 25.2%. Non-taxable gains on the cash surrender value of certain life insurance policies were the main factor. Source

“We remain focused on executing our long-term growth strategy by growing revenue, leveraging our scale, and allocating capital in a disciplined manner to create long-term shareholder value.”

Tom Ryan, the Company's Chairman and CEO

Preneed sales and backlog

  • Funeral preneed production up 6.6%: Comparable funeral preneed sales production rose $19.9 million, or 6.6%, to $323.3 million. Management attributed the rise to contract growth in core and non-funeral home channels. Source
  • Matured preneed revenue up 6.1%: Comparable matured preneed revenue rose $11.2 million, or 6.1%, while comparable atneed revenue fell 1.4%. Source
  • Deferred revenue balance grew: Deferred revenue, net was $1,823.6 million at June 30, 2026, up from $1,779.3 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Adjusted operating cash flow up 42%: Adjusted operating cash flow grew $70.5 million to $238.8 million. Management attributed this to lower cash taxes from renewable energy credits and to operating income up $7.1 million. Source
  • Cash taxes fell sharply: Cash taxes included in adjusted operating cash flow were $30.0 million, against $94.3 million, due primarily to credits from a renewable energy investment. Source
  • Preneed working capital improved: Working capital was essentially flat overall. Preneed working capital improved $36.4 million, on higher preneed cemetery collections and collection rates. Source
  • Capital spending up on cemetery timing: Total capital expenditures were $95.7 million, up $12.7 million, mainly from timing of spend on high-returning cemetery property. Maintenance capital expenditures were $80.1 million in the quarter. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends year to date: Six-month share repurchases were $266.4 million, against $324.0 million. Dividends paid were $96.4 million, against $91.1 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Acquisition spend rose: Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $39.5 million for six months, against $28.2 million. Real estate acquisitions were $12.8 million, against $5.4 million. Source
  • Headquarters spending increased: Corporate headquarters investing outflow was $56.3 million for six months, against $26.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Renewable energy investment outflow: Tax credit equity investments of $40.7 million appear in investing activities this year, tied to the renewable energy investment behind lower cash taxes. Source

People, footprint and leadership

  • Footprint of funeral and cemetery locations: At June 30, 2026, the company owned and operated 1,495 funeral service locations and 505 cemeteries, of which 316 are combination locations, in 44 states and other areas. Source
  • Thanks to more than 25,000 associates: Management thanked its more than 25,000 associates for serving client families. Source
  • Chairman and CEO commentary: Tom Ryan, Chairman and CEO, gave management's commentary on the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Preneed collection rates expected to continue: Management expects favorable preneed cemetery collection rates to continue in the back half of 2026, supporting the raised cash flow guidance. Source
  • Deferred urn revenue recognized later: Deferred urn revenue from the backlog will be recognized as non-funeral home revenue in future periods, at the time of need. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Consolidated funeral services performed, second quarter Source87,347 (87,014 a year earlier)
Comparable funeral services performed Source85,044 (86,229 a year earlier)
Core contracts sold, comparable funeral preneed Source38,642 (36,232 a year earlier)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Comparable funeral services performed fell 1.4%, with atneed services down 3.0%. Higher average revenue per service offset part of the volume decline. Source
  • Financial: Average floating-rate debt rose about $189.0 million. Lower average floating rates, down from 6.8% to 5.8%, limited the resulting increase in interest expense. Source
  • Operational: Accounts payable and other working capital uses rose $37.3 million, due to the timing of an additional payroll cycle in the period. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management described the 1% decline in funeral services performed as better than its expectation. Source
  • On track: Management said the general agency commission rate is stable and trending in line with its expectations. Source
  • On track: Management confirmed the $4.20 EPS guidance midpoint given earlier for 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.