Funeral Director Daily

Assurant Pre-Need reports Higher Income, Lower Sales

By Funeral Director Daily / August 3, 2017 /

World-wide niche insurance conglomerate Assurant reported slightly higher Net Operating Income for the 2017 2nd Quarter over the same quarter last year.They also reported higher income by 13% in the Global Pre-Need segment over the same quarter one year ago. Pre-Need income was up according to the company statement due to higher fee and investment…

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Muslims accuse Rhode Island Funeral Home of Discrimination

By Funeral Director Daily / August 2, 2017 /

The web-site GoLocalProvidence published an interesting article yesterday.  The essence of the article is that a Muslim leader in the area has accused a Rhode Island funeral home, Woodlawn Funeral Home, as being both anti-semetic and anti-Muslim, because in his opinion, his family was turned away for service. The Muslim accuser, Farid Ansara, claims that…

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A Perpetual Problem

By Funeral Director Daily / August 1, 2017 /

An editorial appeared over the weekend in the Meridian Star of Mississippi concerning abandoned cemeteries and solutions on how to make them whole again. The article talks about a recent state decision to award two cemeteries in Mississippi that were abandoned to a new company, Perpetual, LLC.  The story continues to tell of the decision…

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Illinois Steps Up for Indigent Funerals

By Funeral Director Daily / July 31, 2017 /

If you follow the news and know what is happening with the budgets of Chicago and the State of Illinois recent news from the Chicago Daily Herald is somewhat surprising.  For the first time in years, Illinois lawmakers have made money available for funeral homes who handle the poor and indigent. According to the article,…

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Matthews International Posts Solid Quarter

By Funeral Director Daily / July 28, 2017 /

Worldwide conglomerate Matthews International posted expected in-line earnings of $1.05/share as compared to $0.97/share for the same quarter a year ago.  Quarterly revenues were $389.6 million as compared to $382.1 million last year and quarterly profits were $29.5 million as compared to $23.9 million.  You can see their Press Release here. Management reflected that higher…

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FDD Reflections on 2Q Earnings of SCI and Carriage Services

By Funeral Director Daily / July 28, 2017 /

It’s always interesting to look at the earnings reports of the Death Care industry’s public companies and try to not only glean how those companies are doing, but, what does this mean for my independent funeral home.  I think, as I’ve read the reports  Wednesday night and into Thursday, this quarter is no exception in…

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Carriage Services, SCI Report Earnings Yesterday

By Funeral Director Daily / July 27, 2017 /

On Thursday, July 26, funeral home consolidators Carriage Services and Service Corporation International both reported 2nd Quarter earnings. Carriage Services came in at a diluted per share income of $0.30 when they had estimated an income of $0.40 per share.  Their stock lost 1.16% to close at $26.49 for the day on the news.  You…

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Making Your Mark in the Community

By Funeral Director Daily / July 27, 2017 /

I had never heard of Philadelphia funeral director Patricia Quinn until this morning.  However, in my morning search for articles that would be of interest to subscribers of Funeral Director Daily I came across People Magazines People.com story on her. It turns out that Ms. Quinn is a Philadelphia area based funeral director who back…

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Assurant Trades at All-Time High

By Funeral Director Daily / July 26, 2017 /

Global pre-need provider, Assurant, traded at a yearly high yesterday of $106 per share.  You can read about it here. Today also tips off earnings week releases of most companies in the Death Care Index (DCI).  Carriage Services and SCI will report after market close today followed by Matthews International tomorrow.  Assurant and Hillenbrand Industries…

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Learning from Down Under

By Funeral Director Daily / July 26, 2017 /

An article entitled, “This is Australia’s Most Expensive City to Die in” caught my eye.  However, in reading the article which was published in Australia’s Startsat60.com the main point about the difference in city’s costs was not what intrigued me. The article points out that in Australia an average funeral with burial would cost about…

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