Finance

Smith apparently out, Evanger in as CEO, President at Foundation Partners Group

By Funeral Director Daily / June 16, 2026 /

  This press release from Foundation Partners Group (FPG), which is dated Friday, June 12, announces “the appointment of Jim Evanger as chief executive officer (CEO) and president, effective immediately”.   The press release went on to say the following: “Evanger succeeds John D. Smith, who led the organization through its recent ownership transition. In…

Park Lawn continues Oklahoma expansion

By Funeral Director Daily / June 15, 2026 /

  Park Lawn Corporation announced last week, in this press release, the acquisition of Strode Funeral Home and Cremation in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  To our count at Funeral Director Daily, the purchase of this one stand alone funeral home brings to 15 the number of properties that Park Lawn Corporation has purchased in the state of…

Pinnacle Funeral Service acquires historic funeral firm

By Funeral Director Daily / June 10, 2026 /

  The Draeger-Lengendorf Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, Wisconson, was founded in 1928 and has served the families of southern Wisconsin for the past 98 years.   This press release from Pinnacle Funeral Service announces that the company has recently acquired the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home & Crematory.  According to the press release, the firm is…

Carriage Services makes entry into Greater Knoxville market with acquisition

By Funeral Director Daily / June 8, 2026 /

  You can’t say that you didn’t have a little warning about something coming soon for Carriage Services.  Back on May 7, 2026, in the Earnings Call of Carriage Services’ 1st Quarter 2026 report, President and Chief Operating Officer of Carriage Services, Steve Metzger, made this comment in answer to a question from Alexander Paris…

Public Funeral Home/Cemetery company stock prices have dropped. Why?

By Funeral Director Daily / June 5, 2026 /

    A friend of mine reached out via text message the other day and asked if I had any idea why the stocks of public company funeral home and cemetery operators Service Corporation International (SCI) and Carriage Services had dropped in the past month or so.  It didn’t take me by surprise because since…

Daughter completes acquisitions of family’s firms

By Funeral Director Daily / June 4, 2026 /

    According to this article from the Delaware County (PA) Daily Times Bridget Monaghan Wibble has completed the purchase of the historical Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home that was owned by her father since 2007.  Included in the ownership are the Montrose Cemetery and Memorials in Upper Darby and the Cumberland Cemetery in Middletown…

Funeral homes in Michigan change hands

By Funeral Director Daily / May 26, 2026 /

  “It’s been a good run.”  That’s what funeral director John Kaatz said according to this newspaper article announcing the sale of four funeral homes that he was associated with.   Kaatz, who succeeded his father in the operation of Kaatz Funeral Home and eventually owned facilities in four Michigan cities, reflected on his career…

Everstory Partners recognized as a “Great Place to Work” — Again!

By Funeral Director Daily / May 22, 2026 /

  StoneMor Partners left the world of public companies and was taken private by Axar Capital Management in November 2022.  At the time StoneMor was arguably, by revenue, the second largest company in Death Care.  Second only to Service Corporation International and, in revenue, ahead of Carriage Services and Park Lawn Corporation at the time.…

Security National Financial Corporation 1Q 2026 Memorial Group: The Good and the “Not so Good”

By Funeral Director Daily / May 20, 2026 /

    Security National Financial Corporation (SNFC), the Utah-based company that serves the Death Care profession through their funeral homes, preneed insurance, and other financial tools issued their 1st Quarter 2026 financial report last week.  In that press release that you can access here you will note that Total Revenues dropped 3.6% from $82.7 million…

Despite management upheaval, Park Lawn acquisitions keep rolling along

By Funeral Director Daily / May 19, 2026 /

  It was only a month ago, on April 15, that Funeral Director Daily published this article titled “Park Lawn Corporation update:  Dodds also reported to be leaving”.   The sudden departure of Park Lawn Corporation executives that included President Jennifer Hay, Chief Operating Officer Matt Forastiere, and company executive Jay Dodds was a shock to…