Finance
I guess “Private” means “Privacy” and that is probably why it is so difficult to get information on how the Private Equity market is doing. The status of the industry is, however, of much interest to those in the Death Care profession because so much money has entered Death Care through private equity in…
The first half of January 2025 saw two news releases come from Matthews International that probably, in a wide scope, are related to each other. First, in early January, this press release titled “Matthews International announces closing of of European Tooling and Packaging Businesses”. Then just last week Matthews International issued this press…
Today is January 20. It is the day that President Trump wanted to institute one of his ideas for making life more “affordable”. That idea is a 10% cap on interest rates on credit card balances for one year. A recent Debt.com survey about funeral expenses and death, which you can access an…
Back in 1971, according to this article from Pew Research Center, 61% of Americans fell into what was called the “Middle Class”. The same article lists that number as 51% in 1923, and according to Finance & Commerce magazine, “Most economists agree the K-shape (consumer divergence) isn’t a short-term anomaly but a continuation of…
The price of equity ownership (stocks) in public companies is a function of supply and demand. The more people that want to own the stock (equity or ownership in the company) the higher the price goes because the stock is in demand. Conversely, when the stock is not in great demand the price drops…
If you would ask Gemini Artificial Intelligence what percentage of funeral homes will be sold in the next five years, here is the answer that you will be given: “While an exact percentage is hard to pinpoint, a significant portion of funeral homes, potentially around 35-40% of owners, plan to retire or sell…
The overall economy and, more importantly, the way consumers and Death Care clientele feel about their individual situations has some effect on purchases of Death Care products and services– both Pre-Need and At-Need. It’s just common sense that the better a consumer feels about their own financial situation, the more apt they are to…
Everstory Partners, who may be the nation’s 2nd largest Death Care provider by serving over 65,000 families per year, recently announced completed renovations at their Cedar Hill Funeral Home just outside Washington, DC. This press release from Everstory will give you more information on the recent transformation at the funeral home that serves about…
We learned earlier this week that Pinnacle Funeral Service, a funeral home owner and operator based in St. Petersburg, Florida, has acquired the Malcore Funeral Home & Crematory as well as Simply Cremation in Green Bay, Wisconsin. According to a press release, the funeral home was founded in 1921 and has been owned and…
I had almost forgot that Hillenbrand Inc., the former parent company of Batesville, had itself agreed to be sold to Lone Star Funds last August (2025). I was reminded of that transaction from this recent update in Financier Worldwide. The $3.8 billion transaction “will take Hillenbrand private and marks a significant strategic shift for…
