Matthews International, parent company of Aurora Casket and Matthews Cremation, reported their 3rd Quarter 2023 results and 9-Month results for 2023 last week. I think the overriding take on that report is that Matthews International has continued their growing revenue spurt moved mostly by their recent entrance into the energy storage solutions business. …
The latest information we have out of Australia on the potential takeover of Australia’s largest death care provider, InvoCare, by United States private equity company TPG Capital is from a “Street Talk” column in Wednesday’s Australian Financial Review. Here’s a couple of exerpts from that article which is entitled “InvoCare talks turn…
For the most part, cemeteries are tranquil places where lot ownership, interments, and maintenance usually go off as planned and when they do people just don’t seem to notice all the good work and planning that has been done to accomplish that. But, as this recent print and video news story…
When you think of End-of-Life “Purpose” insurance there are two basic types. First, there is Pre-Need which is generally sold by funeral or cremation providers with the death benefit proceeds going directly to those providers to pay for services that have been pre-planned by the purchasers or their caretakers. Then there is…
Most of the news out of the South Pacific dealing with Death Care has been about the prolonged potential takeover of Australia’s largest funeral and cremation provider, InvoCare, by the United States based private equity firm TPG Global. However, while that potential marriage is still under consideration, Propel Funeral Partners, the 2nd…
BUSINESS
You might hear more about this later today
The Tribecca Film Festival is underway in New York City and tonight June 9, Friday, and Saturday, the next Death Care industry movie, Death Boom, will be one of the featured attractions. Here’s…
Daughter completes acquisitions of family’s firms
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…
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
FINANCE
Carriage Services makes entry into Greater Knoxville market with acquisition
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…
Public Funeral Home/Cemetery company stock prices have dropped. Why?
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…
Daughter completes acquisitions of family’s firms
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…
REGULATIONS
The advantages of “Involvement”
About two weeks ago I decided to take in the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association convention. Now, I have not attended that particular convention for 5-7 years and decided to this year only because a…
Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements
Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”. The state appropriated…
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
CEMETERY
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
Crowne Vault shares initiative creating “a path for permanent placement” of cremated remains
Crowne Vault, the Indiana-based company that is a leading presence in serving the Death Care profession with American-made cremation vaults is supporting a new initiative for the profession that hopes to bring…
Memorial Day 2026 — “Freedom isn’t free”
As we stop today to reflect on the memory of not only our military personnel from the Revolutionary War on, we remember that the holiday was officially started to pay respects to those…
CREMATION
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
Crowne Vault shares initiative creating “a path for permanent placement” of cremated remains
Crowne Vault, the Indiana-based company that is a leading presence in serving the Death Care profession with American-made cremation vaults is supporting a new initiative for the profession that hopes to bring…
PRENEED
Connecticut budget includes money for victims of allegedly stolen pre-arrangements
Earlier this month, as you can read in this article from NBC Connecticut, the legislature of Connecticut passed their state budget which included the “Act Concerning Unlawful Funeral Service Practices”. The state appropriated…
Consumer Preneed motivations from Homesteaders survey results
Preneed insurance provider Homesteaders Life Company released their 8th annual Preneed Motivators survey last week. According to this press release from which you can download your own copy of the survey results, “. .…
SCI Earnings Call: CEO Tom Ryan answers on Preneed and Managing
Service Corporation International reported on their 1st Quarter of 2026 about ten days ago and then followed that up with an Earnings Call with stock analysts that follow the company. As usual Funeral Director…
PRODUCTS
You might hear more about this later today
The Tribecca Film Festival is underway in New York City and tonight June 9, Friday, and Saturday, the next Death Care industry movie, Death Boom, will be one of the featured attractions. Here’s…
Is the “Choice” of cremation a mirage that may disappear??
On a rainy Monday Minnesota morning earlier this week I was doing my run indoors on the treadmill while I watched CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” business news broadcast. On that show Softbank CEO…
The NFL “Fan Experience” will soon include cremated remains permanent placement
This recent article from the Jacksonville Daily Record makes note that the new Jacksonville Jaguars’ football stadium that will be the home of that franchise in the National Football League (NFL) has agreed to…
