Service Corporation International Announces Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Results And Outlook For 2019

HOUSTON, Feb. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America, today reported results for the fourth quarter 2018. Our consolidated financial statements can be found at the end of this press release. The table below summarizes our key financial results:

Quarterly Highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share were $1.04 in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $1.29 in the fourth quarter of 2017. The fourth quarter of 2018 and 2017 benefited from tax related items (see pages 7 and 8 footnote 1). Diluted earnings per share excluding special items was $0.54 in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $0.50 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Profit growth in our cemetery segment coupled with increased profits from recent acquisitions and a favorable tax rate more than exceeded the negative trends from lower funeral operating profit and higher general and administration expenses.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $163.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $113.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The fourth quarter of 2017 was negatively impacted by an $11.5 million legal settlement. Net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items increased to $163.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $125.4 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to lower cash taxes paid.
• During the fourth quarter, we returned $32.7 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, and deployed $17.9 million of capital to accretive acquisitions and the construction of new funeral homes. For the full year 2018, we spent $226.9 million on accretive acquisitions and the construction of new funeral homes compared to $94.0 million in 2017. Even with this large increase in growth capital invested, we were able to return $401.5 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends, a 30% increase over 2017.

Tom Ryan, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the fourth quarter of 2018:

"We delivered a solid quarter as we closed out 2018 and are pleased to report an 8% increase in adjusted earnings per share. Double-digit growth in our preneed cemetery sales production drove cemetery profit higher. This along with increased profit from newly acquired businesses were somewhat offset by lower funeral segment profit. Tax planning and tax reform also had a favorable impact for the quarter.

For the full year of 2018, we reported a 15% increase in adjusted earnings per share. We expanded comparable cemetery segment profit margin by 170 basis points while comparable funeral segment profit margin contracted by 50 basis points. Higher cash flows allowed us to invest over $226 million towards growth and return more than $400 million to our shareholders through dividends and our share repurchase program.

Looking ahead to 2019, we believe we are well positioned to deliver solid results, with expected adjusted earnings per share growth within our long-term targeted growth range of 8% to 12%. We anticipate operating growth to be at the upper end of the range but will be somewhat offset by a higher effective tax rate in 2019. These results are all made possible by our greatest asset, our 24,000 associates. Their hard work, dedication, and focus on our client families are what makes this company so strong. Looking forward, we are confident that our solid operating platform and healthy financial condition will allow us to continue to grow revenue, leverage our scale, and deploy capital wisely to enhance shareholder value."

OUTLOOK FOR 2019

Our outlook for diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding special items is anticipated to be in line with our expected long-term growth framework of 8%-12%. Our outlook for net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items reflects an anticipated $40 million net increase in cash taxes compared to 2018.

REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2018

Consolidated Segment Results
(See definitions of revenue line items later in this earnings release.)

Comparable Funeral Results

The table below details comparable funeral results of operations ("same store") for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. We consider comparable operations to be those businesses owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2018.

• Total comparable funeral revenue decreased by $13.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. This decrease was driven by lower core revenue of $11.2 million, and lower recognized preneed revenue of $2.3 million slightly offset by an increase in non-funeral home revenue of $0.4 million.
• The $11.2 million, or 2.8% decrease in core revenue was primarily the result of a 1.5% decrease in core funeral services performed and a 1.4% decrease in core average revenue per service. Comparable funeral services performed were negatively impacted by an absent flu season relative to the same period last year. Organic sales average growth of 0.7% was more than offset primarily by the unfavorable impacts of a 180 basis point increase in the core cremation rate and lower market returns on our trust funds.
• The $2.3 million, or 8.1%, decrease in recognized preneed revenue was primarily the result of fewer contracts sold through our non-funeral home operating channel resulting from a temporary disruption caused by the restructuring of the sales associates in our non-funeral home channel.
• Comparable funeral operating profit decreased $7.7 million to $90.6 million. The operating margin percentage decreased 110 basis points to 20.1%, which is primarily due to the decrease in revenue, the permanent wage increases for certain critical customer-facing employees and higher self-insured medical claims. These negative impacts were partially offset by a reduction in selling related expenses compared to the same period last year.
• Comparable preneed funeral sales production decreased $4.2 million, or 2.1%, in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 2017. The decrease in our non-funeral home sales channel resulted from a temporary disruption caused by the restructuring of our sales associates.

Comparable Cemetery Results

The table below details comparable cemetery results of operations ("same store") for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. We consider comparable operations to be those businesses owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2018.

• Comparable cemetery revenue increased $12.2 million, or 3.6%, in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, led by a $17.0 million increase in recognized preneed revenue, partially offset by lower other revenue.
• While recognized preneed revenue grew by $17.0 million, comparable preneed cemetery sales production was higher by $24.4 million, or 11.8%. This was primarily due to a 15.6% increase in preneed property sales production. The higher sales production of $24.4 million had a lower revenue recognition rate due to the timing of completed construction projects in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. These unrecognized sales should benefit us in future quarters.
• Other revenue declined $3.9 million, or 13.3%, as favorable withdrawals from endowment care trust funds in 2017 were compared to a challenging financial market environment due to the market volatility late in the fourth quarter of 2018.
• Comparable cemetery operating profit increased $3.2 million to $118.4 million and the operating margin percentage decreased 30 basis points to 33.8%. The revenue increases mentioned above were partially offset by higher fixed costs primarily related to permanent wage increases for certain of our critical customer-facing employees and higher self-insured medical claims.

Other Financial Results

• General and administrative expenses increased $7.1 million to $38.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase over the prior year quarter was primarily due to a $2.5 million legal settlement and higher general liability and worker's compensation insurance claims.
• Interest expense increased $3.4 million to $47.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 due to higher interest rates on our floating rate debt as well as an increase in the overall balance of our total debt.
• The GAAP effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 was a benefit of 53.3% compared to the prior year quarter benefit of 85.1%. The benefit for the GAAP effective tax rate for the current year quarter was primarily related to the reduction in uncertain tax positions. The lower GAAP effective tax rate for the prior year quarter was primarily due to the favorable effects of the tax reform. Our adjusted effective income tax rate was 20.5% in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 28.2% in the prior year quarter primarily due to lower state taxes incurred.

Cash Flow and Capital Spending

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our reported net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP to net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items (or sometimes referred to as adjusted operating cash flow). We do not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $163.5 million compared to $113.9 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding the legal settlement of $11.5 million in the prior year, net cash provided by operating activities excluding special items was $163.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $125.4 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to lower cash taxes of approximately $41 million. Similar to last year, we were able to identify approximately $20 million of non-earnings related working capital initiatives, resulting in cash received from our trust funds, that we do not expect to recur in 2019.

A summary of our capital expenditures is set forth below:

Total capital expenditures decreased in the current quarter by $3.2 million, primarily due to $6.0 million of additional spend on locations affected by the hurricanes in the prior year.

TRUST FUND RETURNS

Total trust fund returns include realized and unrealized gains and losses and dividends and are shown gross without netting of certain fees. A summary of our consolidated trust fund returns for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 is set forth below:

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Earnings excluding special items and diluted earnings per share excluding special items shown above are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide a consistent basis for comparison between quarters and better reflect the performance of our core operations, as they are not influenced by certain income or expense items not affecting operations. We also believe these measures help facilitate comparisons to our competitors' operating results.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our reported net income attributable to common stockholders to earnings excluding special items and our GAAP diluted earnings per share to diluted earnings per share excluding special items. We do not intend for this information to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for other measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call and Webcast

We will host a conference call on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time. A question and answer session will follow a brief presentation made by management. The conference call dial-in number is (888) 771-4371 or (847) 585-4405 with the passcode of 48142408. The conference call will also be broadcast live via the Internet and can be accessed through our website at www.sci-corp.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through February 26, 2019 and can be accessed at (888) 843-7419 or (630) 652-3042 with the passcode of 48142408#. Additionally, a replay of the conference call will be available on our website for approximately one week.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "anticipate," or "predict," that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by us, or on our behalf. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

• Our affiliated trust funds own investments in securities, which are affected by market conditions that are beyond our control.
• We may be required to replenish our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds to meet minimum funding requirements, which would have a negative effect on our earnings and cash flow.
• Our ability to execute our strategic plan depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.
• Our credit agreements contain covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions.
• If we lost the ability to use surety bonding to support our preneed activities, we may be required to make material cash payments to fund certain trust funds.
• The funeral and cemetery industry is competitive.
• Increasing death benefits related to preneed contracts funded through life insurance or annuity contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed service.
• The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed contracts may impact our future revenue.
• Unfavorable results of litigation could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.
• Unfavorable publicity could affect our reputation and business.
• If the number of deaths in our markets declines, our cash flows and revenue may decrease.
• If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences, our market share, revenue, and/or profitability could decrease.
• The continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America could result in lower revenue, operating profit, and cash flows.
• Our funeral and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses.
• Regulation and compliance could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.
• Cemetery burial practice claims could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.
• We use a combination of insurance, self-insurance, and large deductibles in managing our exposure to certain inherent risks; therefore, we could be exposed to unexpected costs that could negatively affect our financial performance.
• A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have established accruals, are audited and finally resolved.
• Changes in taxation as well as the inherent difficulty in quantifying potential tax effects of business decisions could have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations, financial condition, or cash flows.
• Declines in overall economic conditions beyond our control could reduce future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future impairments to goodwill and/or other intangible assets.
• Any failure to maintain the security of the information relating to our customers, their loved ones, our associates, and our vendors could damage our reputation, could cause us to incur substantial additional costs and to become subject to litigation, and could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition, or cash flow.
• Our Canadian business exposes us to operational, economic, and currency risks.
• Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and may prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness.
• A failure of a key information technology system or process could disrupt and adversely affect our business.
• Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence, and our stock price
• The application of unclaimed property laws by certain states to our preneed funeral and cemetery backlog could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, cash flows, and our financial results.

For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation and make no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About Service Corporation International

 Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of deathcare products and services. At December 31, 2018, we owned and operated 1,481 funeral homes and 481 cemeteries (of which 286 are combination locations) in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through our businesses, we market the Dignity Memorial® brand which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service, and exceptional customer satisfaction. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial®, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.

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SOURCE Service Corporation International