I read, watch, and listen about what is happening in the Death Care business.  I do that on an overall scale and I also do it with as many individual companies as possible.

Over the last couple of years as I have read, watched, and listened to items concerning funeral home and cemetery consolidator and operator Carriage Services I get a sense that management is positioning the company to move forward.  I get that sense because it appears to me that Carriage Services is getting their debt in line, is getting their rooftops in line, and positioning their company with the vendors they want to be doing business with in the future.

For instance in the recent report on the company’s 1st Quarter of 2025, which you can access here, they mentioned that they lowered their debt by $17.0 million and they announced that they had divested of assets which returned proceeds of $18.7 million to the company coffers. . . . . And, the impressive thing is that while working on those strategic situations they brought in more funeral services and revenue than they did in the comparative 1st Quarter of 2024.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

The company reported Total Revenue of $ 107.1 million for 1Q2025 as compared to Total Revenue of $ 103.5 million in 1Q2024 — that’s an increase of about 3.5%.  The company’s quarterly funeral contracts were listed at 12,055 as compared to last year’s First Quarter contracts of 11,773 — that’s an increase of 2.4% and I believe it was done without any large acquisitions.

It was also interesting to me to note that Carriage Services and Service Corporation International both reported 1st Quarter 2025 results last week and in many areas had common results.  One that I noticed was a category which they call “Comparable Funeral Home Results”.  Here is a small table I put together which gives, in percentages, the increases for Revenue, Services Volume, and Revenue per Service for that category.  The percentages indicate the increase over the same three-month period of 2024.

Comparable Funeral Home category results
1st QTR 2025

While Carriage Services and SCI both operate on national scales, this comparison does give you something to compare your locations to.  Both companies combined to increase services coupled with a Revenue per Service increase to increase the Total Revenue.  I believe that is an approach that needs to be met in higher than normal inflationary times.

As far as Carriage Services’ performance for the quarter, here’s what CEO Carlos Quezada had to say in prepared statements in the 1Q25 press release last week, “. . . .Our solid financial performance, highlighted by a 4.6% increase in comparable funeral home revenue was primarily driven by a 2.4% increase in funeral home at-need volume and a 2.2% increase in average revenue per at-need contract. . . . .Through continued investments in innovation, the expansion of key partnerships, and the empowerment of our people, we are building the Carriage of the future.”

Here’s a couple other metrics from Carriage Services’ quarterly report:

• Cremation Rate:  Jumped to 60.5% as compared to 59.3% in 1Q2024

• Average Revenue per Funeral Contract:  Jumped to $ 5,731 as compared to $ 5,610 in 1Q2024.  (As a comparison, SCI reported “Average Revenue per Service” in 1Q2025 as $ 5,743)

• Preneed Interment Property Rights Sold:  This category declined for Carriage Services to 3,100 in 1Q2025 as compared to 3,244 in 1Q2025 — a decline of 4.5% on the year.

Finally, I think a statement by CEO Quezada gives a mindset of where Carriage Services wants to go.  He finishes his prepared statement with this sentence, “As we become a premier experience company, we are proving that passion, operational excellence, and financial discipline turns vision into value for our shareholders”.

My take on that statement is that the management of Carriage Services is focused on providing an “experience” to their clientele that over time creates a greater value to their shareholders.  That is a great aspiration to have. . . . . and it will take strategy and execution to get there.  However, I see Carriage Services continuing that march forward at this time.

Disclaimer — The author of this article for Funeral Director Daily is a shareholder of Carriage Services and of Service Corporation International.

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Marvin Ilmen Kiehm of Waldport, Oregon, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully in Prosper,Texas, on March 5, 2025, at the age of 81. Born in Los Angeles, California, on October 13, 1943, Marvin lived a life full of hard work, adventure, laughter, and love. Marvin was the devoted husband of the late Stephanie Connell of Waldport, Oregon. He was also previously married to Susan Day of Wilsonville, Oregon and Valerie Zoph of Pacifica, CA. The loving son of Frances Caldwell and Isaac Kiehm, Marvin was preceded in death by his brother, Ethan Kiehm, and is survived by his sister, Sandra Kiehm. He leaves behind a family with many fond memories: his daughters, Ava Plass (Steve) of Indio, CA, Monique Miller (Nathan) of Mckinney, TX, and Denise Velazquez of Sammamish, WA; his cherished grandchildren, Sara Krueger (Todd), Angela Mieher, Sophia Miller, Madeline Miller; and his great-granddaughter, Payton Krueger. Marvin built a successful career in the automotive industry, owning and operating National Motor Exchange in Oakland, California with Susan Kiehm, and a Goodyear location in Tualatin, Oregon with daughter Ava Plass. However, it was his passions outside of work that truly defined him. An adventurer at heart, Marvin loved to travel—whether it was cruising the open seas or exploring the U.S. in his RV. He was happiest near the water, teaching others to water ski, scuba diving, snorkeling, or simply enjoying a peaceful day of fishing on a boat. Cooking was another of his great joys; he never needed a recipe, measuring everything with his heart, especially when preparing meals for holiday gatherings and parties. A true foodie, he could appreciate a hidden gem of a mom-and-pop restaurant just as much as a five-star meal in San Francisco. And, of course, he never turned down a well-seasoned pot of beans and ham hock—a comforting taste of his Southern roots. Marvin’s presence was larger than life, his humor unforgettable. His motto was simple but powerful: “Always leave them laughing.” And that’s exactly what he did—leaving a world full of people who will smile at the thought of him. To honor his wishes, a memorial and celebration of life will be held on the shores of Lahaina, Maui, where he dreamed of being laid to rest. He often spoke of this, wanting his loved ones to return to Maui year after year, not in mourning, but in celebration. He envisioned Hawaiian shirts, flower leis, and a luau in his honor, filled with music, laughter and love. In lieu of flowers, Marvin requested donations be made to Waldport Food Share, a cause close to his heart. Contributions can be mailed to: Waldport Food Share PO Box 2231 Waldport, OR 97394 Or made online via this direct donation link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2984AKKKZ2YVJ Abba Dabba Doo, Dad! We love you forever, and we will see and laugh with you again.

It’s the “Ides of March” today — representing the 74th day of the Roman calendar and the day in ancient Rome that was the deadline for settling debts from the previous year. . . .Of course, the “Ides of March”, or the 15th of March, has also became known for betrayal because it was on that date in 44 B.C. that the assassination of Emperor Julius Caesar happened.  Thus the commonplace slogan, “Beware the Ides of March”.

Nothing so devious at Funeral Director Daily but since the “Ides of March” falls on the 15th of March, as is our custom each month on the 15th, we lay out our Top 5 “Most-Read” stories of the past 30 days. . . .Here, they are:

1. The dilemma facing rural funeral homes
2. Our Take:  The expiration of SCI acquisition moratorium will lead to cascading deals soon
3. Who will be the “Disruptive Force” in Death Care?
4. Will Prelude be the product?
5. State of California seeks to seize cemetery assets. 

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“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”