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Strong Segments to Fuel Service Corporation (SCI) Q4 Earnings
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Service Corporation International (SCI - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 18. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered negative earnings surprise of 2.8%. This marked the company’s first miss after surpassing earnings estimates for seven straight quarters. Let’s see how things are shaping up ahead of the upcoming quarterly results for this funeral services company.
Efforts to Boost Funeral and Cemetery Channels
Revenues in the comparable funeral service have been growing year over year for four straight quarters. This upside is primarily backed by higher general agency revenues and increased preneed revenues. In fact, preneed revenues are gaining from rising contracts sold through the company’s non-funeral home sales network. Further, comparable preneed funeral sales production is driven by strength in core and non-funeral home channels.
Additionally, Service Corporation focuses on catering to changing consumers’ needs as well as utilizing robust scale to drive preneed sales in the funeral and cemetery segments. In fact, it is also making technological advancements to better present products and services to consumers. These factors along with an aging Baby Boomer population are tailwinds.
Further, the company is committed toward pursuing strategic buyouts for both the segments and building new funeral homes to generate greater returns. Also, acquisitions in the cemetery segment are aimed at exploiting increased opportunities to cater to Baby Boomers. Service Corporation has an impressive record of making and integrating prudent businesses. Some notable acquisitions include Alderwoods Group, Keystone North America, The Neptune Society and Stewart Enterprises.
Can Strategies Offset Hurdles?
Higher costs associated with the company’s long-term incentive compensation program are denting profitability. Moreover, the company’s floating debt proportion is likely to keep interest costs high. Further, the company is witnessing rising trends in the number of cremations, as another option to the traditional funeral service. Well, average revenues from cremations with service are usually lower compared with traditional burials. Persistence of such trends is a threat to the company’s overall performance.
Nevertheless, we expect the company to tide over such hurdles on the back of the aforementioned revenue drivers. In fact, we note that such upsides have been aiding year-on-year growth in the top and the bottom line for a while. That said, let’s take a look at the picture unveiled by estimates and the Zacks Model for the impending quarter.
Service Corporation International Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is currently pegged at 56 cents, which indicates a rise from 50 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. Notably, the consensus mark is unchanged in the past 30 days.
Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $846.8 million for the impending quarter, which indicates an increase of 4.2% from the year-ago quarter’s tally.
What Does the Zacks Model Say?
Our proven model does not show that Service Corporation is likely to beat estimates this quarter. A stock needs to have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) and a positive Earnings ESP for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Here are a few companies you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to beat earnings.
Turning Point Brands, Inc. (TPB - Free Report) has Earnings ESP of +11.11% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Nomad Foods Ltd. (NOMD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.45% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.21% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks' Best Stock-Picking Strategy
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But from 2000-2018, while the market gained +4.8% per year, our top stock-picking strategy averaged +54.3% per year.
How has that screen done lately? From 2017-2018, it sextupled the market's +15.8% gain with a soaring +98.3% return.
Image: Bigstock
Strong Segments to Fuel Service Corporation (SCI) Q4 Earnings
Service Corporation International (SCI - Free Report) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2018 results on Feb 18. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered negative earnings surprise of 2.8%. This marked the company’s first miss after surpassing earnings estimates for seven straight quarters. Let’s see how things are shaping up ahead of the upcoming quarterly results for this funeral services company.
Efforts to Boost Funeral and Cemetery Channels
Revenues in the comparable funeral service have been growing year over year for four straight quarters. This upside is primarily backed by higher general agency revenues and increased preneed revenues. In fact, preneed revenues are gaining from rising contracts sold through the company’s non-funeral home sales network. Further, comparable preneed funeral sales production is driven by strength in core and non-funeral home channels.
Additionally, Service Corporation focuses on catering to changing consumers’ needs as well as utilizing robust scale to drive preneed sales in the funeral and cemetery segments. In fact, it is also making technological advancements to better present products and services to consumers. These factors along with an aging Baby Boomer population are tailwinds.
Further, the company is committed toward pursuing strategic buyouts for both the segments and building new funeral homes to generate greater returns. Also, acquisitions in the cemetery segment are aimed at exploiting increased opportunities to cater to Baby Boomers. Service Corporation has an impressive record of making and integrating prudent businesses. Some notable acquisitions include Alderwoods Group, Keystone North America, The Neptune Society and Stewart Enterprises.
Can Strategies Offset Hurdles?
Higher costs associated with the company’s long-term incentive compensation program are denting profitability. Moreover, the company’s floating debt proportion is likely to keep interest costs high. Further, the company is witnessing rising trends in the number of cremations, as another option to the traditional funeral service. Well, average revenues from cremations with service are usually lower compared with traditional burials. Persistence of such trends is a threat to the company’s overall performance.
Nevertheless, we expect the company to tide over such hurdles on the back of the aforementioned revenue drivers. In fact, we note that such upsides have been aiding year-on-year growth in the top and the bottom line for a while. That said, let’s take a look at the picture unveiled by estimates and the Zacks Model for the impending quarter.
Service Corporation International Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Service Corporation International Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Service Corporation International Quote
Which Way Are Estimates Headed?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter earnings is currently pegged at 56 cents, which indicates a rise from 50 cents reported in the year-ago quarter. Notably, the consensus mark is unchanged in the past 30 days.
Further, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $846.8 million for the impending quarter, which indicates an increase of 4.2% from the year-ago quarter’s tally.
What Does the Zacks Model Say?
Our proven model does not show that Service Corporation is likely to beat estimates this quarter. A stock needs to have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) and a positive Earnings ESP for this to happen. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Service Corporation has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and an Earnings ESP of +0.00%, which makes surprise prediction difficult. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates
Here are a few companies you may want to consider as our model shows that they have the right combination of elements to beat earnings.
Turning Point Brands, Inc. (TPB - Free Report) has Earnings ESP of +11.11% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Nomad Foods Ltd. (NOMD - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.45% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (OLLI - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +0.21% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Zacks' Best Stock-Picking Strategy
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But from 2000-2018, while the market gained +4.8% per year, our top stock-picking strategy averaged +54.3% per year.
How has that screen done lately? From 2017-2018, it sextupled the market's +15.8% gain with a soaring +98.3% return.
Free – See the Stocks It Turned Up for Today >>