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Stockchase Opinions

Benj GallanderService Corp InternationalSCIBUYJan 12, 2009

Both Service Corp (SCI-N) and Stewart Enterprises (STEI-N) are dominant leaders in the funeral industry. Quite a bit of debt. Could have chosen either of these as Top Picks.
$5.05

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$72.63

As of Jun 18, 2026. Market Open.

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BUY
Super defensive and endure regardless of the macro. Pays a near 5% yield and it has outperformed over the last 5 years.
DON'T BUY
Company will grow at low single digits. Covid-19 has led to a lot of business for funeral business. Believes demand for funeral services will decrease after Covid-19. Stock is currently too expensive.
BUY
Unfortunately, funerals will endure, which is their business. Their chart outperforms many companies. It's a safe place to hide, trading at lower PE's.
BUY ON WEAKNESS
A long-term unfortunate secular play. Hold onto it. If it pulls back, buy more. Trades at a cheap 14x earnings.
HOLD

This funeral company is in a fragmented sector, yet there is good growth opportunity given current demographics. The stock is up 19% over the year, so he feels the stock needs to grow into this current valuation and it won’t happen overnight.

BUY

He likes the industry because it is a good, predictable business. Demographics are leading to increases in volumes. It pays a dividend. There is a secular trend in the industry.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Aug 17/16. Up 34.4%.) A very boring, steady business that is probably going to improve over time. A really well run business and he likes management. Felt it became fully priced, and would look for a better entry price.

TOP PICK

A pretty boring, steady business. An industry he has followed and been invested in for a long time. This is a much higher quality company than StoneMor (STON-N). They operate both funeral homes and cemeteries. The largest player and a consolidator in a fragmented industry, and have made a number of acquisitions which have been very accretive for them. Thinks they will continue to consolidate. Demographics are favourable. There are fairly high barriers to entry for competition.

COMMENT

The leading consolidator in the funeral industry. Excellent management. A big, diversified business. Have been acquiring other companies in the US.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Feb 21/14. Up 39.64%.) No longer as cheap as it used to be and is trading at a premium valuation. People like the stability of the funeral/Cemetery business. The largest in North America and has been a really aggressive consolidator.

TOP PICK

Largest funeral home in North America. A sector where there has been a lot of consolidation. Likes the sector. Excellent management team that were very successfully at buying companies. You will see a lot of benefit over the next year or two from free cash flow.

BUY

Funeral service company. He had a position but they were taken out. STEI.O took them out and he holds his position in this. There were synergies in combining the two businesses. They will be accretive to earnings per share.

COMMENT
One of the largest cemetery and funeral home operators in North America. Very stable business. Won't grow at dramatic rates. Long-term, a great business to be in. Prefers Arbor (ABO.B-T), which has a nice dividend.