UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________________
FORM 10-K
ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended, December 31, 2015 | |
or | |
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ______________ to _____________ | |
Commission file number: 1-11961
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CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 76-0423828 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 300, Houston, Texas | 77056 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 332-8400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
(Title of each class) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) | |
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value | New York Stock Exchange | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
_______________________________________________
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerator filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | ý | |||
Non-Accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller Reporting Company | ¨ | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ¨ No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2015 was approximately $389.3 million based on the closing price of $23.88 per share on the New York Stock Exchange.
The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding as of February 20, 2016 was 16,633,557.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
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Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2015, are incorporated in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Table of Contents
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CAUTIONARY NOTE
Certain statements and information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”) may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “may,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding any projections of earnings, revenues, asset sales, cash flow, debt levels or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing and are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on us. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. All comments concerning our expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on our forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Our forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those summarized below:
• | the ability to find and retain skilled personnel; |
• | the effects of competition; |
• | the execution of our Standards Operating, 4E leadership and Standard Acquisition Models; |
• | changes in the number of deaths in our markets; |
• | changes in consumer preferences; |
• | our ability to generate preneed sales; |
• | the investment performance of our funeral and cemetery trust funds; |
• | fluctuations in interest rates; |
• | our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms to fund additional acquisitions, expansion projects, working capital requirements and the repayment or refinancing of indebtedness; |
• | death benefits related to preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance contracts; |
• | the financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts; |
• | increased or unanticipated costs, such as insurance or taxes; |
• | effects of the application of applicable laws and regulations, including changes in such regulations or the interpretation thereof; |
• | consolidation of the deathcare industry; and |
• | other factors and uncertainties inherent in the deathcare industry. |
For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors.
Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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PART I
ITEM 1. | BUSINESS. |
GENERAL
Carriage Services, Inc. (“Carriage,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware in December 1993 and is a leading provider of deathcare services and merchandise in the United States. We operate in two business segments: funeral home operations, which currently account for approximately 77% of our total revenue, and cemetery operations, which currently account for approximately 23% of our total revenue. At December 31, 2015, we operated 167 funeral homes in 27 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states. We mainly serve suburban and rural markets, where we primarily compete with smaller, independent operators and believe we are a market leader (first or second) in most of our markets. We provide funeral and cemetery services and products on both an “at-need” (time of death) and “preneed” (planned prior to death) basis.
Our operations are reported in two business segments:
Funeral Home Operations. Funeral homes are principally service businesses that provide funeral services (traditional burial and cremation) and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Given the high fixed cost structure associated with funeral home operations, we believe the following key factors affect our profitability:
• | demographic trends in terms of population growth and average age, which impact death rates and number of deaths; |
• | our ability to establish and maintain market share positions supported by strong local heritage and relationships; |
• | our ability to effectively respond to increasing cremation trends by packaging complimentary services and merchandise; |
• | our ability to control salary, merchandise and other controllable costs; and |
• | our ability to exercise pricing leverage related to our at-need business to increase average revenues per contract. |
Cemetery Operations. Cemeteries are primarily sales businesses that sell interment rights (grave sites and mausoleum spaces) and related merchandise, such as markers and outer burial containers. Cemetery revenues generated from at-need services and merchandise sales generally are subject to many of the same key profitability factors as our funeral home business. Our cemetery operating results are primarily affected by the following key factors:
• | size and success of our sales organization; |
• | our ability to adapt to changes in the economy and consumer confidence; and |
• | our response to fluctuations in capital markets and interest rates, which affect investment earnings on trust funds, finance charges on installment contracts and our securities portfolio within the trust funds. |
CURRENT YEAR DEVELOPMENTS
Acquisitions. During 2015, we acquired two funeral home businesses. We acquired a funeral home business in Clarksville, Tennessee in February 2015 and another funeral home business in Wake Forest, North Carolina in November 2015. The pro forma impact of the acquisitions on prior periods is not presented as the impact is not material to our reported results. The results of the acquired businesses are included in our results of operations from the date of acquisition.
Construction of New Funeral Homes. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we completed the construction of and began operating three new funeral homes, two funeral homes in Texas and one funeral home in Florida. The funeral home constructed in Florida previously leased its facility and upon completion, moved operations to the newly constructed facility.
Credit Facility. On May 20, 2015, we entered into a sixth amendment (the “Sixth Amendment”) to our secured bank credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”), comprised of a $200 million revolving credit facility and a $125 million term loan (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The Sixth Amendment provides that, among other things, we may repurchase our common stock so long as at the time of such repurchase there have been no defaults under the Credit Agreement, we have at least $15.0 million of unrestricted cash and undrawn borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement and the senior leverage ratios is less than 3.25 to 1.00.
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Subsequent Event. On February 9, 2016, we entered into a seventh amendment (the “Seventh Amendment”) to our Credit Facility. The Seventh Amendment resulted in, among other things, (i) reducing our LIBOR based variable interest rate 37.5 basis points, (ii) extending the maturity so that the Credit Agreement will mature at the earlier of (a) any date that is 91 days prior to the maturity of any subordinated debt (including the $143.75 million in principal amount of 2.75% Convertible Subordinated Notes issued on or about March 19, 2014 and due March 15, 2021 (the “Convertible Notes”) or (b) February 9, 2021, (iii) increasing and funding the term loan so that $150 million was outstanding upon the effectiveness of the Seventh Amendment, (iv) reducing the size of the revolver to $150 million, (v) increasing the accordion to $75 million and (vi) updating the amortization payments for the term loan facility so that the borrowings under the term loan facility are subject to amortization payments of $2.81 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2016 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2017, $3.75 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2018 through the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020 and $4.69 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020.
Share Repurchase Program. On May 19, 2015, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to an aggregate of $25.0 million of our common stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). On September 28, 2015, our Board authorized additional repurchases of $20.0 million of our common stock bringing the total authorized repurchase amount to $45.0 million. During 2015, we purchased 1,927,665 shares of our common stock for a total cost of $45.0 million, representing the entire authorized repurchase amount, at an average cost of $23.34 per share. Our shares were purchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Purchases were at times and in amounts as management determined appropriate based on factors such as market conditions, legal requirements and other business considerations. Shares purchased pursuant to the repurchase program are currently held as treasury shares.
Executive Leadership Changes. On May 21, 2015, L. William Heiligbrodt, as a result of his announced retirement as of March 4, 2016 from the Company, resigned as Executive Vice President, Principal Financial Officer and Secretary. Effective May 21, 2015, Carl B. Brink became the Company’s Principal Financial Officer and Viki K. Blinderman became the Company's Secretary. On August 4, 2015, the Board appointed Viki K. Blinderman and Carl B. Brink as Co-Chief Financial Officers. Ms. Blinderman also currently serves as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary and Mr. Brink currently serves as the Company's Treasurer.
New Board Member. On September 28, 2015, our Board increased the total size of the Board from five to six members. On the same day, the Board elected Dr. Bryan Leibman to serve as a Class II Director until the 2016 annual meeting of shareholders.
Capital. Our Board declared and paid four quarterly dividends of $0.025 per share. For our 2015 fiscal year, we paid approximately $1.8 million in dividends.
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DEATHCARE INDUSTRY
Deathcare companies provide products and services to families in three principal areas: (i) ceremony and tribute, generally in the form of a funeral or memorial service; (ii) disposition of remains, either through burial or cremation; and (iii) memorialization, generally through monuments, markers or inscriptions. The deathcare industry in the United States is characterized by the following fundamental attributes (the statistics included in this Form 10-K are from reports compiled by Sundale Research, which are based on information from the U.S. Department of Commerce).
Deaths and Death Rates
During 2015, the number of deaths in the United States increased by approximately 1.9% following a 1.2% and a 2.1% increase in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The rapidly growing and aging population (more than half of the U.S. population will be over the age of 50 within five years), is expected to result in a considerable increase in the number of deaths, fueling growth in the funeral and cremation services and supplies industry. The number of Americans age 65 and over is expected to increase from 45.3 million in 2014 to 52.5 million in 2019, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 3.0%. Overall, the number of deaths in the United States is expected to increase by an average of 1.7% per year reaching an estimated 2.9 million in 2019. Beyond 2019, the annual death rate is projected to spike even more as older “Baby Boomers” start passing away.
Burial and Cremation Rates
While the number of deaths is expected to increase over the next few years, the burial rate is expected to continue to decline. In 2015, the number of burials in the United States decreased by an estimated 0.8%, following declines of 1.8% and 1.5% in 2014 and 2013, respectively. The number of burials in the United States is estimated to fall by an average of 1.5% per year through 2019, as the burial rate is expected to decrease by more than seven percentage points during this time. In 2015, the burial rate was estimated to be 51.6% and is estimated to fall to 45.2% in 2019. Nonetheless, the sheer volume of burials is expected to continue to outnumber cremations through 2016, before the burial rate drops below 50.0% during the 2017 to 2019 period. Even after burials no longer outnumber cremations, it is still estimated that there will be approximately 1.29 million burials in 2019.
In 2015, the number of cremations in the United States increased by an estimated 4.9%, following increases of 4.8% and 6.8% in 2014 and 2013, respectively. Slower growth is expected through 2019, due in part to the sheer size of the market for cremations; however, shifting preferences will continue to lead to a considerable rise in cremations. The number of cremations in the United States is expected to grow by an average of 4.9% per year through 2019. In 2019, it is estimated that there will be approximately 1.57 million cremations in the United States and a cremation rate of 54.8%. There are several factors leading to the increase in the number of cremations in the United States including the money savings and convenience of cremations compared to a traditional burial. Additionally, cremation is being increasingly accepted as part of a package of funeral services that includes memorials, merchandise and options for the interment of cremated remains. Cemeteries are more affected by the increasing cremation trend than funeral homes.
Highly Fragmented Ownership
Our industry, after over 50 years of consolidation, remains highly fragmented, and succession planning issues have become more difficult and complex than ever. We believe Carriage offers a highly attractive succession planning option for owners who want their legacy family business to remain operationally prosperous in their local communities. We also believe that our decentralized operating framework will continue to attract some of the top, more entrepreneurial talent in our industry.
The largest public operators, in terms of revenue, of both funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States are Service Corporation International (“SCI”), StoneMor Partners L.P. (“StoneMor”) and Carriage. We believe these three companies collectively represent approximately 20% of deathcare revenues in the United States. Independent businesses, along with a few privately owned consolidators, represent the remaining amount of industry revenue, accounting for an estimated 80% share. The top 50 deathcare companies account for about 25% of industry revenue.
Heritage and Tradition
Deathcare businesses have traditionally been family-owned businesses that have built a local heritage and tradition through successive generations, providing a foundation for ongoing business opportunities from established client family relationships and related referrals. Given the sensitive nature of our business, we believe that relationships fostered at the local level build trust in the community and are a key driver of market share. While new entrants may enter any given market, the time and resources required to develop local heritage and tradition serve as important barriers to entry.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Our business strategy is based on strong, local leadership and entrepreneurial principles that we believe drive market share, revenue growth, and profitability in our local markets. We believe Carriage has the most innovative and transparent operating and reporting processes in the deathcare industry, which we are able to achieve through a decentralized, high-performance cultural operating framework linked with incentive compensation programs that attract top-quality industry talent at all levels.
We are defined by our Mission Statement which states that “we are committed to being the most professional, ethical and highest quality funeral and cemetery service organization in our industry” and our Guiding Principles which state our core values, which are comprised of:
• | honesty, integrity and quality in all that we do; |
• | hard work, pride of accomplishment and shared success through employee ownership; |
• | belief in the power of people through individual initiative and teamwork; |
• | outstanding service and profitability go hand-in-hand; and |
• | growth of the Company is driven by decentralization and partnership. |
Our five Guiding Principles collectively embody our Being The Best high-performance cultural, operating framework. Our general operations and business strategy are built upon the execution of the following three models:
• | Standards Operating Model |
• | 4E Leadership Model; and |
• | Strategic Acquisition Model. |
Standards Operating Model
Our Standards Operating Model eliminated the use of financial budgets which freed up enormous amounts of time to focus and work on growing each local business de-centrally and improving the quality and skills of the staff. Instead of the budget and control model, our Standards Operating Model and the underlying standards which we refer to as “Being The Best,” focus on market share, people, and operating and financial metrics that drive long-term, sustainable revenue growth and earning power of our portfolio of businesses by employing leadership and entrepreneurial principles that fit the nature of our local, personal service, high-value business. Standards Achievement is the measure by which we judge the success of each business. Our Standards Operating Model align our financial incentives for Managing Partners of each business with 4E Leadership skills and their teams who consistently achieve a high level of standards. Our Standards Operating Model is not designed to produce maximum short-term earnings because Carriage does not believe such performance is sustainable and will ultimately stress the business, which very often leads to declining market share, revenues and earnings. Important elements of our Standards Operating Model include:
• | Balanced Operating Model – We believe a decentralized structure works best in the deathcare industry. Successful execution of our Standards Operating Model is highly dependent on strong local leadership, intelligent risk taking, entrepreneurial drive and corporate support aligned with the key drivers of a successful operation organized around three primary areas - market share, people and operating financial metrics. |
• | Incentives Aligned with Standards – Empowering Managing Partners to do the right things in their operations and local communities, and providing appropriate support with operating and financial practices, will enable long-term growth and sustainable profitability. Each Managing Partner participates in a variable bonus plan whereby he or she earns a percentage of his or her respective business' earnings based upon the actual standards achieved as long as the performance exceeds our minimum standards. |
• | The Right Local Leadership – Successful execution of our operating model is highly dependent on strong local leadership as defined by our 4E Leadership Model, intelligent risk taking and entrepreneurial empowerment. A Managing Partner’s performance is judged according to achievement of the standards for that business. |
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4E Leadership Model
Our 4E Leadership Model requires strong local leadership in each business to grow an entrepreneurial, decentralized, high-value, personal service and sales business at sustainable profit margins. Our 4E Leadership Model is based upon principles established by Jack Welch during his tenure at General Electric, and is based upon 4E qualities essential to succeed in a high-performance culture: Energy to get the job done; the ability to Energize others; the Edge necessary to make difficult decisions; and the ability to Execute and produce results. To achieve a high level of standards in a business year after year, we require “A Players” in charge that have the 4E Leadership skills to entrepreneurially grow the business by hiring, training and developing highly motivated and productive teams locally that produce results.
Strategic Acquisition Model
Our Standards Operating Model led to the development of our Strategic Acquisition Model, which guides our acquisition strategy. Both models, when executed effectively, will drive long-term, sustainable increases in market share, revenue and earnings and cash flow. We believe a primary driver of higher revenue and profits in the future will be the execution of our Strategic Acquisition Model using strategic ranking criteria to assess acquisition candidates. As we execute this strategy over time, we will acquire larger, higher margin strategic businesses.
We have learned that the long-term growth or decline of a local branded deathcare business is reflected by several criteria that correlate strongly with five to ten year performance in volumes (market share), revenues and sustainable field-level earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) margins (a non-GAAP measure). We use the following criteria, to name a few, to rank the strategic position of each potential acquisition:
• | volume and price trends; |
• | size of business; |
• | size of market; |
• | competitive standing; |
• | demographics; |
• | strength of brand; and |
• | barriers to entry. |
The valuation of the acquisition candidate is then determined through the application of an appropriate after-tax cash return on investment that exceeds our cost of capital.
Our belief in our Mission Statement and Guiding Principles that define us and proper execution of the three models that define our strategy have given us the competitive advantage in any market in which we compete. We believe that we can execute our three models without proportionate incremental investment in our consolidation platform infrastructure or additional fixed regional and corporate overhead. This competitive advantage is evidenced by the sustained earning power of our portfolio as defined by our EBITDA margin. Carriage’s deep understanding of each market landscape and our historical, successful competition in individual local markets more than reasonably ensures that we are promoting the interests of the consumer and supporting unfettered markets which, in turn, results in better pricing and more choices for the consumer.
Other elements of our overall business strategy include the following:
Enhancement of Funeral and Cremation Services. Personalization and pre-planning continue to be two of the most important trends in the funeral and cremation services and merchandise industry, but the move toward more cremations may be the most significant. This has been evident over the past several years, as the number of cremations rose at a considerable rate, while the number of deaths in the United States has been trending upward. Improving economic conditions and rising disposable incomes are leading to solid industry growth, as consumers are spending more on funeral and cremations services and merchandise. While this trend will likely continue through at least 2019, other factors will lead to rising industry revenues, including a steady increase in the number of deaths and more spending on additional or unique funeral and cremation services. The percentage of funeral services performed by our funeral homes for which cremation was chosen was 46.9% for the year ended December 31, 2013, 47.3% for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 48.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2015, 65.8% of our total cremation services were direct cremations (where no memorial service or visitation is involved, although merchandise may be sold) and 34.2% included services, as compared to 67.0% and 33.0%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Shifting preferences will likely continue to lead to a considerable rise in cremations; as such, we are focused on increasing the percentage of our cremation customers that choose services. All of our funeral homes offer cremation products and services. While the average revenue for a cremation service is generally lower than that of an average traditional, full-service funeral, we have found that these revenues can be substantially enhanced by our emphasis on offering additional services and
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merchandise, including counseling referrals, video tributes, flowers, burial garments and memorial items such as urns, keepsake jewelry and other items that hold a portion of the cremated remains.
Preneed Funeral Sales Program. We operate under a local, decentralized preneed sales strategy whereby each business location customizes its preneed program to its local needs. The performance of preneed funeral contracts is usually secured by placing the funds collected in trust for the benefit of the customer or by the purchase of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. Insurance-funded contracts allow us to earn commission income to improve our near-term cash flow and offset a significant amount of the up-front costs associated with preneed sales. Trust funded contracts typically provide cash that is invested in various securities with the expectation that returns will exceed the growth factor in the insurance contracts. The cash flow and earnings from insurance contracts are more stable, but are generally lower than traditional trust fund investments. In markets that depend on preneed sales for market share, we supplement the arrangements written by funeral directors with sales sourced by sales counselors and third party sellers.
Preneed Cemetery Sales Program. A significant portion of our historical cemetery revenues are represented by sales of cemetery property sold by our sales professionals on a preneed basis. General consumer confidence and discretionary income have a significant impact on our preneed sales success rate. In 2015, our preneed cemetery sales increased 13.3% compared to 2014.
OUR STRENGTHS
Market Leader. Our operations are located in principally suburban and rural markets, where we primarily compete with smaller, independent operators. We focus on markets that perform better than the industry average and are generally insulated from economic and demographic changes.
High Performance, Decentralized, Partnership Culture. Our funeral homes and cemeteries are managed by Managing Partners, individuals with extensive deathcare experience, often within their local markets. Our Managing Partners have responsibility for day-to-day operations, but are required to follow operating and financial standards based on our Standards Operating Model that are custom designed for each of four business groupings. This strategy allows each local business to maintain its unique identity within its local market and to capitalize on its reputation and heritage while our senior management maintains supervisory controls and provides support services from our corporate headquarters. We believe our culture is very attractive to owners of premier independent businesses that fit our profile of suitable acquisition candidates.
Flexible Capital Structure. We have no near-term debt maturity issues. We believe that our capital structure provides us with financial flexibility by allowing us to invest our cash flow in growth opportunities, such as business acquisitions and cemetery inventory projects. For additional information regarding our capital structure, please see Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Stable Cash Flow. We have demonstrated the ability to generate strong and stable cash flow. Cash flow from operations for 2015 totaled $49.9 million, which was used primarily for the construction of three new funeral homes, two business acquisitions and our working capital needs. Our adjusted free cash flow, which we define as net cash provided by operations, adjusted by special items as deemed necessary, less cash for maintenance capital expenditures totaled $43.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Going forward, we intend to use our cash flow to acquire funeral home and cemetery businesses and to fund internal growth projects, such as cemetery inventory development. Our growth strategy is the primary way we expect to increase stockholder value. While we reassess our capital allocation strategy annually, we currently believe that our financial goals will best be achieved by continuing to improve the operating and financial performance of our existing portfolio of businesses while selectively investing our net cash flow in growth opportunities that generate a return on invested capital in excess of our weighted average cost of capital.
Strong Field-Level Gross Profit Margins. We believe that we have strong field-level gross profit margins and that this performance is a testament to the success of our business strategies. Our strong margins and the ability to control costs are important advantages in a business such as ours that is characterized by a high fixed-cost structure. We will continue to seek ways to improve our financial performance, and we believe that our Standards Operating Model will continue to yield long-term improvement in our financial results.
Effective Execution of Funeral Preneed Sales. We believe our local, decentralized strategy allows us to adapt our preneed sales selectively to best address the competitive situation in our particular markets. In highly competitive markets, we execute a more aggressive preneed sales program. In less competitive markets where we have a strong market position, we deploy a more passive preneed sales program. In certain of our markets, we do not deploy a formal preneed program. This approach allows us to target the investment in preneed sales to markets where we have the opportunity to reinforce our market share. Since approximately 80% of our funeral revenues are generated from at-need sales, we retain significant pricing leverage in our funeral business without having to rely on preneed sales.
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Integrated Information Systems. We have implemented information systems to support local business decisions and to monitor performance of our businesses compared to financial and performance standards. All of our funeral homes and cemeteries are connected to our corporate headquarters, which allows us to monitor and assess critical operating and financial data and analyze the performance of individual locations on a timely basis. Furthermore, our information system infrastructure provides senior management with a critical tool for monitoring and adhering to our established internal controls, which is critical given our decentralized model and the sensitive nature of our business operations.
Proven Leadership Team. Our leadership team is comprised of nine members which we refer to as our Operations and Strategic Growth Leadership Team (“OSGLT”), headed by our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Melvin C. Payne and our President and Vice Chairman of the Board, David J. DeCarlo. The team is also comprised of seven leaders of our operations, accounting, legal, tax, human resources and treasury departments and is characterized by a dynamic culture that focuses on addressing changing market conditions and emerging trends in the funeral services industry. We believe our culture emphasizing the 4Es (Energy, Energize Others, Edge and Execution) leadership characteristics is critical and will provide an important advantage as the deathcare industry evolves. We are committed to continue operating an efficient corporate organization and strengthening our corporate and local business leadership. Our businesses are organized into three regions, each headed by a Regional Partner who is a member of the OSGLT. This promotes more cooperation and synergy between our funeral and cemetery operations and supports the goal of market-share and volume growth in our most significant markets.
OPERATIONS
We conduct our funeral and cemetery operations only in the United States. Our operations are reported in two segments: funeral operations and cemetery operations. Information for each of our segments is presented below and in our financial statements set forth herein.
Funeral Home Operations
At December 31, 2015, we operated 167 funeral homes in 27 states. Funeral home revenues currently account for approximately 77% of our total revenues. The funeral home operations are managed by a team of experienced deathcare industry professionals and selected region-level individuals with substantial management experience in our industry. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 21 for segment data related to our funeral home operations.
Our funeral homes offer a complete range of services to meet a family’s deathcare needs, including consultation, the removal and preparation of remains, the sale of caskets and related funeral merchandise, the use of funeral home facilities for visitation and services and transportation services. Most of our funeral homes have a non-denominational chapel on the premises, which permits family visitation and services to take place at one location and thereby reduces transportation costs and inconvenience to the family.
Funeral homes are principally service businesses that provide burial and cremation services and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. The sources and availability of caskets and urns are from a small number of national providers that have distribution centers near our businesses. We typically order and receive the merchandise within twenty-four hours. Given the high fixed-cost structure associated with funeral home operations, we believe the following are key factors affecting our profitability:
• | demographic trends in terms of population growth and average age, which impact death rates and number of deaths; |
• | establishing and maintaining leading market share positions supported by strong local heritage and relationships; |
• | effectively responding to increasing cremation trends by packaging complementary services and merchandise; |
• | controlling salary, merchandise and other controllable costs; and |
• | increasing average revenues per contract. |
Cemetery Operations
As of December 31, 2015, we operated 32 cemeteries in 11 states. Cemetery revenues currently account for approximately 23% of our total revenues. The cemetery operations are managed by a team of experienced deathcare industry and sales professionals. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 21 for segment data related to our cemetery operations.
Our cemetery products and services include interment services, the rights to interment in cemetery sites (primarily grave sites, mausoleum crypts and niches) and related cemetery merchandise, such as memorials and vaults. Cemetery operations generate
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revenues through sales of interment rights and memorials, installation fees, fees for interment and cremation memorialization products, finance charges from installment sales contracts and investment income from preneed cemetery merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts.
Cemetery revenues generated from at-need services and merchandise sales generally are subject to many of the same key profitability factors as our funeral home business. Our cemetery operating results are affected by the following key factors:
• | size and success of our sales organization; |
• | our ability to adapt to changes in the economy and consumer confidence; and |
• | our response to fluctuations in capital markets and interest rates which affect investment earnings on trust funds, finance charges on installment contracts and our securities portfolio within the trust funds. |
Preneed Programs
We market funeral and cemetery services and products on a preneed basis at the local, business level. Preneed funeral or cemetery contracts enable families to establish, in advance, the type of service to be performed, the products to be used and the cost of such products and services. Preneed contracts permit families to eliminate issues of making deathcare plans at the time of need and allow input from other family members before the death occurs. We guarantee the price and performance of the preneed contracts to the customer.
Preneed funeral contracts are usually paid on an installment basis. The performance of preneed funeral contracts is usually secured by placing the funds collected in trust for the benefit of the customer or by the purchase of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. These methods are intended to fund preneed funeral contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include an element of growth (earnings) designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. Revenue from preneed funeral contracts, along with accumulated earnings, is not recognized until the time the funeral service is performed. The accumulated earnings from the trust investments and insurance policies are intended to offset the inflation in funeral prices. Additionally, we generally earn a commission from the insurance company from the sale of insurance-funded policies reflected as Preneed Insurance Commission within Funeral Revenues. The commission income is recognized as revenue when the period of refund expires (generally one year), which helps us defray the costs we incur to originate the preneed contract (primarily commissions we pay to our sales counselors).
In addition to preneed funeral contracts, we also offer “pre-planned” funeral arrangements whereby a client determines in advance substantially all of the details of a funeral service without any financial commitment or other obligation on the part of the client until the actual time of need. Pre-planned funeral arrangements permit a family to avoid issues of making deathcare plans at the time of need and enable a funeral home to establish relationships with a client that may eventually lead to an at-need sale.
Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years with such earnings reflected as Preneed Cemetery Finance Charges within Revenues from cemetery operations. In substantially all cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are recorded as revenue when 10% of the contract amount related to the interment right has been collected. Merchandise and services may similarly be sold on an installment basis, but revenue is recorded when delivery has occurred. Allowances for bad debts and customer cancellations are recorded at the date that the contract is executed and periodically evaluated thereafter based upon historical experience.
We sold 6,940 and 7,797 preneed funeral contracts, net of cancellations, during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. At December 31, 2015, we had a backlog of 84,353 preneed funeral contracts and 63,178 preneed cemetery contracts to be delivered in the future. Approximately 19% of our funeral contract volumes during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 originated through preneed contracts. Cemetery revenues that originated from preneed contracts represented approximately 49% of our net cemetery revenues for 2014 and 2015.
At December 31, 2015, we employed a staff of 183 advance-planning and family service representatives for the sale of preneed products and services. Our advance-planning and family service representatives primarily assist families in making at-need and pre-need funeral, memorialization and cemetery arrangements through the selection and purchase of cemetery property, merchandise and services and ensuring that the expectations of our client families and their guests are exceeded.
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Trust Funds and Insurance Contracts
We have established a variety of trusts in connection with funeral home and cemetery operations as required under applicable state laws. Such trusts include (i) preneed funeral trusts; (ii) preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts; and (iii) cemetery perpetual care trusts. These trusts are typically administered by independent financial institutions selected by us. Investment management and advisory services are provided either by our wholly-owned registered investment advisory firm, CSV RIA, or by independent financial advisors. At December 31, 2015, CSV RIA provided these services to two institutions, which have custody of 79% of our trust assets, for a fee based on the market value of trust assets.
Preneed funeral sales generally require deposits to a trust or purchase of a third-party insurance product. Trust fund income earned and the receipt and recognition of any insurance benefits are deferred until the service is performed. Trust fund holdings and deferred revenue are reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, while the insurance contracts are not on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. In most states, we are not permitted to withdraw principal or investment income from such trusts until the funeral service is performed. Some states, however, allow for the retention of a percentage (generally 10%) of the receipts to offset any administrative and selling expenses. The aggregate balance of our preneed funeral contracts held in trust, insurance contracts and receivables from preneed trusts was approximately $423.1 million as of December 31, 2015.
We are generally required under applicable state laws to deposit a specified amount (which varies from state to state, generally 50% to 100% of the selling price) into a merchandise and service trust fund for preneed cemetery merchandise and services sales. The related trust fund income earned is recognized when the related merchandise and services are delivered. We are generally permitted to withdraw the trust principal and accrued income when the merchandise is actually delivered, when the service is provided or when the contract is canceled. However, certain states allow the withdrawal of income prior to delivery when the regulations identify excess earnings in the trusts. We were able to withdraw $0.6 million in trust income prior to delivery in those states in 2014. We did not withdraw any trust income in 2015. Cemetery merchandise and service trust fund balances totaled approximately $63.3 million as of December 31, 2015.
In most states, regulations require a portion (generally 10%) of the sale amount of cemetery property and memorials to be placed in a perpetual care trust. The income from these perpetual care trusts provides funds necessary to maintain cemetery property and memorials in perpetuity. This trust fund income is recognized, as earned, in Revenues from cemetery operations. While we are entitled to withdraw the income from perpetual care trusts to provide for maintenance of cemetery property and memorials, we are restricted from withdrawing any of the principal balances of the trust fund. Perpetual care trust balances totaled approximately $43.1 million at December 31, 2015.
For additional information with respect to our trusts, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 6, 8 and 10.
SEASONALITY
Our business can be affected by seasonal fluctuations in the death rate. Generally, the number of deaths is higher during the winter months because the incidences of death from influenza and pneumonia are higher during this period than other periods of the year.
COMPETITION
The operating environment in the deathcare industry has been highly competitive. Publicly traded companies operating in the United States include SCI, StoneMor and Carriage. In addition, a number of smaller private consolidators have been active in acquiring and operating funeral homes and cemeteries.
Our funeral home and cemetery operations face competition in the markets that they serve. Our primary competition in most of our markets is from local independent operators. We have observed new start-up competition in certain areas of the country, which in any one market may have impacted our profitability because of the high fixed cost nature of funeral homes. Market share for funeral homes and cemeteries is largely a function of reputation and heritage, although competitive pricing, professional service and attractive, well-maintained and conveniently located facilities are also important. Because of the importance of reputation and heritage, market share increases are usually gained over a long period of time. The sale of preneed funeral services and cemetery property has increasingly been used by many companies as a marketing tool to build market share.
There has been increasing competition from providers specializing in specific services, such as cremations, who offer minimal service and low-end pricing. We also face competition from companies that market products and related merchandise over the Internet and non-traditional casket stores in certain markets. These competitors have been successful in capturing a portion of the low-end market and product sales.
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REGULATION
General. Our operations are subject to regulations, supervision and licensing under numerous federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including extensive regulations concerning trust funds, preneed sales of funeral and cemetery products and services and various other aspects of our business. We believe that we comply in all material respects with the provisions of these laws, ordinances and regulations.
Federal Trade Commission. Our funeral home operations are comprehensively regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and a trade regulation rule for the funeral industry promulgated thereunder referred to as the “Funeral Rule.” The Funeral Rule defines certain acts or practices as unfair or deceptive and contains certain requirements to prevent these acts or practices. The preventive measures require a funeral provider to give consumers accurate, itemized pricing information and various other disclosures about funeral goods and services and prohibit a funeral provider from: (i) misrepresenting legal, crematory and cemetery requirements; (ii) embalming for a fee without permission; (iii) requiring the purchase of a casket for direct cremation; (iv) requiring consumers to buy certain funeral goods or services as condition for furnishing other funeral goods or services; (v) misrepresenting state and local requirements for an outer burial container; and (vi) representing that funeral goods and services have preservative and protective value. Additionally, the Funeral Rule requires the disclosure of mark-ups, commissions, additional charges and rebates related to cash advance items.
Environmental. Our operations are also subject to stringent federal, regional, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental protection, including legal requirements governing air emissions, waste management and disposal and wastewater discharges. For instance, the federal Clean Air Act and analogous state laws, which restrict the emission of pollutants from many sources, including crematories, may require us to apply for and obtain air emissions permits, install costly emissions control equipment, and conduct monitoring and reporting tasks. Also, in the course of our operations, we store and use chemicals and other regulated substances as well as generate wastes that may subject us to strict liability under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and comparable state laws, which govern the treatment, storage, and disposal of nonhazardous and hazardous wastes, and the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, a remedial statute that imposes cleanup obligations on current and past owners or operators of facilities where hazardous substance releases occurred and anyone who transported or disposed or arranged for the transportation or disposal of hazardous substances released into the environment from such sites. In addition, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the federal Clean Water Act, and analogous state laws regulate discharges of pollutants to state and federal waters. Underground and aboveground storage tanks that store chemicals and fuels for vehicle maintenance or general operations are located at certain of our facilities and any spills or releases from those facilities may cause us to incur remedial liabilities under the Clean Water Act or analogous state laws as well as potential liabilities for damages to properties or persons. Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations could result in the assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory, remedial and corrective action obligations, delays in permitting or performance of projects and the issuance of injunctions restricting or prohibiting some or all of our activities in affected areas. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations, and we cannot assure you that we will not incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third party claims for damages to property, natural resources or persons. Also, it is possible that implementation of stricter environmental laws and regulations or more stringent enforcement of existing environmental requirements could result in additional, currently unidentifiable costs or liabilities to us, such as requirements to purchase pollution control equipment or implement operational changes or improvements. While we believe we are in substantial compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will not incur substantial costs in the future.
Worker Health and Safety. We are subject to the requirements of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended (“OSHA”), and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act and implementing regulations and similar state statutes and regulations require that we organize and/or disclose information about hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local governmental authorities and citizens. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to worker health and safety.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2015, we and our subsidiaries employed 2,317 employees, of whom 1041 were full-time and 1,276 were part-time. All of our funeral directors and embalmers possess licenses required by applicable regulatory agencies. We believe that we maintain a good relationship with our employees. None of our employees are represented by unions.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and other reports, and any amendments to those reports, and information with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain additional information about the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us.
Our website address is www.carriageservices.com. Available on this website under “Investors – SEC Filings,” free of charge, are Carriage’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, insider reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed on behalf of directors and officers and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Also posted on our website, and available in print upon request, are charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee. Copies of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Corporate Governance Guidelines are also posted on our website under “Investors – Corporate Governance.” Within the time period required by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, we will post on our website any modifications to the charters and any waivers applicable to senior officers as defined in the applicable charters, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
The success of our businesses is typically dependent upon one or a few key employees for success because of the localized and personal nature of our business.
Deathcare businesses have built local heritage and tradition through successive generations, providing a foundation for ongoing business opportunities from established client family relationships and related referrals. We believe these relationships build trust in the community and are a key driver to market share. Our businesses, which tend to serve small local markets, usually have one or a few key employees that drive our relationships. Our ability to attract and retain qualified Managing Partners, sales force and other personnel is an important factor in achieving future success. We can give no assurance that we can retain these employees or that these relationships will drive market share. Our inability to maintain qualified and productive Managing Partners and sales force could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Marketing and sales activities by existing and new competitors could cause us to lose market share and lead to lower revenues and margins.
We face competition in all of our markets. Most of our competitors are independently owned, and some are relatively recent market entrants. Certain of the recent entrants are individuals who were formerly employed by us or by our competitors and have relationships and name recognition within our markets. As a group, independent competitors tend to be aggressive in distinguishing themselves by their independent ownership, and they promote their independence through television, radio and print advertising, direct mailings and personal contact. Increasing pressures from new market entrants and continued advertising and marketing by competitors in local markets could cause us to lose market share and revenues. In addition, competitors may change the types or mix of products or services offered. These changes may attract customers, causing us to lose market share and revenue as well as to incur costs in response to competition to vary the types or mix of products or services offered by us. Also, increased use of the Internet by customers to research and/or purchase products and services could cause us to lose potential revenue.
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Improved performance in our funeral and cemetery segments is dependent upon successful execution of our Standards Operating Model.
We have implemented our Standards Operating Model to improve and better measure performance in our funeral and cemetery operations. We developed standards according to criteria, each with a different weighting, designed around market share, people and operational and financial metrics. We also incentivize our location Managing Partners by giving them the opportunity to earn a fixed percentage of the field-level earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization based upon the number and weighting of the standards achieved. Our expectation is that, over time, the Standards Operating Model will result in improving field-level margins, market share, customer satisfaction and overall financial performance, but there is no assurance that these goals will be met. Failure to successfully implement our Standards Operating Model in our funeral and cemetery operations could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our “Good to Great” incentive program could result in significant future payments to our Managing Partners.
In January, 2012, in order to continue to align our Managing Partners' incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders, we implemented our “Good to Great” incentive program, which rewards our Managing Partners for achieving an average net revenue compounded annual growth rate equal to at least 2% (the “Minimum Growth Rate”) over a five-year performance period (the “Performance Period”) with respect to our funeral homes that they operate. The initial Performance Period commenced on January 1, 2012 and will end on December 31, 2016. The Performance Periods for new Managing Partners commences each year after 2012. Each Managing Partner that achieves the Minimum Growth Rate during the applicable Performance Period and remains continuously employed as a Managing Partner of the same business throughout the Performance Period will receive a one-time bonus, payable in a combination of cash and shares our common stock determined at our discretion. We believe this incentive program will result in improved field-level margins, market share and overall financial performance. In the event that a large number of our Managing Partners earn a bonus under this program, we could incur a material outlay of capital beginning in 2017, and this incentive program could result in a decrease in net income.
Price competition could also reduce our market share or cause us to reduce prices to retain or recapture market share, either of which could reduce revenues and margins.
We have historically experienced price competition primarily from independent funeral home and cemetery operators, and from monument dealers, casket retailers, low-cost funeral providers and other non-traditional providers of services or products. New market entrants tend to attempt to build market share by offering lower cost alternatives. In the past, this price competition has resulted in our losing market share in some markets. In other markets, we have had to reduce prices or offer discounts thereby reducing profit margins in order to retain or recapture market share. Increased price competition in the future could further reduce revenues, profits and our preneed backlog.
Our ability to execute our growth strategy is highly dependent upon our ability to successfully identify suitable acquisition candidates and negotiate transactions on favorable terms.
There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to identify candidates that meet our criteria or that we will be able to reach terms with identified candidates for transactions that are acceptable to us, and even if we do, we may not be able to successfully complete the transaction or integrate the new business into our existing business. We intend to apply standards established under our Strategic Acquisition Model to evaluate acquisition candidates, and there is no assurance that we will continue to be successful in doing so or that we will find attractive candidates that satisfy these standards. Due in part to the presence of competitors who have been in certain markets longer than we have, such acquisitions or investments may be more difficult or expensive than we anticipate.
Our ability to generate preneed sales depends on a number of factors, including sales incentives and local and general economic conditions.
Significant declines in preneed sales would reduce our backlog and revenue and could reduce our future market share. On the other hand, a significant increase in preneed sales can have a negative impact on cash flow as a result of commissions and other costs incurred initially without corresponding revenues.
As we have localized our preneed sales strategies, we are continuing to refine the mix of service and product offerings in both our funeral and cemetery segments, including changes in our sales commission and incentive structure. These changes could cause us to experience declines in preneed sales in the short-run. In addition, economic conditions at the local or national level could cause declines in preneed sales either as a result of less discretionary income or lower consumer confidence. Declines in preneed cemetery property sales reduces current revenue, and declines in other preneed sales would reduce our backlog and future revenue and could reduce future market share.
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Increased preneed sales could have a negative impact on our cash flows.
Preneed sales of funeral and cemetery products and services generally have an initial negative impact on our cash flows, as we are required to deposit a portion of the sales proceeds into trusts or escrow accounts and often incur other expenses at the time of sale. Furthermore, many preneed purchases are paid for in installments over a period of several years, further reducing our cash flows at the time of sale. Because preneed sales generally provide positive cash flows over the long term, we emphasize the sale of such contracts. If our efforts to increase such sales are successful, however, our current cash flows could be adversely affected.
Our funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities, fixed income securities, and mutual funds, which are affected by market conditions that are beyond our control.
In connection with our backlog of preneed funeral and preneed cemetery merchandise and service contracts, funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities, fixed income securities and mutual funds. Our returns on these investments are affected by financial market conditions that are beyond our control.
The following table summarizes our investment returns (realized and unrealized), excluding certain fees, on our trust funds for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015:
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||||||
Preneed funeral trust funds | 13.2 | % | 7.4 | % | -2.2 | % | ||
Preneed cemetery trust funds | 14.2 | % | 8.3 | % | -3.0 | % | ||
Perpetual care trust funds | 14.2 | % | 8.4 | % | -3.3 | % | ||
Generally, earnings or gains and losses on our preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments are recognized, and we withdraw cash, when the underlying service is performed, merchandise is delivered, or upon contract cancellation. Our cemetery perpetual care trusts recognize earnings, and in certain states, capital gains and losses, and we withdraw cash when we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. If the investments in our trust funds experience significant, recurring and sustained declines in subsequent years, there could be insufficient funds in the trusts to cover the costs of delivering services and merchandise or maintaining cemeteries in the future. We may be required to cover any such shortfall with cash flows from operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For more information related to our trust investments, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 6 and 10.
If the fair market value of these trusts, plus any other amount due to us upon delivery of the associated contracts, were to decline below the estimated costs to deliver the underlying products and services, we would record a charge to earnings to record a liability for the expected losses on the delivery of the associated contracts. As of December 31, 2015, no such charge was required. For additional information, see Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.
Earnings from and principal of trust funds could be reduced by changes in financial markets and the mix of securities owned.
Earnings and investment gains and losses on trust funds are affected by financial market conditions and the specific fixed-income and equity securities that we choose to maintain in the funds. We may not choose the optimal mix for any particular market condition. Declines in earnings from perpetual care trust funds would cause a decline in current revenues, while declines in earnings from other trust funds could cause a decline in future cash flows and revenues.
We may be required to replenish our funeral and cemetery trust funds in order to meet minimum funding requirements, which would have a negative effect on our earnings and cash flow.
In certain states, we have withdrawn allowable distributable earnings including gains prior to the maturity or cancellation of the related contract. Additionally, some states have laws that either require replenishment of investment losses under certain circumstances or impose various restrictions on withdrawals of future earnings when trust fund values drop below certain prescribed amounts. In the event of realized losses or market declines, we may be required to deposit portions or all of these amounts into the respective trusts in some future period.
Increasing death benefits related to preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed funeral service.
We sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts through various programs providing for future funeral services at prices prevailing when the agreements are signed. For preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance contracts, we receive in
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cash a general agency commission from the third-party insurance company. Additionally, there is an increasing death benefit associated with the contract that may vary over the contract life. There is no guarantee that the increasing death benefit will cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed funeral service, and any such excess cost could be materially adverse to our future cash flows, revenues, and operating margins.
The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts may impact our future revenues.
Where permitted, customers may arrange their preneed funeral contract by purchasing a life insurance policy from third-party insurance companies. The customer/policy holder assigns the policy benefits to our funeral home to pay for the preneed funeral contract at the time of need. If the financial condition of the third-party insurance companies were to deteriorate materially because of market conditions or otherwise, there could be an adverse effect on our ability to collect all or part of the proceeds of the life insurance policy, including the annual increase in the death benefit, when we fulfill the preneed contract at the time of need. Failure to collect such proceeds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Increased or unanticipated costs, such as insurance or taxes, may have a negative impact on our earnings and cash flow.
We may experience material increases in certain costs, such as insurance or taxes, which result from recent federal legislation or state and local governments raising taxes in an effort to balance budgets. These costs are difficult to quantify in the future and may impair our ability to achieve earnings growth in excess of revenue growth. Our forecast assumes that we will be successful in increasing earnings at a rate that is greater than revenue growth. We can give no assurance that we will be successful in achieving such increases.
Covenant restrictions under our debt instruments may limit our flexibility in operating and growing our business.
The terms of our Credit Agreement and the Convertible Notes may limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things: incur additional debt; pay dividends or make distributions or redeem or repurchase stock; make investments; grant liens; make capital expenditures; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; sell assets; and acquire the assets of, or merge or consolidate with, other companies.
Our Credit Agreement also requires us to maintain certain financial ratios. Complying with these restrictive covenants and financial ratios, as well as those that may be contained in any future debt agreements, may limit our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs or to take advantage of other favorable business opportunities. Our ability to comply with these restrictive covenants and financial ratios will depend on our future performance, which may be affected by events beyond our control. Our failure to comply with any of these covenants or restrictions when they apply could result in a default under any future debt instrument, which could result in acceleration of the debt under that instrument and, in some cases, the acceleration of debt under other instruments that contain cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. In the case of an event of default, or in the event of a cross-default or cross-acceleration, we may not have sufficient funds available to make the required payments under our debt instruments. If we are unable to repay amounts owed under the terms of our Credit Agreement, the lenders thereunder may be entitled to sell certain of our funeral assets to satisfy our obligations under the agreement.
Economic, financial and stock market fluctuations could affect future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived asset impairments.
In addition to an annual review, we assess the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, a significant decline in the market value of our stock or debt values, significant under-performance relative to historical or projected future operating results, and significant negative industry or economic trends. If these factors occur, we may have a triggering event, which could result in an impairment of our goodwill. Based on the results of our annual goodwill impairment test we performed as of August 31, 2015 and our annual review of intangible assets and long-lived assets as of December 31, 2015, we concluded that there was no impairment of our goodwill, intangible assets or other long-lived assets. However, if current economic conditions weaken causing deterioration in our operating revenues, operating margins and cash flows, we may have a triggering event that could result in an impairment of our goodwill, intangible assets and/or long-lived assets.
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RISKS RELATED TO THE DEATHCARE INDUSTRY
Declines in the number of deaths in our markets can cause a decrease in revenues. Changes in the number of deaths are not predictable from market to market or over the short term.
Declines in the number of deaths could cause at-need sales of funeral and cemetery services, property and merchandise to decline, which could decrease revenues. Although the United States Bureau of the Census estimates that the number of deaths in the United States will increase in the future, longer life spans could reduce the rate of deaths. In addition, changes in the number of deaths can vary among local markets and from quarter to quarter, and variations in the number of deaths in our markets or from quarter to quarter are not predictable. These variations may cause our revenues to fluctuate and our results of operations to lack predictability.
The increasing number of cremations in the United States could cause revenues to decline because we could lose market share to firms specializing in cremations. In addition, direct cremations produce minimal revenues for cemetery operations and lower funeral revenues.
Our traditional cemetery and funeral service operations face competition from the increasing number of cremations in the United States. Industry studies indicate that the percentage of cremations has increased every year and this trend is expected to continue into the future. The trend toward cremation could cause cemeteries and traditional funeral homes to lose market share and revenues to firms specializing in cremations. In addition, direct cremations (with no funeral service, casket, urn, mausoleum niche, columbarium niche or burial) produce no revenues for cemetery operations and lower revenues than traditional funerals and, when delivered at a traditional funeral home, produce lower profits as well.
If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences, our market share, revenues and profitability could decrease.
Future market share, revenues and profits will depend in part on our ability to anticipate, identify and respond to changing consumer preferences. In past years, we have implemented new product and service strategies based on results of customer surveys that we conduct on a continuous basis. However, we may not correctly anticipate or identify trends in consumer preferences, or we may identify them later than our competitors do. In addition, any strategies we may implement to address these trends may prove incorrect or ineffective.
Because the funeral and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses, changes in revenue can have a disproportionately large effect on cash flow and profits.
Companies in the funeral home and cemetery business must incur many of the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, land and equipment regardless of the level of sales in any given period. For example, we must pay salaries, utilities, property taxes and maintenance costs on funeral homes and maintain the grounds of cemeteries regardless of the number of funeral services or interments performed. Because we cannot decrease these costs significantly or rapidly when we experience declines in sales, declines in sales can cause margins, profits and cash flow to decline at a greater rate than the decline in revenues.
Changes or increases in, or failure to comply with, regulations applicable to our business could increase costs or decrease cash flows.
The deathcare industry is subject to extensive and evolving regulation and licensing requirements under federal, state and local laws. For example, the funeral home industry is regulated by the FTC, which requires funeral homes to take actions designed to protect consumers. State laws impose licensing requirements and regulate preneed sales. Embalming and cremation facilities are subject to stringent environmental and health regulations. Compliance with these regulations is burdensome, and we are always at risk of not complying with the regulations or facing costly and burdensome investigations from regulatory authorities.
In addition, from time to time, governments and agencies propose to amend or add regulations, which could increase costs or decrease cash flows. Several states and regulatory agencies have considered or are considering regulations that could require more liberal refund and cancellation policies for preneed sales of products and services, limit or eliminate our ability to use surety bonding, increase trust requirements and/or prohibit the common ownership of funeral homes and cemeteries in the same market. If adopted by the regulatory authorities of the jurisdictions in which we operate, these and other possible proposals could have a material adverse effect on us, our financial condition, our results of operations and our future prospects. For additional information regarding the regulation of the deathcare industry, see Part I, Item 1, Business, Regulation.
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We are subject to environmental and worker health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.
Our cemetery and funeral home operations are subject to stringent federal, regional, state and local laws and regulations governing worker health and safety aspects of the operations, the release or disposal of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. These laws and regulations may restrict or impact our business in many ways, including requiring the acquisition of a permit before conducting regulated activities, restricting the types, quantities and concentration of substances that can be released into the environment, applying specific health and safety criteria addressing worker protection, and imposing substantial liabilities for any pollution resulting from our operations. We may be required to make significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with these laws and regulations and any failure to comply may result in the assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, imposition of investigatory, remedial or corrective action obligations, delays in permitting or performance of projects and the issuance of injunctions restricting or prohibiting our activities. Failure to appropriately transport and dispose of generated wastes, used chemicals or other regulated substances, or any spills or other unauthorized releases of regulated substances in the course of our operations could expose us to material losses, expenditures and liabilities under applicable environmental laws and regulations, and result in neighboring landowners and other third parties filing claims for personal injury, property damage and natural resource damage allegedly caused by such non-compliant activities or spills or releases. Certain of these laws may impose strict, joint and several liabilities upon us for the remediation of contaminated property resulting from our or a predecessor owner's or operator's operations. We may not be able to recover some or any of these costs from insurance or contractual indemnifications. Moreover, changes in environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies occur frequently, and any changes that result in more stringent or costly emissions control or waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance and may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, competitive position or financial condition.
ITEM 1B. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS. |
None.
ITEM 2. | PROPERTIES. |
At December 31, 2015, we operated 167 funeral homes in 27 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states. We own the real estate and buildings for 141 of our funeral homes and lease 26 facilities. We owned 28 cemeteries and operated four cemeteries under long-term contracts with municipalities and non-profit organizations at December 31, 2015. We operate 13 funeral homes in combination with cemeteries as these locations are physically located on the same property or in very close proximity and are under the same management. The 32 cemeteries, operated by us have an inventory of unsold developed lots totaling approximately 152,115 and 142,725 at December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In addition, approximately 458 acres are available for future development. We anticipate having a sufficient inventory of lots to maintain our property sales for the foreseeable future. The specialized nature of our business requires that our facilities be well-maintained. Management believes we currently meet this standard.
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The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2015, regarding our properties used by the funeral home segment and by the cemetery segment identified by state:
Number of Funeral Homes | Number of Cemeteries | ||||||||||
State | Owned | Leased(1) | Owned | Managed | |||||||
California | 22 | 6 | 4 | — | |||||||
Connecticut | 8 | 2 | — | — | |||||||
Florida | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | |||||||
Georgia | 5 | — | — | — | |||||||
Idaho | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | |||||||
Illinois | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Kansas | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
Kentucky | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Louisiana | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Maryland | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
Massachusetts | 12 | — | — | — | |||||||
Michigan | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
Montana | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Nevada | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | |||||||
New Jersey | 4 | 1 | — | — | |||||||
New Mexico | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
New York | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
North Carolina | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||||
Ohio | 4 | — | — | — | |||||||
Oklahoma | 6 | — | 2 | — | |||||||
Pennsylvania | 1 | — | — | — | |||||||
Rhode Island | 4 | — | — | — | |||||||
Tennessee | 5 | — | — | — | |||||||
Texas | 19 | 1 | 7 | — | |||||||
Virginia | 5 | 1 | — | — | |||||||
Washington | 2 | — | — | — | |||||||
West Virginia | 1 | 1 | — | — | |||||||
Total | 141 | 26 | 28 | 4 | |||||||
(1) | The leases, with respect to these funeral homes, generally have remaining terms ranging from three months to 11 years, and generally, we have the right to renew past the initial terms and have a right of first refusal on any proposed sale of the property where these funeral homes are located. |
Our corporate headquarters occupy approximately 48,000 square feet of leased office space in Houston, Texas. At December 31, 2015, we owned and operated 691 vehicles and leased 4 vehicles.
ITEM 3. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. |
We and our subsidiaries are parties to a number of legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. While the outcome of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect these matters to have a material adverse effect on our financial statements. Information regarding litigation is set forth in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 16.
We self-insure against certain risks and carry insurance with coverage and coverage limits for risks in excess of the coverage amounts consistent with our assessment of risks in our business and of an acceptable level of financial exposure. Although there can be no assurance that self-insurance reserves and insurance will be sufficient to mitigate all damages, claims or contingencies,
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we believe that the reserves and our insurance provide reasonable coverage for known asserted and unasserted claims. In the event we sustain a loss from a claim and the insurance carrier disputes coverage or coverage limits, we may record a charge in a different period than the recovery, if any, from the insurance carrier.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES. |
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. | MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES. |
MARKET INFORMATION
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CSV.” The following table presents the quarterly high and low sale prices as reported by the New York Stock Exchange:
2015 | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 25.20 | $ | 19.41 | |||
Second Quarter | $ | 25.65 | $ | 22.98 | |||
Third Quarter | $ | 24.57 | $ | 20.03 | |||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 25.96 | $ | 21.01 | |||
2014 | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 22.48 | $ | 16.71 | |||
Second Quarter | $ | 18.90 | $ | 15.25 | |||
Third Quarter | $ | 19.16 | $ | 15.76 | |||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 21.30 | $ | 17.18 | |||
As of February 20, 2016, there were 16,633,557 shares of our common stock outstanding and the closing price as reported by the New York Stock Exchange was $21.07 per share. The shares of common stock outstanding are held by approximately 450 stockholders of record. Each share is entitled to one vote on matters requiring the vote of stockholders. We believe there are approximately 5,000 beneficial owners of our common stock.
DIVIDENDS
Our Board declared four quarterly dividends of $0.025 per share, totaling approximately $1.8 million, which were paid on March 2, 2015, June 1, 2015, September 1, 2015 and December 1, 2015, respectively, to record holders of our common stock as of February 13, 2015, May 14, 2015, August 14, 2015 and November 13, 2015, respectively. We intend to pay dividends in 2016.
EQUITY PLANS
For information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see Part III, Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
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PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER
On May 19, 2015, our Board approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to an aggregate of $25.0 million of our common stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. On September 28, 2015, our Board authorized additional repurchases of $20.0 million of our common stock bringing the total authorized repurchase amount to $45.0 million. During 2015, we purchased 1,927,665 shares of our common stock for a total cost of $45.0 million, representing the entire authorized repurchase amount, at an average cost of $23.34 per share. Our shares were purchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Purchases were at times and in amounts as management determined appropriate based on factors such as market conditions, legal requirements and other business considerations. Shares purchased pursuant to the repurchase program are currently held as treasury shares.
Pursuant to the share repurchase program, we repurchased the following shares during 2015:
Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased as part of Publicly Announced Program(1) | Average Price Paid Per Share | Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program | |||||||
April 1, 2015 - April 30, 2015 | — | $ | — | $ | — | |||||
May 1, 2015 - May 31, 2105 | 30,000 | $ | 25.18 | $ | 24,244,737 | |||||
June 1, 2015 - June 30, 2015 | 95,000 | $ | 24.49 | $ | 21,918,039 | |||||
Total for quarter ending June 30, 2015 | 125,000 | |||||||||
July 1, 2015 - July 31, 2015 | — | $ | — | $ | 21,918,039 | |||||
August 1, 2015 - August 31, 2015 | 519,007 | $ | 23.26 | $ | 9,845,975 | |||||
September 1, 2015 - September 30, 2015 | 560,978 | $ | 21.69 | $ | 17,678,463 | |||||
Total for quarter ending September 30, 2015 | 1,079,985 | |||||||||
October 1, 2015 - October 31, 2015 | — | $ | — | $ | 17,678,463 | |||||
November 1, 2015 - November 30, 2015 | 544,980 | $ | 24.17 | $ | 4,508,919 | |||||
December 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015 | 177,700 | $ | 25.37 | $ | 960 | |||||
Total for quarter ending December 31, 2015 | 722,680 | |||||||||
Total for the year ending December 31, 2015 | 1,927,665 | |||||||||
(1) | No repurchases were made other than through the publicly announced program. | |||
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PERFORMANCE
The following graph compares the cumulative 5-year total return provided to shareholders on our common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the Russell 3000 Index, and a customized peer group of two companies that includes SCI and StoneMor. The returns of each member of the peer group are weighted according to each member’s stock market capitalization as of the beginning of each period measured. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock, the Russell 3000 Index and the peer group was $100 on the last trading day of December 2010, and that all dividends were reinvested. Performance data for Carriage, the Russell 3000 Index and the peer group is provided as of the last trading day of each of our last five fiscal years.
The following graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Carriage Services, Inc., the Russell 3000 Index and a Peer Group
* | $100 invested on December 31, 2010 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. |
Fiscal year ending December 31. Peer Group includes SCI and StoneMor.
12/10 | 12/11 | 12/12 | 12/13 | 12/14 | 12/15 | ||||||||||||||||||
Carriage Services, Inc. | $ | 100.00 | $ | 117.00 | $ | 251.16 | $ | 415.65 | $ | 448.32 | $ | 517.95 | |||||||||||
Russell 3000 | 100.00 | 101.03 | 117.62 | 157.10 | 176.82 | 177.65 | |||||||||||||||||
Peer Group | 100.00 | 122.69 | 159.97 | 217.74 | 274.47 | 316.47 | |||||||||||||||||
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
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ITEM 6. | SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA. |
The table on the following page sets forth selected consolidated financial information for us that has been derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. These historical results are not indicative of our future performance.
You should read this historical financial data together with “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this Form 10-K and our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
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Selected Consolidated Financial Information
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||
INCOME STATEMENT DATA: | |||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||
Funeral | $ | 139,911 | $ | 150,803 | $ | 163,082 | $ | 173,735 | $ | 185,818 | |||||||||
Cemetery | 42,402 | 47,388 | 49,992 | 52,389 | 56,684 | ||||||||||||||
Total revenues | 182,313 | 198,191 | 213,074 | 226,124 | 242,502 | ||||||||||||||
Gross profit: | |||||||||||||||||||
Funeral | 41,880 | 47,260 | 48,874 | 54,102 | 59,434 | ||||||||||||||
Cemetery | 9,536 | 13,967 | 15,411 | 15,906 | 18,074 | ||||||||||||||
Total gross profit | 51,416 | 61,227 | 64,285 | 70,008 | 77,508 | ||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 23,557 | 24,960 | 27,379 | 30,293 | 28,860 | ||||||||||||||
Operating income | 27,859 | 36,267 | 36,906 | 39,715 | 48,648 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (18,089 | ) | (17,088 | ) | (12,622 | ) | (10,308 | ) | (10,559 | ) | |||||||||
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes | — | — | — | (2,452 | ) | (3,454 | ) | ||||||||||||
Gain on repurchase of junior subordinated debentures | 846 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Loss on early extinguishment of debt and other costs | (201 | ) | (3,031 | ) | — | (1,042 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Loss on redemption of convertible junior subordinated debentures | — | — | — | (3,779 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Other, net | 52 | 963 | 81 | 567 | (45 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income before income taxes | 10,467 | 17,111 | 24,365 | 22,701 | 34,590 | ||||||||||||||
Provision for income taxes, net | (4,448 | ) | (6,794 | ) | (9,245 | ) | (7,255 | ) | (13,737 | ) | |||||||||
Net income from continuing operations | 6,019 | 10,317 | 15,120 | 15,446 | 20,853 | ||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations | 959 | 1,086 | 4,176 | 392 | — | ||||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividend | 14 | 14 | 4 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ | 6,964 | $ | 11,389 | $ | 19,292 | $ | 15,838 | $ | 20,853 | |||||||||
Earnings per share | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic: | |||||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.83 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 1.16 | |||||||||
Discontinued operations | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.23 | 0.02 | — | ||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 1.06 | $ | 0.86 | $ | 1.16 | |||||||||
Diluted: | |||||||||||||||||||
Continuing operations | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.57 | $ | 0.82 | $ | 0.83 | $ | 1.12 | |||||||||
Discontinued operations | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.18 | 0.02 | — | ||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.38 | $ | 0.63 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 0.85 | $ | 1.12 | |||||||||
Dividends declared per share | $ | 0.075 | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.100 | |||||||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
Basic | 18,359 | 18,126 | 17,826 | 18,108 | 17,791 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted | 18,397 | 18,226 | 22,393 | 18,257 | 18,317 | ||||||||||||||
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA: | |||||||||||||||||||
Funeral homes at end of period | 159 | 167 | 161 | 164 | 167 | ||||||||||||||
Cemeteries at end of period | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | ||||||||||||||
Funeral services performed | 26,245 | 27,864 | 29,854 | 31,402 | 32,627 | ||||||||||||||
Preneed funeral contracts sold | 6,980 | 6,792 | 8,125 | 6,940 | 7,797 | ||||||||||||||
Backlog of preneed funeral contracts | 81,030 | 81,585 | 80,714 | 82,842 | 84,353 | ||||||||||||||
Backlog of preneed cemetery contracts | 64,807 | 64,580 | 63,453 | 63,322 | 63,178 | ||||||||||||||
Average revenue per funeral contract | $ | 5,262 | $ | 5,347 | $ | 5,365 | $ | 5,453 | $ | 5,621 | |||||||||
Cremation rate | 45.3 | % | 46.2 | % | 46.9 | % | 47.3 | % | 48.9 | % | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | $ | 9,450 | $ | 9,916 | $ | 11,635 | $ | 11,923 | $ | 13,780 | |||||||||
BALANCE SHEET DATA: | |||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 672,777 | $ | 738,085 | $ | 746,599 | $ | 827,528 | $ | 837,353 | |||||||||
Working capital | (1,097 | ) | (9,036 | ) | (11,503 | ) | 3,755 | (3,457 | ) | ||||||||||
Long-term debt, net of current maturities | 135,000 | 163,541 | 142,542 | 152,387 | 196,454 | ||||||||||||||
Convertible junior subordinated debenture | 89,770 | 89,770 | 89,770 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Convertible subordinated notes | — | — | — | 114,542 | 117,996 | ||||||||||||||
Stockholders’ equity | 126,778 | 134,818 | 155,973 | 179,875 | 157,594 | ||||||||||||||
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ITEM 7. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. |
OVERVIEW
General
We operate in two business segments: funeral home operations, which account for approximately 77% of our revenues, and cemetery operations, which account for approximately 23% of our revenues. Funeral homes are principally service businesses that provide funeral services (traditional burial and cremation) and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Cemeteries are primarily sales businesses that sell interment rights (grave sites and mausoleum spaces) and related merchandise, such as markers and outer burial containers. At December 31, 2015, we operated 167 funeral homes in 27 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states within the United States. We provide funeral and cemetery services and products on both an “at-need” (time of death) and “preneed” (planned prior to death) basis. Substantially all administrative activities are conducted in our home office in Houston, Texas.
We have implemented a long-term strategy in our operations designed to improve operating and financial results by growing market share and increasing profitability. We have a decentralized, entrepreneurial and local operating model that includes operating and financial standards developed from our best operations, along with an incentive compensation plan to reward Managing Partners for successfully meeting or exceeding the standards. The model essentially eliminated the use of line-item financial budgets at the location level in favor of the standards. The operating model and its standards, which we refer to as our Standards Operating Model, focuses on the key drivers of a successful operation, organized around three primary areas – market share, people and operating financial metrics that drive long-term performance. The model and standards are the measures by which we judge the success of each business. Our Standards Operating Model aligns our financial incentives for Managing Partners of each business with 4E Leadership skills and their teams who consistently achieve a high level of standards. To date, our Standards Operating Model has driven significant changes in our organization, leadership and operating practices. Most importantly, our Standards Operating Model enables us to determine the sustainable revenue growth and earning power of our portfolio of deathcare businesses. The standards are not designed to produce maximum short-term earnings because we do not believe such performance is sustainable without ultimately stressing the business, which often leads to declining market share, revenues and earnings.
In 2012, we began a five year incentive plan, called “Good to Great,” which rewards business managers, known as “Managing Partners,” with a bonus at the end of five years, equal to a ratio of four to six times their average annual bonus, if they are able to achieve an annual compound growth rate of 2% over a five year period. After each five year incentive plan is achieved and paid out, a new five year plan begins.
Funeral and Cemetery Operations
Factors affecting our funeral operating results include: demographic trends relating to population growth and average age, which impact death rates and number of deaths; establishing and maintaining leading market share positions supported by strong local heritage and relationships; effectively responding to increasing cremation trends by selling complementary services and merchandise; controlling salary and merchandise costs; and exercising pricing leverage related to our at-need business to increase average revenue per contract. In simple terms, volume and price are the two variables that affect funeral revenues. The average revenue per contract is influenced by the mix of traditional and cremation services because our average cremation service revenue is approximately one-third of the average revenue earned from a traditional burial service. Funeral homes have a relatively fixed cost structure. Thus, small changes in revenues, up or down, normally cause significant changes to our profitability.
Our funeral volumes, including contracts from acquisitions, have increased from 26,245 in 2011 to 32,627 in 2015 (compound annual increase of 5.6%). Our funeral operating revenue, excluding financial revenue, has increased from $131.8 million in 2011 to $176.4 million in 2015 (compound annual increase of 7.5%). The increases are primarily a result of businesses we have acquired in the last five years and our ability to increase the average revenue per funeral through expanded service offerings and packages. Additional funeral revenue from preneed commissions and preneed funeral trust earnings has increased from $8.0 million in 2011 to $9.4 million in 2015. We experienced a 0.9% increase in volumes in comparing the year ended December 31, 2015 to the year ended December 31, 2014 on a same store basis, while the same store average revenue per contract for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased 2.1% compared to the year ended December 31, 2014.
The percentage of funeral services involving cremations has increased from 45.3% for the year ended December 31, 2011 to 48.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015. On a same store basis, the cremation rate has risen from 45.4% in 2011 to 50.9% for the year ended December 31, 2015, while the cremation rate for our acquired funeral home businesses has remained flat at 42.3% for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 42.0% for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Cemetery operating results are affected by the size and success of our sales organization. Approximately 48.0% and 49.5% of our cemetery revenues related to preneed sales of interment rights and related merchandise and services for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. We believe that changes in the economy and consumer confidence affect the amount
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of preneed cemetery operating revenues. Our cemetery financial performance from 2011 through 2015 was characterized by increasing levels of operating revenues and field-level cemetery profit margins. Cemetery operating revenue, excluding financial revenue, increased from $36.5 million in 2011 to $46.7 million in 2015 and increased 8.9% over 2014. Additional cemetery revenue from preneed finance charges and trust earnings has increased from $5.9 million in 2011 to $10.0 million in 2015. Changes in the capital markets and interest rates affect this component of our cemetery revenues. Our goal is to build broader and deeper teams of sales leaders and counselors in our larger and more strategically located cemeteries in order to focus on growth of our preneed property sales. Additionally, a portion of our capital expenditures is designed to continually expand our cemetery product offerings.
Financial Revenue
We market funeral and cemetery services and products on a preneed basis. Preneed funeral or cemetery contracts enable families to establish, in advance, the type of service to be performed, the products to be used and the cost of such products and services. Preneed contracts permit families to eliminate issues of making deathcare plans at the time of need and allow input from other family members before the death occurs. We guarantee the price and performance of the preneed contracts to the customer.
Preneed funeral contracts are usually paid on an installment basis at the local, business level. The performance of preneed funeral contracts is usually secured by placing the funds collected in trust for the benefit of the customer or by the purchase of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. These methods are intended to fund preneed funeral contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include an element of growth (earnings) designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. Revenue from preneed funeral contracts, along with accumulated earnings, is not recognized until the time the funeral service is performed. The accumulated earnings from the trust investments and insurance policies are intended to offset the inflation in funeral prices. Additionally, we generally earn a commission from the insurance company from the sale of insurance-funded policies reflected as Preneed Funeral Commission Income within Revenues from funeral operations. The commission income is recognized as revenue when the period of refund expires (generally one year), which helps us defray the costs we incur to originate the preneed contract (primarily commissions we pay to our sales counselors).
Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years with such earnings reflected as Preneed Cemetery Finance Charges within Revenues from cemetery operations. In substantially all cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. In most states, regulations require a portion (generally 10%) of the sale amount of cemetery property and memorials to be placed in a perpetual care trust.
We have established a variety of trusts in connection with funeral home and cemetery operations as required under applicable state laws. Such trusts include (i) preneed funeral trusts; (ii) preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts; and (iii) perpetual care trusts. These trusts are typically administered by independent financial institutions selected by us. Investment management and advisory services are provided either by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor (CSV RIA) or independent financial advisors. At December 31, 2015, CSV RIA provided these services to two institutions, which have custody of 79% of our trust assets, for a fee based on the market value of trust assets. Under state trust laws, we are allowed to charge the trust a fee for advising on the investment of the trust assets and these fees are recognized as income as the advisory services are provided. The investment advisors establish an investment policy that gives guidance on asset allocation, investment requirements, investment manager selection and performance monitoring. The investment objectives are tailored to generate long-term investment returns without assuming undue risk, while ensuring the management of assets is in compliance with applicable laws.
Preneed funeral trust fund income earned, along with the receipt and recognition of any insurance benefits, are deferred until the service is performed. Applicable state laws generally require us to deposit a specified amount (which varies from state to state, generally 50% to 100% of the selling price) into a merchandise and service trust fund for preneed cemetery merchandise and service sales. The related trust fund income earned is recognized when the related merchandise and services are delivered. In most states, regulations require a portion (generally 10%) of the sale amount of cemetery property to be placed in a perpetual care trust. The income from perpetual care trusts provides a portion of the funds necessary to maintain cemetery property and memorials in perpetuity. Perpetual care trust fund income is recognized, as earned, in our cemetery revenues.
Income recognized from the investments in the preneed funeral trust funds, the cemetery merchandise and services trust funds and the perpetual care trust funds increased $0.8 million, or 5.4% for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to 2014 as a result of higher income from fixed income securities and from capital gains recognized in the portfolios. For the five year period ended December 31, 2015, the performance of the funds, which includes realized income and unrealized appreciation, resulted in a 37.2% return. Investment income realized in the perpetual care trust funds (except for capital gains) is recognized as income when earned in the portfolio. Investment income realized in the preneed funeral trust funds and the cemetery merchandise and services trust funds is allocated to the individual preneed contracts and deferred from revenue until the time that the services and merchandise are delivered to the customer.
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Acquisitions
During 2015, we acquired two funeral home businesses, one in Clarksville, Tennessee and one in Wake Forest, North Carolina, for the aggregate purchase price of approximately $15.0 million. The purchase price for both businesses consisted of approximately (i) $9.7 million paid in cash at closing, (ii) $4.5 million, the net present value of future deferred payments totaling $5.5 million and (iii) $0.8 million, the net present value of contingent consideration totaling $1.0 million. In 2014,we acquired six businesses from SCI which included four businesses in New Orleans, Louisiana, consisting of four funeral homes, one of which was a combination funeral home and cemetery, and two funeral businesses in Alexandria, Virginia for approximately $54.9 million. Additionally, we acquired real estate for approximately $3.0 million to be used for funeral home expansion projects.
OVERVIEW OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, other intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience, third party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenues and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance because there can be no assurance the margins, operating income and net earnings, as a percentage of revenues, will be consistent from year to year.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements presented herewith, which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 1. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Funeral and Cemetery Operations
We record the sales of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services when the merchandise is delivered or service is performed. Sales of cemetery interment rights are recorded as revenue in accordance with the retail land sales accounting principles. This method generally provides for the recognition of revenue in the period in which the customer’s cumulative payments exceed 10% of the contract price related to the real estate. Costs related to the sales of interment rights, which include property and other costs related to cemetery development activities, are charged to operations using the specific identification method in the period in which the sale of the interment right is recognized as revenue. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Allowances for bad debts and customer cancellations are provided at the date that the sale is recognized as revenue and are based on our historical experience and the current economic environment. We also monitor changes in delinquency rates and provide additional bad debt and cancellation reserves when warranted.
When preneed funeral services and merchandise are funded through third-party insurance policies, we earn a commission on the sale of the policies. Insurance commissions earned by us are recognized as revenue when the commission is no longer subject to refund, which is usually one year after the policy is issued. Preneed selling costs consist of sales commissions that we pay our sales counselors and other direct related costs of originating preneed sales contracts. These costs are expensed as incurred.
Business Combinations
Tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value and goodwill is recognized for any difference between the price of the acquisition and fair value. We recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at the fair value as of that date. Acquisition related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and are expensed as incurred. We customarily estimate related transaction costs known at closing. To the extent that information not available to us at the closing date subsequently becomes available during the allocation period, we may adjust goodwill, intangible assets, assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition.
See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 3 for additional information.
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Goodwill
The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of funeral home businesses acquired is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill has primarily been recorded in connection with the acquisition of funeral home businesses. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment by assessing the fair value of each of our reporting units. The funeral segment reporting units consist of our East, Central and West regions in the United States, and we performed our annual impairment test of goodwill using information as of August 31, 2015.
Under current guidance, we are permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. We conducted qualitative assessments in 2014 and 2015; however, for our 2013 annual impairment test, we performed the two-step goodwill impairment test. Our intent is to perform the two-step test at least once every three years unless certain indicators or events suggest otherwise.
The two-step goodwill impairment test involves estimates and management judgment. In the first step of our goodwill impairment testing, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired, and the second step is not required. We determine fair value for each reporting unit using both a market approach, weighted 70%, and an income approach, weighted 30%. Our methodology for determining a market approach fair value utilizes recent sales transactions in the industry. Our methodology for determining an income-based fair value is based on discounting projected future cash flows. The projected future cash flows include assumptions concerning future operating performance that may differ from actual future cash flows using a weighted average cost of capital for the Company and other public deathcare companies. In accordance with the guidance, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the second step of the goodwill impairment testing needs to be performed. This step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill, and if the carrying amount exceeds the implied value, an impairment charge is recorded in an amount equal to the difference.
In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant adverse changes in the business climate which may be indicated by a decline in our market capitalization or decline in operating results. No impairments were recorded in relation to our goodwill annual assessment in the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 or 2015. No such events or changes occurred between the testing date and year end to trigger a subsequent impairment review.
In 2014, we recognized an impairment of approximately $1.2 million for a discontinued location as the carrying value exceeded fair value. Upon receipt of a letter of intent to sell a location, we perform an analysis to determine if the net assets of the location exceed the sales price. If the net assets exceed the sales price, we record an impairment at the location level.
See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 1, 4 and 5 for additional information.
Intangible Assets
Our intangible assets include tradenames resulting from acquisitions. Our tradenames are included in Deferred costs and other non-current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our tradenames are considered to have an indefinite life and are not subject to amortization. We test for impairment of intangible assets annually at year end in accordance with the Intangibles Topic of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350.
Under current guidance, we are permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step impairment test. We conducted qualitative assessments in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than the fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant under performance relative to historical results and significant negative industry or economic trends. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, no impairments were identified.
Long-Lived Assets
We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable, in accordance with the Property, Plant, and Equipment Topic of ASC 360. This guidance requires that long-lived assets to be held and used are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value. We assess long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
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value may be greater than the fair value. We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment when a funeral home business has negative EBITDA for consecutive years or there has been a decline in EBITDA for consecutive years. For our cemetery business, we analyze the long-lived assets for impairment if the business has a negative operating margin or a decline in operating margin over a multiple year period. We review our long-lived assets if deemed held-for-sale to the point of recoverability. Assets to be disposed of and assets not expected to provide any future service potential are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell. If we determine that the carrying value is not recoverable from the proceeds of the sale, we record an impairment at that time. For the year ended December 31, 2015, no impairments were identified.
See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 1 for additional information.
Income Taxes
We and our subsidiaries file a consolidated United States Federal income tax return and separate state income tax returns in 14 states in which we operate and combined or unitary income tax returns in 13 states in which we operate. We record deferred taxes for temporary differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. We record a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets for which realization is uncertain. Management reviews the valuation allowance at the end of each quarter and makes adjustments if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will be realized.
We analyze tax benefits for uncertain tax positions and how they are to be recognized, measured, and derecognized in the financial statements; provide certain disclosures of uncertain tax matters; and specify how reserves for uncertain tax positions should be classified on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have reviewed our income tax positions and identified certain tax deductions, primarily related to business acquisitions that are not certain. Our policy with respect to potential penalties and interest is to record them as “Other” expense and “Interest” expense, respectively. The entire balance of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate.
On August 1, 2014, we received notification that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) completed its examination of our tax year ended December 31, 2011. As a result, we recognized a tax benefit of $1.7 million which reduced our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014. Additionally, we recognized a credit to interest expense of $0.6 million related to the settled portion of the uncertain tax position.
We do not anticipate a material change in our unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months.
See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 17 for additional information concerning our income taxes.
Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation
We have stock-based employee and director compensation plans in the form of restricted stock, stock options, performance awards and an employee stock purchase plan. We recognize compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based awards expected to vest over the requisite service period. Fair value is determined on the date of the grant. The fair value of options or awards containing options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the performance awards was determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation pricing model.
Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Trust Funds
Our preneed and perpetual care trust funds are reported in accordance with principles of consolidating Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”). In the case of preneed trusts, the customers are the legal beneficiaries. In the case of perpetual care trusts, we do not have a right to access the corpus in the perpetual care trusts. We have recognized financial interests of third parties in the trust funds in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts' corpus. The investments of such trust funds are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at market value; therefore, the unrealized gains and losses, as well as accumulated and undistributed income and realized gains and losses, are recorded to Deferred preneed receipts held in trust and Care trusts' corpus on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our future obligations to deliver merchandise and services are reported at estimated settlement amounts. Preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings, along with preneed contract collections not required to be placed in trust, are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenue and Deferred preneed cemetery revenue until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.
In accordance with respective state laws, we are required to deposit a specified amount into perpetual and memorial care trust funds for each interment/entombment right and memorial sold. Income from the trust funds is distributed to us and is used to provide care and maintenance for the cemeteries and mausoleums. Such trust fund income is recognized as revenue when realized by the trust and distributable to us. We are restricted from withdrawing any of the principal balances of these funds.
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An enterprise is required to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest(s) give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Our analysis continues to support our position as the primary beneficiary in certain of our funeral and cemetery trust funds.
Trust management fees are earned by us for investment management and advisory services that are provided by CSV RIA. As of December 31, 2015, CSV RIA provided these services to two institutions which have custody of 79% of our trust assets, for a fee based on the market value of trust assets. Under state trust laws, we are allowed to charge the trust a fee for advising on the investment of the trust assets and these fees are recognized as income in the period in which advisory services are provided.
We determine whether or not the assets in the preneed trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis of the investment due to an other-than-temporary impairment is likewise recorded as a reduction in Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust or Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. There will be no impact on earnings unless and until such time that the investment is withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations at an amount that is less than its original basis.
See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes 6 and 10 for additional related disclosures.
Fair Value Measurements
We measure the available-for-sale securities held by our funeral merchandise and service, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the ASC. This guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The guidance establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:
• Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;
• Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; and
• Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
We disclose the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date. The fair value disclosures transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and the gross presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation of the three-tier fair value hierarchy are also presented in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in Note 6 and 10. We currently do not have any assets that have fair values determined by Level 3 inputs. We have not elected to measure any additional financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value.
To determine the fair value of assets and liabilities in an environment where the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, the exit price is used as the fair value measurement. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we did not incur significant decreases in the volume or level of activity of any asset or liability. We consider an impairment of debt and equity securities other-than-temporary unless (i) the investor has the ability and intent to hold an investment and (ii) evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable before we are more likely than not required to sell the investment. If an impairment is indicated, then an adjustment will be made to reduce the carrying amount to fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, we recorded impairment charges of $0.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments.
In the ordinary course of business, we are typically exposed to a variety of market risks. Currently, these are primarily related to changes in fair market values related to outstanding debts and changes in the values of securities associated with the preneed and perpetual care trusts. Management is actively involved in monitoring exposure to market risk and developing and utilizing appropriate risk management techniques when appropriate and when available for a reasonable price.
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For more information regarding fair value measurements, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 11.
Computation of Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common equivalent shares consist of stock options, our convertible junior subordinated debentures and our Convertible Notes.
Share-based awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are recognized as participating securities and included in the computation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Our grants of restricted stock awards to our employees and directors are considered participating securities, and we prepare our earnings per share calculations attributable to common stockholders to exclude outstanding unvested restricted stock awards, using the two-class method, in both the basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding calculation.
The fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the corresponding calculation of fully diluted earnings per share, included approximately 0.3 million shares that would have been issued upon the conversion of our Convertible Notes as a result of the application of the if-converted method prescribed by the FASB ASC 260. There were no shares for the year ended December 31, 2014 that would have been issued upon conversion under the if-converted method for our Convertible Notes.
The fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2013, and the corresponding calculation of fully diluted earnings per share, included approximately 4.4 million shares that would have been issued upon conversion of our convertible junior subordinated debentures as a result of the application of the if-converted method prescribed by ASC 260. The convertible junior subordinated debentures were redeemed in March and April 2014. As a result, there was no impact on our calculation of fully diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015.
The calculations for basic and diluted earnings per share for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 are presented in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 20.
Subsequent Events
We have evaluated events and transactions during the period subsequent to December 31, 2015 through the date that the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements covered by this report. For more information regarding subsequent events, see Part II, Item 8, Financial Statement and Supplementary Data, Note 25.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS, ACCOUNTING CHANGES AND OTHER REGULATIONS
Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), Financial Instruments – Overall – Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Topic 825). The amendments in this ASU address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments and apply to all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. The amendments in this ASU also simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring assessment for impairment qualitatively at each reporting period. That impairment assessment is similar to the qualitative assessment for long-lived assets, goodwill, and indefinite-lived intangible assets. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. An entity should apply the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Classification of Deferred Taxes
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Income Taxes – Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740). This ASU requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments eliminate the guidance in Topic 740 that requires an entity to separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount in a classified statement of financial position. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement – Period Adjustments for Business Combinations
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Business Combinations – Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (Topic 805). This ASU applies to all entities that have reported provisional amounts for items in a business combination for which the accounting is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs and during the measurement period that have an adjustment to provisional amounts recognized. This ASU requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. These include the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in the current period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date, with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. Our adoption of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016 is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.
Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Inventory – Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330). This ASU applies to all inventory, including inventory that is measured using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost method. This ASU does not apply to the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. This ASU requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied prospectively, with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. Our adoption of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017 is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.
Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. To simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs, this ASU requires that entities that have historically presented debt issuance costs as an asset, related to a recognized debt liability, will be required to present those costs as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability. This presentation will result in debt issuance costs being presented in the same way debt discounts have historically been addressed. This ASU does not change the recognition, measurement or subsequent measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of this ASU is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The new guidance should be applied on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Upon transition, an entity is required to comply with the applicable disclosures for a change in accounting principle. These disclosures include the nature and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, a description of the prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted, and the effect of the change on debt issuance costs asset and the debt liability. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016. Our adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.
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Cloud Computing Arrangements
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), to provide guidance on whether a cloud computing arrangement contains a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then an entity should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, an entity should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We plan to adopt these provisions for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016. Our adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.
Extraordinary and Unusual Items
In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20). This ASU eliminates the concept of reporting extraordinary items. Extraordinary items are events and transactions that are distinguished by their unusual nature and by the infrequency of their occurrence. Preparers will not have to assess whether a particular event or transaction is extraordinary and likewise, auditors and regulators no longer need to evaluate whether a preparer treated an unusual and/or infrequent item appropriately. The presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include such items. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply this ASU prospectively. A reporting entity may also apply this ASU retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We plan to adopt these provisions for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016. Our adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.
Going Concern
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40). This ASU provides guidance about management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern or to provide related footnote disclosures. This ASU requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern by incorporating and expanding upon certain principles that are currently U.S. auditing standards. Specifically, this ASU provides a definition of the term substantial doubt, requires evaluation of every reporting period including interim periods, provides principles for considering the mitigating effect of management's plans, requires certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management's plans, requires an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated and requires an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued or available to be issued. This ASU is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. We plan to adopt these provisions for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017.
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. (Topic 606). ASC Topic 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements under ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the ASC. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Under the new guidance, an entity is required to perform the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The new guidance will significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. Additionally, the guidance requires improved disclosures as to the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The guidance was effective for the annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. On July 9, 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date by one year to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
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SELECTED INCOME AND OPERATIONAL DATA
The following table sets forth certain income statement data for us expressed as a percentage of net revenues for the periods presented:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||||||
Total gross profit | 30.2 | % | 31.0 | % | 32.0 | % | ||
General and administrative expenses | 12.8 | % | 13.4 | % | 11.9 | % | ||
Operating income | 17.3 | % | 17.6 | % | 20.1 | % | ||
Interest expense | 5.9 | % | 4.6 | % | 4.4 | % | ||
The following table sets forth the number of funeral homes and cemeteries owned and operated by us for the periods presented:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ||||||
Funeral homes at beginning of period | 167 | 161 | 164 | |||||
Acquisitions | 2 | 6 | 2 | |||||
Constructed funeral homes | — | — | 3 | |||||
Divestitures | (7 | ) | (2 | ) | — | |||
Mergers and relocation of funeral homes | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | (2 | ) | ||
Funeral homes at end of period | 161 | 164 | 167 | |||||
Cemeteries at beginning of period | 33 | 32 | 32 | |||||
Acquisitions | — | 1 | — | |||||
Divestitures | (1 | ) | (1 | ) | — | |||
Cemeteries at end of period | 32 | 32 | 32 | |||||
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
Financial Highlights
Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $242.5 million compared to $226.1 million for the comparable period of 2014, an increase of $16.4 million, or 7.2% as we experienced a 3.9% increase in total funeral contracts and a 9.6% increase in cemetery preneed property sale contracts in the year ended December 31, 2015. Operating income also increased $8.9 million, or 22.5%, and our total field margins improved to 32.0% in 2015 from 31.0% in 2014. Further discussion of revenue and operating profit for our funeral home and cemetery segments is presented herein under “Results of Operations.” Net income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 totaled $20.8 million, equal to $1.12 per diluted share, as compared to $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, or $0.83 per diluted share.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. Effective January 1, 2015, we adopted the FASB's new guidance for reporting discontinued operations. As such, we no longer report discontinued operations unless the disposal represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on our operations and financial results. There were no divestitures of any of our funeral or cemetery businesses in 2015.
We also present our financial performance in our “Operating and Financial Trend Report” (“Trend Report”) as reported in our earnings release and discussed on our earnings call for the year ending December 31, 2015. This Trend Report is used as a supplemental financial measurement statement by management and investors to compare our current financial performance with our previous results and with the performance of other deathcare companies. The Trend Report is a Non-GAAP statement from continuing operations that also provides insight into underlying trends in our business. 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.
The Non-GAAP financial measures in the Trend Report include such measures as “Adjusted Net Income,” “Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share,” “Consolidated EBITDA,” “Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA,” “Funeral, Cemetery and Financial EBITDA” and “Total Field EBITDA. These financial measurements are defined as GAAP items adjusted for Special Items and are reconciled to GAAP in our earnings release and on the Trend Reports posted on our website (www.carriageservices.com). In addition, our
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presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in other companies’ reports. We define Special Items as amounts included in our GAAP financial statements that can vary from period to period and are not reflective of costs incurred in the ordinary course of our operations.
In certain states, we are allowed to withdraw realized trust earnings prior to delivery from cemetery merchandise and services trusts, which management describes as “Withdrawable Trust Income.” The Withdrawable Trust Income, pre-tax, totaled $0.6 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. While the Withdrawable Trust Income is not recognized as revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, it increases cash flow from operations. The Withdrawable Trust Income is treated as a special item in our adjusted net income calculation.
We are providing below a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations (a GAAP measure) to Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure). Adjusted net income is defined as net income from continuing operations adjusted for Special Items, including Withdrawable Trust Income, acquisition and divestiture expenses, severance costs and other special items in the table below. The adjustment of Special Items in Adjusted net income allows management to focus on the evaluation of operating performance as it primarily relates to our operating expenses. The Special Items are tax affected at a rate of 34% except for the accretion of the discount on our convertible subordinated notes, which is a non-tax deductible item.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
(In millions) | 2014 | 2015 | |||||
Net income from continuing operations, as reported | $ | 15.4 | $ | 20.8 | |||
After-tax Special Items, except for ** | |||||||
Withdrawable trust income | 1.2 | 0.4 | |||||
Acquisition and divestiture expenses | 0.7 | 0.4 | |||||
Severance costs | 0.7 | 0.6 | |||||
Consulting fees | 0.3 | 1.3 | |||||
Other incentive compensation | 0.7 | — | |||||
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes** | 2.5 | 3.5 | |||||
Costs related to the credit facility | 0.7 | — | |||||
Loss on redemption of convertible junior subordinated debentures | 2.5 | — | |||||
Net gain on asset purchase | (0.4 | ) | — | ||||
Other special items | 0.5 | 0.2 | |||||
Tax adjustment from prior period** | — | 0.1 | |||||
Adjusted net income | $ | 24.8 | $ | 27.3 | |||
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The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The term “same store” or “existing operations” refers to funeral homes and cemeteries acquired prior to January 1, 2011 and owned and operated for the entirety of each period being presented. Funeral homes and cemeteries purchased after December 31, 2010 are referred to as “acquired.” This classification of acquisitions has been important to management and investors in monitoring the results of these businesses and to gauge the leveraging performance contribution that a selective acquisition program can have on total company performance. Depreciation and amortization and regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs are not included in operating profit.
Results of Operations
Funeral Home Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding our revenues and operating profit from funeral home continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
2014 | 2015 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating revenue | $ | 127,487 | $ | 131,740 | $ | 4,253 | 3.3 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating revenue | 36,765 | 44,628 | 7,863 | 21.4 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral insurance commissions | 2,036 | 1,484 | (552 | ) | (27.1 | )% | ||||||||
Preneed funeral trust earnings | 7,447 | 7,966 | 519 | 7.0 | % | |||||||||
Revenues from continuing operations | $ | 173,735 | $ | 185,818 | $ | 12,083 | 7.0 | % | ||||||
Operating profit: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating profit | $ | 46,707 | $ | 50,563 | $ | 3,856 | 8.3 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating profit | 13,767 | 17,750 | 3,983 | 28.9 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral insurance commissions | 958 | 454 | (504 | ) | (52.6 | )% | ||||||||
Preneed funeral trust earnings | 7,390 | 7,885 | 495 | 6.7 | % | |||||||||
Gross profit from continuing operations | $ | 68,822 | $ | 76,652 | $ | 7,830 | 11.4 | % | ||||||
Funeral home same store operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $4.3 million, or 3.3%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was primarily due to a 2.1% increase in the average revenue per contract to $5,441 and a slight increase of 0.9% in same store contract volume to 25,270. The average revenue per contract includes the impact of the funeral trust fund earnings recognized at the time that we provide the services pursuant to the preneed contract. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased $122 to $5,213 for the year ended December 31, 2015. The average revenue per burial contract increased 2.1% to $8,681, while the number of traditional burial contracts increased 1.9% to 10,572. The cremation rate for same store businesses increased from 49.3% in 2014 to 50.9% in 2015 as the number of cremation contracts increased 4.3% to 12,868. The average revenue per same store cremation contract increased 5.3% to $3,217 due to a slight increase in cremations with services which generate higher average revenue per contract than direct cremations. The average revenue for “other” contracts, which are charges for merchandise and services for which we do not perform a funeral service and which make up approximately 7.2% of the total number of contracts in 2015, increased 9.9% to $2,352.
Same store operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $3.9 million, or 8.3%, from the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase is a result of the increase in revenue coupled with better management of controllable expenses. Those expenses with a significant change include salaries and benefits, bad debt expense and transportation costs which decreased $0.6 million, offset by an increase of approximately $0.3 million in in general liability and property tax expense.
Funeral home acquired revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $7.9 million, or 21.4%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, as we experienced a 15.6% increase in the number of contracts and an increase in the average revenue per contract of 5.2%, to $6,240, primarily due to the full year of reporting the acquisition of certain funeral homes from SCI in May 2014 (the “SCI Acquisition”) in 2015 and the acquisition of two funeral home businesses in 2015. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased 5.0% to $6,066. The number of traditional burial contracts increased 12.0%, and the average revenue per burial contract increased 4.5% to $8,836. The cremation rate for the acquired businesses increased from 39.7% in 2014 to 42.0% in 2015. The number of cremation contracts increased 22.5% to 3,093 and the average revenue per cremation contract increased 9.5% to $3,879. The increase in the average revenue per contract for acquired operations
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is primarily due to an increase of 8.3% in cremations with services which generate higher average revenue per contract than direct cremations.
Acquired operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $4.0 million, or 28.9%, from the year ended December 31, 2014. As a percentage of revenue from acquired businesses, acquired operating profit increased to 39.8% for 2015 from 37.4% for 2014. The increase in operating profit was a result of the increase in acquired revenues from our 2014 and 2015 funeral home acquisitions, including the SCI acquisition and better management of salaries and benefits (the largest controllable expense) as these acquired locations are integrated into our Standards Operating Model. The SCI Acquisition and the acquisition of two funeral home businesses in 2015 accounted for approximately one-third of our total acquired operating revenue and operating profit in the year ended December 31, 2015.
The two categories of financial revenue consist of preneed funeral insurance commission revenue and preneed funeral trust earnings on matured preneed contracts. Preneed funeral insurance commission revenue decreased by approximately $0.6 million, or 27.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the same period of 2014. Preneed funeral commission revenue is deferred for one year after the preneed funeral contracts are sold. In 2014, we sold 1,185 fewer preneed funeral contracts than in the same period of the previous year. The majority of the decrease in the number of contracts sold were from insurance vendors for which we receive commission income. Preneed funeral trust earnings increased by approximately $0.5 million, or 7.0%, in the year ended December 31, 2015 due primarily to trust earnings from our acquired locations. Trust earnings also include trust management fees charged to our wholly-owned registered investment advisor based on the fair market value of the trust assets. Operating profit for the two categories of financial revenue, on a combined basis, decreased 0.3% in 2015 due primarily to the mix and variability of preneed funeral insurance commission revenue and preneed fund funeral trust earnings.
Cemetery Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding our revenues and operating profit from the cemetery continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the year ended December 31, 2015:
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
2014 | 2015 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating revenue | $ | 41,257 | $ | 43,336 | $ | 2,079 | 5.0 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating revenue | 1,599 | 3,321 | 1,722 | 107.7 | % | |||||||||
Cemetery trust earnings | 8,123 | 8,440 | 317 | 3.9 | % | |||||||||
Preneed cemetery finance charges | 1,410 | 1,587 | 177 | 12.6 | % | |||||||||
Revenues from continuing operations | $ | 52,389 | $ | 56,684 | $ | 4,295 | 8.2 | % | ||||||
Operating Profit: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating profit | $ | 11,845 | $ | 14,045 | $ | 2,200 | 18.6 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating profit | 351 | 1,088 | 737 | 210.0 | % | |||||||||
Cemetery trust earnings | 7,931 | 8,167 | 236 | 3.0 | % | |||||||||
Preneed cemetery finance charges | 1,410 | 1,587 | 177 | 12.6 | % | |||||||||
Gross profit from continuing operations | $ | 21,537 | $ | 24,887 | $ | 3,350 | 15.6 | % | ||||||
Cemetery same store operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $2.1 million, or 5.0%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Preneed property revenue increased $1.6 million, or 8.2% in the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the same period of 2014, as we experienced a 5.0% increase in the number of interment rights (property) sold. The average price per interment increased 5.8% to $2,988 in 2015 as compared to 2014 . The percentage of those interment rights sold that we were able to recognize as revenue, because we received at least 10% of the sales price from the customer, decreased slightly from 91.3% in 2014 to 91.0% in 2015. Revenue from deliveries of preneed merchandise and services increased $0.1 million, or 2.1%, to $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2015. Same store at-need revenue increased $0.3 million, or 2.0%, as the number of at-need contracts increased 2.7% to 12,998 in 2015.
Cemetery same store operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased $2.2 million, or 18.6%. As a percentage of revenues, cemetery same store operating profit increased from 28.7% in 2014 to 32.4% in 2015. The increase in operating profit was due primarily to the increase in revenue and a $1.0 million decrease in bad debt expense and transportation costs, offset by an increase of $0.9 million in salaries and benefits, insurance and grounds maintenance costs.
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Cemetery acquired revenue and acquired operating profit increased in 2015 primarily due to the full year reporting of the cemetery acquired from SCI in May 2014.
The two categories of financial revenue consist of trust earnings and finance charges on preneed receivables. Total trust earnings increased 3.9% primarily due to a $0.4 million increase in merchandise and service trust income, offset by a $0.1 million decrease in the perpetual care trust income in the year ended December 31, 2015 when compared to 2014. Trust earnings also include trust management fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor based on the fair market value of the trust assets. Finance charges on the preneed contracts increased 12.6% year over year.
Other Financial Statement Items
Regional and Unallocated Funeral and Cemetery Costs. Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs consist of salaries and benefits for regional management, field incentive compensation and other related costs for field infrastructure. Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs increased $2.2 million, or 22.3%, primarily due to an increase of $1.6 million in incentive compensation for field management and their employees due to better performance and stronger margins from our operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. Our Standards Operating Model align our financial incentives for Managing Partners of each business and their teams who consistently achieve a high level of standards. In addition, we experienced an increase of $0.6 million in salaries and benefits for regional and field management due to additional headcount.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses totaled $27.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 6.2%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was due primarily to a $1.0 million special one-time bonus payment related to an amended employment agreement and $0.8 million for stock-based compensation related to the performance awards payout during 2014, both of which did not occur in 2015. Additionally, we had a $0.6 million decrease in acquisition and divestiture expenses, a $0.2 million decrease in corporate incentive compensation and a combined decrease of $0.3 million in legal and public company costs. These decreases were offset by a $0.6 million increase in non-cash stock compensation expense, a $0.4 million increase in salaries and benefits and a $0.1 million increase in regulatory and compliance costs.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $0.3 million. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a credit of $0.6 million in interest expense related to the settled portion of the uncertain tax positions in connection with the completion of an IRS tax audit for our 2011 tax year that did not occur in the year ended December 31, 2015. Additionally, interest expense increased $0.2 million compared to 2014, related to the acquisition debt associated with the purchase of a funeral home business in February 2015. These were offset by a $0.4 million decrease related to our Convertible Notes issued in March 2014 which have a lower fixed annual interest rate of 2.75% compared to our redeemed convertible junior subordinated debentures, which had an annual interest rate of 7.0% and a $0.1 million decrease related to our term loan due to a lower principal balance during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the same period of 2014.
Accretion of Discount on Convertible Subordinated Notes. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized accretion of the discount on our Convertible Notes issued in March 2014 of $3.5 million. Accretion is calculated using the effective interest method based on a stated interest rate of 6.75%.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt. In April 2014, we entered into a fifth amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) of our Credit Agreement. As a result, we recognized a loss of approximately $1.0 million to write-off the related unamortized deferred loan costs. We did not incur this type of expense in 2015.
Loss on Redemption of Convertible Subordinated Debentures. In March 2014, we called for the redemption of all our outstanding convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2029 held by Carriage Services Capital Trust and the corresponding 7% convertible preferred securities (“TIDES”). As of April 16, 2014, all of the TIDES had been redeemed. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a total loss of $3.8 million as a result of the write-off of the related unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.9 million and $0.9 million for the premium paid on the convertible junior subordinated debentures redeemed. We did not incur this type of expense in 2015.
Other Income. Other Income decreased $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a net gain of $0.6 million as a result of a gain of $1.1 million related to the purchase of a funeral home building previously leased under a capital lease in the first quarter of 2014, offset by a loss of $0.5 million on the sale of a funeral home building and land in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Income taxes. Our income tax provision was approximately $13.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. On August 1, 2014, we received notification that the IRS completed its
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examination of our tax year ended December 31, 2011. As a result, we re-measured our tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits which resulted in a $1.7 million tax benefit that reduced our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding this tax benefit, our effective tax rate was 39.6% and 39.7% for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. See Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 17 for additional information regarding our income taxes.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013
Financial Highlights
Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $226.1 million compared to $213.1 million for the comparable period of 2013, an increase of $13.0 million, or 6.1%, and gross profit increased $5.7 million, or 8.9%, for that same period. Our acquired funeral and cemetery businesses drove the overall increase in revenues during 2014. Total funeral home and cemetery gross margin was 31.0% in 2014 compared to 30.2% in 2013 and 30.9% in 2012. The gross profit margin translated into gross profit of $70.0 million in 2014 compared to $64.3 million in 2013 and $61.2 million in 2012. The increase in gross profit was generally a result of our acquired businesses, better cemetery performance and increased trust earnings.
Net income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 totaled $15.4 million, equal to $0.83 per diluted share, as compared to $15.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, or $0.82 per diluted share. Net income from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 included a loss of approximately $1.0 million on the early extinguishment of debt related to the Fifth Amendment, a loss of approximately $3.8 million on the redemption of our convertible junior subordinated debentures and $2.4 million related to the accretion of the discount on our convertible subordinated notes. Additionally, in the third quarter of 2014, we recognized a tax benefit of $1.7 million related to uncertain tax positions which is included in our tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2014. In conjunction with this benefit, we recognized a credit to interest expense of $0.6 million related to the settled portion of these uncertain tax positions.
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $0.4 million and $4.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
General and administrative expenses totaled $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $3.0 million, or 11.5%, as compared to 2013. The increase was due primarily to an increase in incentive and stock-based compensation expenses offset by a decrease in salaries and benefits expense. The increase in incentive compensation expense was primarily due to incentive compensation related to a special payment in 2014 in connection with an amended employment agreement and executive bonuses in 2014, which did not occur in 2013.
Income recognized from the investments in the preneed funeral trust funds, the cemetery merchandise and services trust funds and the perpetual care trust funds increased $0.1 million, or 0.6% for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to 2013 as a result of higher income from fixed income securities and from capital gains recognized in the portfolios. For the five year period ended December 31, 2014, the performance of the funds, which includes realized income and unrealized appreciation, resulted in a 66.6% return. Investment income realized in the perpetual care trust funds (except for capital gains) is recognized as income when earned in the portfolio. Investment income realized in the preneed funeral trust funds and the cemetery merchandise and services trust funds is allocated to the individual preneed contracts and deferred from revenue until the time that the services and merchandise are delivered to the customer. Because higher income has accumulated in the preneed trust funds, management expects increasing revenue in the future as the preneed contracts are delivered.
We also present our financial performance in our Trend Report as reported in our earnings release and discussed on our earnings call for the year ending December 31, 2014. This Trend Report is used as a supplemental financial measurement statement by management and investors to compare our current financial performance with our previous results and with the performance of other deathcare companies. The Trend Report is a Non-GAAP statement from continuing operations that also provides insight into underlying trends in our business. 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.
The Non-GAAP financial measures in the Trend Report include “Adjusted Net Income,” “Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share,” “Consolidated EBITDA,” “Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA,” “Funeral, Cemetery and Financial EBITDA,” “Total Field EBITDA” and “Special Items.” These financial measurements are defined as similar GAAP items adjusted for Special Items and are reconciled to GAAP in our earnings release and on the Trend Reports posted on our website (www.carriageservices.com). In addition, our presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures in other companies’ reports.
In certain states, we are allowed to withdraw realized trust earnings prior to delivery from cemetery merchandise and services trusts, which management describes as “Withdrawable Trust Income.” The Withdrawable Trust Income, pre-tax, totaled $1.8 million and $1.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. While the Withdrawable Trust Income is
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not recognized as revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, it increases cash flow from operations. The Withdrawable Trust Income is treated as a special item in our Non-GAAP presentation of net income calculation.
We are providing below a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations (a GAAP measure) to Adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure). Adjusted net income is defined as net income from continuing operations adjusted for Special Items, including Withdrawable Trust Income, acquisition and divestiture expenses, severance costs and other special items in the table below. The adjustment of Special Items in Adjusted net income allows management to focus on the evaluation of operating performance as it primarily relates to our operating expenses. The Special Items are tax affected at a rate of 34% except for the accretion of the discount on our convertible subordinated notes, which is a non-tax deductible item.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
(In millions) | 2013 | 2014 | |||||
Net income from continuing operations, as reported | $ | 15.1 | $ | 15.4 | |||
After-tax Special Items, except for ** | |||||||
Withdrawable trust income | 1.0 | 1.2 | |||||
Acquisition and divestiture expenses | 0.5 | 0.7 | |||||
Severance costs | 1.0 | 0.7 | |||||
Consulting fees | 0.4 | 0.3 | |||||
Other incentive compensation | — | 0.7 | |||||
Securities transaction expenses | 0.2 | — | |||||
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes** | — | 2.5 | |||||
Costs related to the Credit Facility | 0.2 | 0.7 | |||||
Loss on redemption of convertible junior subordinated debentures | — | 2.5 | |||||
Net gain on asset purchase | — | (0.4 | ) | ||||
Other special items | (0.6 | ) | 0.5 | ||||
Tax adjustment from prior period** | 0.3 | — | |||||
Adjusted net income | $ | 18.1 | $ | 24.8 | |||
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The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 as it was presented on a historical basis at December 31, 2014. The term “same store” or “existing operations” refers to funeral homes and cemeteries acquired prior to January 1, 2010 and owned and operated for the entirety of each period being presented. Funeral homes and cemeteries purchased after December 31, 2009 are referred to as “acquired.” This classification of acquisitions has been important to management and investors in monitoring the results of these businesses and to gauge the leveraging performance contribution that a selective acquisition program can have on total company performance. Depreciation and amortization and regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs are not included in operating profit.
Results of Operations
Funeral Home Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding our revenues and operating profit from funeral home continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014.
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
2013 | 2014 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating revenue | $ | 120,191 | $ | 119,322 | $ | (869 | ) | (0.7 | )% | |||||
Acquired operating revenue | 33,660 | 44,930 | 11,270 | 33.5 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral insurance commissions | 1,853 | 2,036 | 183 | 9.9 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral trust earnings | 7,378 | 7,447 | 69 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||
Revenues from continuing operations | $ | 163,082 | $ | 173,735 | $ | 10,653 | 6.5 | % | ||||||
Operating profit: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating profit | $ | 44,973 | $ | 44,756 | $ | (217 | ) | (0.5 | )% | |||||
Acquired operating profit | 10,486 | 15,718 | 5,232 | 49.9 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral insurance commissions | 640 | 958 | 318 | 49.7 | % | |||||||||
Preneed funeral trust earnings | 7,326 | 7,390 | 64 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||
Operating profit from continuing operations | $ | 63,425 | $ | 68,822 | $ | 5,397 | 8.5 | % | ||||||
Funeral home same store operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $0.9 million, or 0.7%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. This decrease was due to a 1.2% decrease in same store contract volume to 22,774, offset by a slight increase of 0.6% in the average revenue per contract to $5,495. The average revenue per contract includes the impact of the funeral trust fund earnings recognized at the time that we provide the services pursuant to the preneed contract. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased $26 to $5,239 for the year ended December 31, 2014. The number of traditional burial contracts decreased 4.2% to 10,284, while the average revenue per burial contract increased 2.7% to $8,581. The cremation rate for same store businesses increased from 46.3% in 2013 to 47.4% in 2014 and the number of cremation contracts increased 1.3% to 10,800. The average revenue per same store cremation contract increased 1.6% to $3,085 as cremations with services increased slightly from 32.3% of total cremation contracts in the year ended 2013 to 32.5% in the year ended 2014. The average revenue for “other” contracts, which are charges for merchandise and services for which we do not perform a funeral service and which make up approximately 7.4% of the total number of contracts in 2014, decreased 7.8% to $2,116.
Same store operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 decreased $0.2 million, or 0.5%, from the year ended December 31, 2013, and as a percentage of funeral same store operating revenue, remained relatively flat at 37.5% in 2014 and 37.4% in 2013. The decline in operating profit was directly a result of lower revenue, offset by modest management of expenses.
Funeral home acquired revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased $11.3 million, or 33.5%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, as we experienced a 26.9% increase in the number of contracts due to our 2014 acquisition and an increase in the average revenue per contract of 5.9%, to $5,344. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased 5.2% to $5,207. The number of traditional burial contracts increased 31.5%, and the average revenue per burial contract increased 5.1% to $8,254. The cremation rate for the acquired businesses was 47.1% for 2014 compared to 49.2% in 2013. The average revenue per cremation contract increased 5.6% to $3,279 and the number of cremation contracts increased 21.3% to 4,060. The increase in the average revenue per contract for acquired operations and the decline in the cremation rate is
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because the acquired businesses serve primarily traditional burial families. Cremations with services remained relatively consistent at 34.6% and 34.4% for 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Acquired operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased $5.2 million, or 49.9%, from the year ended December 31, 2013 and, as a percentage of revenue from acquired businesses, was 35.0% for 2014 compared to 31.2% for 2013. Salaries and benefits of acquired operations are generally higher as a percentage of revenue than existing locations. As these acquired businesses transition into our Standards Operating Model, we expect to see operating profit margins rise toward those on a same store basis.
The two categories of financial revenue (insurance commissions and trust earnings on matured preneed contracts) on a combined basis increased 2.7% in revenue in the year ended December 31, 2014 primarily due to higher preneed insurance commissions. Operating profit for the two categories of financial revenue, on a combined basis, increased 4.8% in the year ended December 31, 2014 as a result of of lower preneed commission costs and preneed promotional expenses. Trust earnings also include trust management fees charged to our wholly-owned registered investment advisor based on the fair market value of the trust assets.
Cemetery Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding our revenues and operating profit from cemetery continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014:
Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||||
2013 | 2014 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating revenue | $ | 40,181 | $ | 41,257 | $ | 1,076 | 2.7 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating revenue | 298 | 1,599 | 1,301 | 436.6 | % | |||||||||
Cemetery trust earnings | 8,095 | 8,123 | 28 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||
Preneed cemetery finance charges | 1,418 | 1,410 | (8 | ) | (0.6 | )% | ||||||||
Revenues from continuing operations | $ | 49,992 | $ | 52,389 | $ | 2,397 | 4.8 | % | ||||||
Operating Profit: | ||||||||||||||
Same store operating profit | $ | 11,757 | $ | 11,845 | $ | 88 | 0.7 | % | ||||||
Acquired operating profit | (43 | ) | 351 | 394 | (916.3 | )% | ||||||||
Cemetery trust earnings | 7,920 | 7,931 | 11 | 0.1 | % | |||||||||
Preneed cemetery finance charges | 1,418 | 1,410 | (8 | ) | (0.6 | )% | ||||||||
Operating profit from continuing operations | $ | 21,052 | $ | 21,537 | $ | 485 | 2.3 | % | ||||||
Cemetery same store operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased $1.1 million, or 2.7%, from $40.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. Preneed property revenue increased $0.5 million, or 2.5%, as we experienced a 3.2% increase in the number of interment rights (property) sold. The average price per interment increased 0.5% to $2,825 in 2014. The percentage of those interment rights sold that we were able to recognize as revenue, because we received at least 10% of the sales price from the customer, decreased from 93.0% in 2013 to 91.3% in 2014. Revenue from deliveries of preneed merchandise and services decreased $0.3 million, or 7.2%, to $4.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. Same store at-need revenue increased $1.2 million, or 7.3%, as the number of at-need contracts increased 1.1% from 12,515 in 2013 to 12,655 in 2014.
Cemetery same store operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased $0.1 million, or 0.7%. As a percentage of revenues, cemetery same store operating profit decreased from 29.3% in 2013 to 28.7% in 2014. The increase in operating profit was due primarily to the increase in revenue offset, in part, by an increase in promotional expenses and bad debt expense of approximately $0.9 million.
Cemetery acquired revenue and acquired operating profit increased in 2014 primarily due to the cemetery acquired from SCI in May 2014.
The two categories of financial revenue consist of trust earnings and finance charges on preneed receivables. Total trust earnings increased 0.3% in 2014 when compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. Earnings from perpetual care trust funds totaled $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $5.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $0.3 million, or 4.5%. Trust earnings recognized upon the delivery of merchandise and service contracts decreased
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$0.3 million, or 15.4%, from $1.7 million in 2013 to $1.4 million in 2014. Trust earnings also include trust management fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor based on the fair market value of the trust assets. Finance charges on the preneed contracts decreased 0.6% year over year.
Other Financial Statement Items
Regional and Unallocated Funeral and Cemetery Costs. Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs consist of salaries and benefits for regional management, field incentive compensation and other related costs for field infrastructure. Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs decreased $0.2 million, or 2.1%, primarily due to a decrease of $0.2 million in incentive compensation for field management and their employees, a decrease of $0.2 million in auto lease expense and a decrease of $0.1 million in non-recurring items such as severance costs and natural disaster costs offset, in part, by an increase of $0.3 million in expenses associated with regional training.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses totaled $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $3.0 million, or 11.5%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The increase was due to a $2.1 million increase in incentive compensation related to a special payment in 2014 in connection with an amended employment agreement and executive bonuses in 2014, which did not occur in 2013. Additionally, we had a $1.7 million increase in stock-based compensation, an increase of $0.5 million in acquisition and divestiture expenses and a $0.3 million increase in public company costs. These increases were offset, in part, by a decrease of $0.9 million in salaries and benefits expense, a $0.2 million decrease in securities transaction expenses and a $0.5 million decrease in severance costs and consulting expenses.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $2.3 million. Interest expense decreased $0.8 million as a result of our Convertible Notes issued in March 2014 which have a fixed annual interest rate of 2.75% compared to our junior convertible subordinated debentures which had an interest rate of 7.0%. Interest expense related to our Credit Facility decreased $0.3 million in 2014 as a result of the third amendment (the “Third Amendment”) to our Credit Agreement completed in the second quarter of 2013, which lowered our interest rate by 50 basis points. Additionally, we wrote-off $0.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Third Amendment which is reflected in interest expenses in 2013. Interest expense related to uncertain tax positions decreased $0.6 million due primarily to a credit recognized in the third quarter of 2014 related to the settled portion of uncertain tax positions as a result of the finalization of an IRS audit for the 2011 tax year.
Accretion of Discount on Convertible Subordinated Notes. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized accretion of the discount on our Convertible Notes issued in March 2014 of $2.5 million. Accretion is calculated using the effective interest method based on a stated interest rate of 6.75%.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt. In April 2014, we entered into the Fifth Amendment. As a result, we recognized a loss of approximately $1.0 million to write-off the related unamortized deferred loan costs.
Loss on Redemption of Convertible Subordinated Debentures. In March 2014, we called for the redemption of all our outstanding convertible junior subordinated debentures due 2029 held by Carriage Services Capital Trust and the corresponding TIDES at a price of $50 per $50 principal amount of the convertible junior subordinated debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. As of April 16, 2014, all of the TIDES had been redeemed. For the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a total loss of $3.8 million as a result of the write-off of the related unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.9 million and $0.9 million for the premium paid on the convertible junior subordinated debentures redeemed.
Other Income. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we recognized a net gain of $0.6 million as a result of a gain of $1.1 million related to the purchase of a funeral home building previously leased under a capital lease in the first quarter of 2014, offset by a loss of $0.5 million on the sale of a funeral home building and land in the fourth quarter of 2014. The operations of the building sold was combined with the operations of one of our existing funeral homes during 2014.
Income taxes. Our income tax provision was approximately $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. On August 1, 2014, we received notification that the IRS completed its examination of our tax year ended December 31, 2011. As a result, we re-measured our tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits which resulted in a $1.7 million tax benefit that reduced our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2014. Excluding this tax benefit, our effective tax rate was 37.9% and 39.6% for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are internally generated cash flows from operating activities and availability under our Credit Facility. We generate cash in our operations primarily from at-need sales and delivery of preneed sales. We also generate cash from earnings on our cemetery perpetual care trusts. We believe that existing cash balances, future cash flows from operations and borrowings under our Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements, capital expenditures, scheduled debt payments, commitments, dividend payments and acquisitions for the foreseeable future. Based on our recent operating results, current cash position, anticipated future cash flows and sources of financing that we expect to have available, we do not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future. However, if our capital expenditures or acquisition plans change, we may need to access the capital markets to obtain additional funding. Further, to the extent operating cash flow or access to and cost of financing sources are materially different than expected, future liquidity may be adversely affected.
We intend to use cash on hand and borrowings under our Credit Facility primarily to acquire funeral home and cemetery businesses and for internal growth projects, such as cemetery inventory development and funeral home expansion projects. We have the ability to draw on our revolving credit facility, subject to customary terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. We believe that existing cash balances, future cash flows from operations and borrowings under our Credit Facility described above will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements, capital expenditures, scheduled debt payments, commitments, dividends and acquisitions for the foreseeable future.
Cash Flows
We began 2015 with $0.4 million in cash and other liquid investments and ended the year with $0.5 million in cash. At December 31, 2015 we had borrowings of $92.6 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility.
The following table sets forth the elements of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 (in millions):
2014 | 2015 | ||||||
Cash at beginning of year | $ | 1.4 | $ | 0.4 | |||
Cash flow from operating activities | 36.6 | 49.9 | |||||
Acquisitions and land for new construction | (57.9 | ) | (9.7 | ) | |||
Purchase of land and buildings previously leased | (7.6 | ) | (6.1 | ) | |||
Net proceeds from the sale of business and other assets | 2.2 | 0.1 | |||||
Growth capital expenditures | (8.9 | ) | (20.0 | ) | |||
Maintenance capital expenditures | (7.2 | ) | (9.7 | ) | |||
Net borrowings on our revolving credit facility, term loan and long-term debt obligations | 6.1 | 41.7 | |||||
Proceeds from issuance of convertible subordinated notes | 143.7 | — | |||||
Payment of debt issuance costs related to the convertible subordinated notes | (4.7 | ) | — | ||||
Redemption of convertible junior subordinated debentures | (89.7 | ) | — | ||||
Payments for performance- based stock awards | (16.2 | ) | — | ||||
Repurchase of Treasury Stock | — | (45.0 | ) | ||||
Dividends on common stock | (1.8 | ) | (1.8 | ) | |||
Excess tax benefit of equity compensation | 4.0 | 0.1 | |||||
Payment of loan origination costs related to the Credit Facility | (0.8 | ) | — | ||||
Other investing and financing activities, net | 1.2 | 0.6 | |||||
Cash at end of year | $ | 0.4 | $ | 0.5 | |||
For the year ended December 31, 2015, cash provided by operating activities was $49.9 million, as compared to $36.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $13.3 million. Favorable changes in our working capital include approximately $7.0 million related to our income taxes payable, approximately $3.0 million related to our accounts payable and incentive compensation accruals and approximately $2.0 million related to decreases in our accounts and preneed receivables due to better collections of trade accounts receivable in 2015.
Our investing activities resulted in a net cash outflow of approximately $45.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to a net cash outflow of approximately $79.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $33.9 million. During the year ended December 31, 2015, we acquired two funeral home businesses, one in Clarksville, Tennessee and one in
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Wake Forest, North Carolina, for the aggregate purchase price of approximately $15.0 million. The purchase price for both businesses consisted of approximately (i) $9.7 million paid in cash at closing, (ii) $4.5 million, the net present value of future deferred payments totaling $5.5 million and (iii) $0.8 million, the net present value of contingent consideration totaling $1.0 million. We also purchased the land and buildings at three funeral home locations that were previously leased under operating leases for approximately $6.1 million. In addition, capital expenditures totaled $29.7 million, of which $20.0 million and $9.7 million were growth and maintenance capital expenditures, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our growth capital expenditures were primarily related to the construction costs of three new funeral home facilities totaling approximately $12.7 million, renovations at certain business locations of $4.2 million and cemetery development costs of $3.0 million. Maintenance capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2015 were primarily related to corporate payroll systems improvements of approximately $1.1 million, information technology infrastructure improvements of $1.3 million, vehicle purchased of $2.1 million, general equipment and furniture purchases of $2.1 million and maintenance projects such as paving roads, parking lots, facility repairs and improvements of $3.1 million.
Our investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2014 consisted of the SCI Acquisition for $54.9 million and purchased land for $3.0 million for funeral home expansion projects. Additionally, we purchased land and buildings at three funeral home locations that were previously leased for approximately $7.6 million. Capital expenditures totaled $16.1 million, of which $8.9 million and $7.2 million were growth and maintenance capital expenditures, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Additionally we received net proceeds from the sale of businesses and other assets of $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.
Our financing activities resulted in a net cash outflow of $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to a net cash inflow of $41.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we had net borrowings on our revolving credit facility and term loan of $42.7 million. In addition, we purchased treasury stock for $45.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we had had net borrowings on our revolving credit facility and term loan of approximately $6.9 million. We had gross proceeds of $143.75 million and paid transaction costs of approximately $4.7 million related to the issuance of our Convertible Notes in March 2014. In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, we paid $89.7 million in principal to redeem our outstanding convertible junior subordinated debentures. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2014, we paid approximately $16.2 million related to performance-based stock awards and recognized $4.6 million related to the excess tax benefit of equity compensation related primarily to the payout of the performance-based stock awards in 2014.
Dividends
Our Board declared four quarterly dividends of $0.025 per share, totaling approximately $1.8 million, which were paid on March 2, 2015, June 1, 2015, September 1, 2015 and December 1, 2015, respectively, to record holders of our common stock as of February 13, 2015, May 14, 2015, August 14, 2015 and November 13, 2015, respectively. We intend to pay dividends in 2016.
Share Repurchase
On May 19, 2015, our Board approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to an aggregate of $25.0 million of our common stock in accordance with the Exchange Act. On September 28, 2015, our Board authorized additional repurchases of $20.0 million of our common stock bringing the total authorized repurchase amount to $45.0 million. During 2015, we purchased 1,927,665 shares of our common stock for a total cost of $45.0 million, representing the entire authorized repurchase amount, at an average cost of $23.34 per share. Our shares were purchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Purchases were at times and in amounts as management determined appropriate based on factors such as market conditions, legal requirements and other business considerations. Shares purchased pursuant to the repurchase program are currently held as treasury shares.
Debt Obligations
The outstanding principal balance of our long-term debt and capital lease obligations totaled $211.6 million at December 31, 2015 and consisted of $110.9 million under our term loan, $92.6 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility and $8.1 million in acquisition indebtedness and capital lease obligations.
At December 31, 2015, we had a $325 million secured bank credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent comprised of a $200 million revolving credit facility and a $125 million term loan. The Credit Agreement contains an accordion provision to borrow up to an additional $50 million in revolving loans, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Facility matures on March 31, 2019 and is collateralized by all personal property and funeral home real property in certain states. Under the Credit Agreement, outstanding borrowings bear interest at either a prime rate or a LIBOR rate, plus an applicable margin based upon the Company's leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2015, the prime rate margin was equivalent to 1.50% and the LIBOR margin was 2.50%. The weighted average interest rate on the Credit Facility for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 2.60%.
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On May 20, 2015, we entered into a sixth amendment (the “Sixth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement. The Sixth Amendment provides that, among other things, we may repurchase our common stock so long as at the time of such repurchase there have been no defaults under the Credit Agreement, we have at least $15.0 million of unrestricted cash and undrawn borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility and the senior secured leverage ratio is less than 3.25 to 1.00.
We have no material assets or operations independent of our subsidiaries. All assets and operations are held and conducted by subsidiaries, each of which have fully and unconditionally guaranteed our obligations under the Credit Agreement. Additionally, we do not currently have any significant restrictions on our ability to receive dividends or loans from any subsidiary guarantor under the Credit Agreement.
We were in compliance with the covenants contained in our Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2014 and 2015. The Credit Agreement calls for key ratios that we must comply with including a requirement to maintain a leverage ratio of no more than 3.25 to 1.00 through March 30, 2015 and no more than 3.50 to 1.00 thereafter, and a covenant to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.20 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2015, the leverage ratio was 2.97 to 1.00 and the fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.79 to 1.00.
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2021
The Convertible Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and were offered only to “qualified institutional buyers” in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Convertible Notes are governed by an indenture dated as of March 19, 2014 between Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee, and us (the “Indenture”). The Convertible Notes are general unsecured obligations and will be subordinated in the right of payment to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness and equal in right of payment with our other existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Convertible Notes bear interest at 2.75% per year. Interest on the Convertible Notes began to accrue on March 19, 2014 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The initial conversion rate of the Convertible Notes is 44.3169 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $22.56 per share of common stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, as described in the Indenture.
The Convertible Notes mature on March 15, 2021, unless earlier converted or purchased by us. Holders of the Convertible Notes may convert their Convertible Notes at their option at any time prior to December 15, 2020 if one or more of the following conditions has been satisfied: (1) during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) commencing after March 31, 2014, if, for a least 20 trading days, (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, the last reported sales price of our common stock for such trading day is greater than or equal to 130% of the applicable conversion price on such trading day; (2) during the five consecutive business day period immediately following any five consecutive trading day period (the “Measurement Period”), in which, for each trading day of the Measurement Period, the trading price (as defined in the Indenture) per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes for such trading day was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock for such trading day and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day; or (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions described in the Indenture. Holders may also convert their Convertible Notes at their option at any time beginning on December 15, 2020, and ending on the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date.
We may not redeem the Convertible Notes prior to maturity. However, in the event of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), subject to certain conditions, a holder of the Convertible Notes will have the option to require us to purchase all or a portion of its Convertible Notes for cash. The fundamental change purchase price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be purchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
We received gross proceeds of $143.75 million and paid transaction costs of approximately $4.7 million. We used a portion of the proceeds to repay our outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility and to redeem our existing convertible junior subordinated debentures.
At December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of the equity component was approximately $18.0 million. At December 31, 2015, the principal amount of the liability component was $143.75 million and the net carrying amount was $118.0 million. The unamortized discount of $25.8 million as of December 31, 2015 is being amortized over the remaining term of sixty-two months.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized contractual coupon interest expense of $4.0 million and interest expense of $3.5 million related to the accretion of the debt discount. The effective interest rate on the liability component for the year ended December 31, 2015 was 6.75% per year. Additionally, we recognized amortization expense related to the debt issuance costs of $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.
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Subsequent Event
On February 9, 2016, we entered into a seventh amendment (the “Seventh Amendment”) to our Credit Facility. The Seventh Amendment resulted in, among other things, (i) reducing our LIBOR based variable interest rate 37.5 basis points, (ii) extending the maturity so that the Credit Agreement will mature at the earlier of (a) any date that is 91 days prior to the maturity of any subordinated debt (including the $143.75 million in principal amount of the Convertible Notes) or (b) February 9, 2021, (iii) increasing and funding the term loan so that $150 million was outstanding upon the effectiveness of the Seventh Amendment, (iv) reducing the size of the revolver to $150 million, (v) increasing the accordion to $75 million and (vi) updating the amortization payments for the term loan facility so that the borrowings under the term loan facility are subject to amortization payments of $2.81 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2016 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2017, $3.75 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2018 through the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020 and $4.69 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The following table summarizes the known future payments required for the debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015. Where appropriate we have indicated the footnote in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements where additional information is available.
Payments Due By Period (in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Financial Note Reference | Total | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | After 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt obligations | 13 | $ | 208.5 | $ | 12.0 | $ | 13.5 | $ | 15.2 | $ | 167.2 | $ | 0.4 | $ | 0.2 | ||||||||||||||
Interest obligation on long-term debt (a) | 18.7 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 1.3 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital lease obligations, including interest | 16 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 3.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Convertible subordinated notes (b) | 14 | 143.8 | — | — | — | — | — | 143.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest on convertible subordinated notes | 14 | 20.6 | 3.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||