SERVICE CORP INTERNATIONAL - Quarter Report: 2016 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q



þ	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

	For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016



o	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 1-6402-1

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Texas		74-1488375
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I. R. S. employer identification number)

1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas		77019
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

	713-522-5141
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

	None
(Former name, former address, or former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 þ NO o

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 þ NO o

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):



Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company o
		(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 26, 2016 was 190,489,048 (net of treasury shares).

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

INDEX




	Page
Glossary	3
Part I. Financial Information	5
Item 1. Financial Statements	5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income — Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	6
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet — September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	7
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	8
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016	9
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	10
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	40
The Company	40
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources	40
Results of Operations - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	46
Critical Accounting Policies	51
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements	51
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	52
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	52
Part II. Other Information	53
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	53
Item 1A. Risk Factors	53
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	53
Item 6. Exhibits	53
Signature	54

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GLOSSARY

The following terms are common to the deathcare industry, are used throughout this report, and have the following meanings:

Atneed — Funeral, including cremation, and cemetery arrangements sold once death has occurred.

Burial Vault — A reinforced container intended to inhibit the subsidence of the earth and house the casket after it is placed in the ground, also known as outer burial containers.

Cancellation — Termination of a preneed contract, which relieves us of the obligation to provide the goods and services included in the contract. Cancellations may be requested by the customer or be initiated by us for failure to comply with the contractual terms of payment. State or provincial laws govern the amount of refund, if any, owed to the customer.

Care Trust Corpus — The deposits and net realized capital gains and losses included in a perpetual care trust that cannot be withdrawn. In certain states, some or all of the net realized capital gains can be distributed, so they are not included in the corpus.

Cemetery Perpetual Care or Endowment Care Fund (ECF) — A trust fund established for the purpose of maintaining cemetery grounds and property into perpetuity, also referred to as a cemetery perpetual care trust. For these trusts, the corpus remains in the trust in perpetuity and the net ordinary investment earnings are distributed to us regularly and are intended to defray our expenses incurred to maintain the cemetery. In certain states, some or all of the net realized capital gains can also be distributed.

Cemetery Property — Developed lots, lawn crypts, mausoleum spaces, niches and cremation memorialization property items(constructed and ready to accept interments) and undeveloped land we intend to develop for the sale of interment rights. Includes the construction-in-progress balance during the pre-construction and construction phases of projects creating new property inventory.

Cemetery Property Amortization — The non-cash recognized expenses of cemetery property interment rights, which are recorded by specific identification with the cemetery property revenue for each contract.

Cemetery Property Revenue — Recognized sales of interment rights in cemetery property when a minimum of 10% of the sales price has been collected and the property has been constructed and is available for interment.

Cemetery Merchandise and Services — Stone and bronze memorials, markers, burial vaults, floral placement, graveside services, merchandise installations, urns, outer burial containers, and burial openings and closings.

Cremation — The reduction of human remains to bone fragments by intense heat.

Cremation Memorialization — Products specifically designed to commemorate and honor the life of an individual that has been cremated. These products include cemetery property inventory types that provide for the disposition of cremated remains within our cemeteries such as benches, boulders, statues, etc. They also include memorial walls and books where the name of the individual is inscribed but the remains have been scattered or kept by the family.

Funeral Merchandise and Services — Merchandise such as burial caskets and related accessories, burial vaults, urns and other cremation receptacles, casket and cremation memorialization products, and flowers and professional services relating to funerals including arranging and directing services, use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles, removal, preparation, embalming, cremations, memorialization, visitations, and catering.

Funeral Recognized Preneed Revenue — Funeral merchandise and travel protection sold on a preneed contract and delivered before a death has occurred.

Funeral Services Performed — The number of funeral services, including cremations, provided after the date of death, sometimes referred to as funeral volume.

General Agency (GA) revenue — Commissions we receive from third-party life insurance companies for life insurance policies sold to preneed customers for the purpose of funding preneed funeral arrangements. The commission rate paid is determined based on the product type sold, the length of payment terms, and the age of the insured/annuitant.

Interment — The burial or final placement of human remains in the ground, in mausoleums, in niches, or in cremation memorialization property.

Lawn Crypt — An underground outer burial receptacle constructed of concrete and reinforced steel, which is usually pre-installed in predetermined designated areas.

Marker — A method of identifying a deceased person in a particular burial space, crypt, niche, or cremation memorialization property. Permanent burial and cremation memorialization markers are usually made of bronze or stone.

Maturity — When the underlying contracted merchandise is delivered or service is performed, typically at death. This is the point at which preneed contracts are converted to atneed contracts (note — delivery of certain merchandise and services can occur prior to death).

Mausoleum — An above ground structure that is designed to house caskets and cremation urns.

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Merchandise and Service Trust — A trust account established in accordance with state or provincial law into which we deposit the required percentage of customers’ payments for preneed funeral, cremation, or cemetery merchandise and services to be delivered or performed by us in the future. The amounts deposited can be withdrawn only after we have completed our obligations under the preneed contract or the cancellation of the contract.

Preneed — Purchase of cemetery property interment rights and merchandise and services prior to death occurring.

Preneed Backlog — Future revenue from unfulfilled preneed funeral, cremation, and cemetery contractual arrangements.

Preneed Cemetery Production — Sales of preneed or atneed cemetery contracts. These sales are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenue until the merchandise is delivered, the service is performed, or when a minimum of 10% of the sales price has been collected and the property has been constructed and is available for interment.

Preneed Funeral Production — Sales of preneed funeral trust-funded and insurance-funded contracts. Preneed funeral trust-funded contracts are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenue until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed funeral contract amounts in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The proceeds of the life insurance policies will be reflected in revenue as these funerals are performed by us in the future.

Sales Average — Average revenue per funeral service performed, excluding the impact of funeral recognized preneed revenue, GA revenue, and certain other revenue.

Trust Fund Income — Recognized investment earnings from our merchandise and service and perpetual care trust investments.

As used herein, “SCI”, “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Service Corporation International and companies owned directly or indirectly by Service Corporation International, unless the context requires otherwise.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenue	$	721,467		$	714,453		$	2,222,083		$	2,216,761
Costs and expenses	(580,722		)	(572,774		)	(1,756,425		)	(1,729,974		)
Gross profit	140,745			141,679			465,658			486,787
General and administrative expenses	(26,916		)	(27,895		)	(102,668		)	(96,947		)
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	557			10,764			(30,432		)	3,403
Operating income	114,386			124,548			332,558			393,243
Interest expense	(39,508		)	(43,921		)	(121,988		)	(129,842		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(25		)	(6,918		)	(22,503		)	(6,918		)
Other income (expense), net	110			336			(697		)	169
Income before income taxes	74,963			74,045			187,370			256,652
Provision for income taxes	(27,422		)	(26,118		)	(76,482		)	(93,778		)
Net income from continuing operations	47,541			47,927			110,888			162,874
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			—			(390		)
Net income	47,541			47,927			110,888			162,484
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	186			(479		)	(96		)	(1,066		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	47,727		$	47,448		$	110,792		$	161,418
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.25		$	0.24		$	0.57		$	0.80
Basic weighted average number of shares	193,274			199,310			193,999			201,729
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.24		$	0.23		$	0.56		$	0.78
Diluted weighted average number of shares	196,567			203,444			197,175			205,950
Dividends declared per share	$	0.13		$	0.12		$	0.38		$	0.32

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	47,541		$	47,927		$	110,888		$	162,484
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(5,018		)	(28,182		)	18,116			(42,941		)
Total comprehensive income	42,523			19,745			129,004			119,543
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	189			(464		)	(102		)	(1,038		)
Total comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	42,712		$	19,281		$	128,902		$	118,505

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(UNAUDITED)



	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In thousands, except share amounts)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	177,571		$	134,599
Receivables, net	74,293			90,462
Inventories	28,526			27,835
Other	64,460			47,155
Total current assets	344,850			300,051
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	1,824,772			1,760,297
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	2,466,201			2,318,167
Cemetery property	1,763,616			1,753,015
Property and equipment, net	1,834,107			1,846,722
Assets held-for-sale	31,946			214
Goodwill	1,801,893			1,796,340
Deferred charges and other assets	588,688			582,164
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	1,395,403			1,319,427
Total assets	$	12,051,476		$	11,676,397

LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	447,313		$	422,816
Current maturities of long-term debt	89,531			86,823
Income taxes payable	997			1,373
Total current liabilities	537,841			511,012
Long-term debt	3,181,694			3,037,605
Deferred preneed funeral revenue	571,885			557,897
Deferred preneed cemetery revenue	1,182,104			1,120,001
Deferred tax liability	459,162			470,584
Other liabilities	507,403			496,947
Deferred preneed receipts held in trust	3,125,162			2,973,386
Care trusts’ corpus	1,396,527			1,319,564
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 203,119,918 and 200,859,676 shares issued, respectively, and 190,489,048 and 195,772,876 shares outstanding, respectively	190,489			195,773
Capital in excess of par value	1,015,271			1,092,106
Accumulated deficit	(142,742		)	(109,351		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	24,274			6,164
Total common stockholders’ equity	1,087,292			1,184,692
Noncontrolling interests	2,406			4,709
Total equity	1,089,698			1,189,401
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,051,476		$	11,676,397

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	110,888		$	162,484
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			390
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	22,503			6,918
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt	(20,524		)	(6,549		)
Depreciation and amortization	109,531			103,816
Amortization of intangible assets	22,210			23,536
Amortization of cemetery property	42,573			40,422
Amortization of loan costs	4,406			7,221
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,048			4,663
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes	(11,421		)	13,761
Loss (gain) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	30,432			(3,403		)
Share-based compensation	10,199			10,717
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	(11,512		)	(17,266		)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease in receivables	11,447			11,724
Increase in other assets	(7,660		)	(627		)
Increase in payables and other liabilities	37,565			39,546
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	11,167			20,846
Increase deferred preneed funeral revenue	10,122			9,922
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(31,790		)	(47,365		)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(60,004		)	(55,777		)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	57,855			70,995
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	16,475			644
Net cash provided by operating activities	358,510			396,618
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(131,195		)	(104,732		)
Acquisitions	(66,109		)	(41,430		)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	13,044			11,329
Net withdrawals of restricted funds	5,120			8,066
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(179,140		)	(126,767		)
Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations	—			987
Net cash used in investing activities	(179,140		)	(125,780		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,035,000			401,250
Debt issuance costs	(5,232		)	(5,830		)
Payments of debt	(27,632		)	(145,171		)
Early extinguishment of debt	(875,110		)	(197,377		)
Principal payments on capital leases	(25,220		)	(20,421		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	16,029			30,491
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	11,512			17,266
Purchase of Company common stock	(192,991		)	(305,488		)
Payments of dividends	(73,665		)	(64,068		)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(1,961		)	—
Bank overdrafts and other	(1,066		)	(9,095		)
Net cash used in financing activities	(140,336		)	(298,443		)
Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents	3,938			(7,780		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	42,972			(35,385		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	134,599			177,335
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	177,571		$	141,950

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)



	Common Stock		Treasury Stock			Capital in Excess of Par Value			Accumulated Deficit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Noncontrolling Interests			Total
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	200,859	$	(5,086	)	$	1,092,106		$	(109,351	)	$	6,164	$	4,709		$	1,189,401
Comprehensive income	—		—			—			110,792			18,110		102			129,004
Dividends declared on common stock ($0.38 per share)	—		—			(73,665		)	—			—		—			(73,665		)
Employee share-based compensation earned	—		—			10,199			—			—		—			10,199
Stock option exercises	1,924		—			14,105			—			—		—			16,029
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	242		(1		)	(241		)	—			—		—			—
Purchase of Company common stock	—		(7,544		)	(41,264		)	(144,183		)	—		—			(192,991		)
Tax benefits related to share-based awards	—		—			11,512			—			—		—			11,512
Noncontrolling interest purchases	—		—			364			—			—		(2,325		)	(1,961		)
Other	95		—			2,155			—			—		(80		)	2,170
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	203,120	$	(12,631	)	$	1,015,271		$	(142,742	)	$	24,274	$	2,406		$	1,089,698

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Nature of Operations

We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral service locations and cemeteries operating in the United States and Canada. Our funeral and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses, which enable us to serve a wide array of customer needs. We sell cemetery property and funeral and cemetery merchandise and services at the time of need and on a preneed basis.

Funeral service locations provide all professional services relating to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles, arranging and directing services, removal, preparation, embalming, cremations, memorialization, and catering. Funeral merchandise, including burial caskets and related accessories, urns and other cremation receptacles, outer burial containers, flowers, online and video tributes, stationery products, casket and cremation memorialization products, and other ancillary merchandise, is sold at funeral service locations.

Our cemeteries provide cemetery property interment rights, including developed lots, lawn crypts, mausoleum spaces, niches, and other cremation memorialization and interment options. Cemetery merchandise and services, including memorial markers and bases, outer burial containers, flowers and floral placement, other ancillary merchandise, graveside services, merchandise installation, and burial openings and closings, are sold at our cemeteries.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the merchandise and service trusts and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period.

Reclassifications to Prior Period Financial Statements and Adjustments

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows. For the first nine months of 2016, we recorded in General and administrative expenses an out-of-period expense of $5.5 million for previously improperly capitalized acquisition costs. Such amounts are immaterial to both current and prior period financial statements.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2016

Consolidation

In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended "Consolidation" to revise the consolidation model for limited partnerships, variable interest entities, and certain investment funds. Further, the amendment provides guidance on how fee arrangements and related parties should be considered when determining whether to consolidate variable interest entities. As a result of this amendment, all legal entities were reevaluated to determine if they should be consolidated. We adopted the amendment effective January 1, 2016, with no impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

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Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the FASB amended "Interest—Imputation of Interest" to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs on the balance sheet. Prior to adoption of this amendment, debt issuance costs were included in Other current assets and Deferred charges and other assets on our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The amendment requires that these costs instead be presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of Current maturities of long-term debt and Long-term debt, consistent with the presentation of debt discounts.

In August 2015, the FASB issued an additional amendment that provides additional guidance to "Interest—Imputation of Interest" since it did not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. The amendment noted that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement.

These changes do not impact the manner in which the debt issuance costs are expensed over the term of the debt. We have retrospectively adopted the changes in presentation effective January 1, 2016. As a result, we recast our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 to reduce Other current assets and Current maturities of long-term debt by $8.4 million and to reduce Deferred charges and other assets and Long-term debt by $34.1 million.

Cloud Computing Arrangements

In April 2015, the FASB amended "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software" to provide guidance on whether a cloud computing arrangement contains a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then we 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, we should account for the arrangement as a service contract. We adopted the amendment effective January 1, 2016, with no impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

In May 2015, the FASB amended "Fair Value Measurements" to remove the requirement to disclose the fair value measurement hierarchy level associated with investments measured at net asset value as a practical expedient. Other disclosures required by the standard for these assets remain the same. This amendment does not change the underlying accounting for these investments. We retrospectively adopted the amendment effective January 1, 2016, and have made the appropriate disclosures in Notes 3, 4, and 5 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

Business Combinations

In September 2015, the FASB amended "Business Combinations" to eliminate the requirement for an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Under the new guidance, acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments in the period in which they determine the amount of the adjustment. We adopted the amendment on January 1, 2016 and it will be applied prospectively to measurement-period adjustments occurring after that date, if any.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in "Revenue Recognition" and most industry-specific guidance. This new standard is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, and timing of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. Additionally, the new standard requires the deferral of direct incremental selling costs to the period in which the underlying revenue is recognized. In August 2015, the FASB issued an amendment that defers implementation of "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" for all entities by one year. In 2016, the FASB issued additional amendments clarifying guidance on principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and licensing, under the new standard. The new standard will be effective for us beginning January 1, 2018 and we intend to implement the standard with the modified retrospective approach, which recognizes the cumulative effect of application recognized on that date. We are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

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Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB amended "Inventory" to state that an entity using an inventory method other than last-in, first out ("LIFO") or the retail inventory method should measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The new guidance clarifies that net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2017, and we do not believe adoption will materially impact our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB amended "Financial Instruments" to provide additional guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial assets and liabilities. The amendment requires investments in equity instruments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in net income. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2018, and we are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB amended "Financial Instruments" to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on debt instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. This amendment replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in the current standard with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, and we are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB amended "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. Under the new standard, an entity will be required to recognize lease assets and liabilities on its balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. In addition, the new standard offers specific accounting guidance for a lessee, a lessor, and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. This new standard will be effective for us on January 1, 2019. We are evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB amended "Stock Compensation" to simplify certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2017. If we had adopted this amendment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, Net cash provided by operating activities and Net cash used in financing activities would have both increased by $11.5 million and our Provision for income taxes would have decreased by $11.5 million.

Cash Flow

In August 2016, the FASB amended "Statement of Cash Flows" to clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. Amended guidance includes clarification on debt prepayment & extinguishment costs, contingent consideration in business combinations, and proceeds from insurance claims. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2018, and we are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated statement of cash flows.

3. Preneed Funeral Activities

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, related to unperformed price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts. Our merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Our trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed funeral revenue into Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts after the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenue until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed.

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The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with these preneed merchandise and service trusts:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	30,611	$	30,143	$	91,828	$	92,623
Withdrawals	$	45,120	$	36,310	$	118,250	$	123,499
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	$	82,369	$	100,663	$	263,905	$	281,298
Sales of available-for-sale securities	$	93,387	$	110,642	$	269,641	$	282,960

The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:



	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,176,086		$	1,109,394
Cash and cash equivalents	112,662			134,642
Assets associated with business held for sale	(872		)	(39		)
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	272,088			271,116
Trust investments	1,559,964			1,515,113
Receivables from customers	314,185			290,689
Unearned finance charge	(12,893		)	(11,235		)
	1,861,256			1,794,567
Allowance for cancellation	(36,484		)	(34,270		)
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	$	1,824,772		$	1,760,297

The costs and values associated with trust investments measured at market at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in the trusts. Value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the trusts.

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	September 30, 2016
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	78,289	$	1,108	$	(102	)	$	79,295
Canadian government	2	77,016		487		(363		)	77,140
Corporate	2	13,603		263		(54		)	13,812
Residential mortgage-backed	2	29		1		—			30
Asset-backed	2	58		—		—			58
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2	1,436		116		(109		)	1,443
Common stock:
United States	1	339,717		47,031		(13,043		)	373,705
Canada	1	12,028		3,460		(633		)	14,855
Other international	1	27,457		2,688		(2,608		)	27,537
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	321,562		11,257		(21,066		)	311,753
Fixed income	1	99,951		2,292		(7,372		)	94,871
Other	3	4,257		1,234		(10		)	5,481
Trust investments, at fair value		975,403		69,937		(45,360		)	999,980
Fixed income commingled funds		134,394		7,066		—			141,460
Private equity		35,881		3,041		(4,276		)	34,646
Trust investments, at net asset value		170,275		10,107		(4,276		)	176,106
Trust investments, at market		$	1,145,678	$	80,044	$	(49,636	)	$	1,176,086

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	December 31, 2015
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	82,417	$	107	$	(1,331	)	$	81,193
Canadian government	2	72,488		532		(655		)	72,365
Corporate	2	19,036		235		(284		)	18,987
Residential mortgage-backed	2	1,297		29		(22		)	1,304
Asset-backed	2	5		—		—			5
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2	1,949		41		(158		)	1,832
Common stock:
United States	1	344,116		30,885		(19,149		)	355,852
Canada	1	11,930		2,652		(1,077		)	13,505
Other international	1	32,156		2,636		(3,907		)	30,885
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	323,884		1,263		(43,975		)	281,172
Fixed income	1	155,717		154		(13,092		)	142,779
Other	3	3,703		1,069		—			4,772
Trust investments, at fair value		1,048,698		39,603		(83,650		)	1,004,651
Fixed income commingled funds		69,148		—		(442		)	68,706
Private equity		38,724		3,780		(6,467		)	36,037
Trust investments, at net asset value		107,872		3,780		(6,909		)	104,743
Trust investments, at market		$	1,156,570	$	43,383	$	(90,559	)	$	1,109,394

Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Trust Services department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, valuations are reviewed quarterly by the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the fair value measurements hierarchy.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, ratings, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the fair value measurements hierarchy.

The valuation of other investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the fair value measurements hierarchy.

Fixed income commingled funds and private equity investments are measured at net asset value. Fixed income commingled funds are redeemable for net asset value with two weeks' notice. Our private equity investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, due to the nature of the investments in this category, distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years. As of September 30, 2016, our unfunded commitment for our private equity investments was $35.8 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts.

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The change in our trust investments measured at fair value with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows:



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
				(In thousands)
Fair value, beginning balance	$	5,353		$	5,081		$	4,772		$	4,891
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in Accumulated other comprehensive income⁽¹⁾	106			(376		)	680			(209		)
Purchases	36			—			61			22
Sales	(14		)	(1		)	(32		)	—
Fair value, ending balance	$	5,481		$	4,704		$	5,481		$	4,704

______________________________________________

⁽¹⁾

All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2016 to 2041. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at September 30, 2016 are estimated as follows:



	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	106,871
Due in one to five years	22,777
Due in five to ten years	32,538
Thereafter	8,149
	$	170,335

Earnings from all our merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in revenue when merchandise is delivered or a service is performed. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenue. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenue in the period in which they are earned. Recognized trust fund income (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments was $13.0 million and $12.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Recognized trust fund income (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments was $37.1 million and $41.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income (expense), net and a decrease to Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net, which reduces Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the remaining securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

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	September 30, 2016
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	7,926	$	(45	)	$	4,366	$	(57	)	$	12,292	$	(102	)
Canadian government	2,989		(107		)	13,170		(256		)	16,159		(363		)
Corporate	1,743		(18		)	3,073		(36		)	4,816		(54		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	—		—			150		(109		)	150		(109		)
Common stock:
United States	77,947		(9,198		)	25,271		(3,845		)	103,218		(13,043		)
Canada	—		—			3,211		(633		)	3,211		(633		)
Other international	6,419		(989		)	6,259		(1,619		)	12,678		(2,608		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	22,807		(1,207		)	147,218		(19,859		)	170,025		(21,066		)
Fixed income	9,105		(342		)	32,980		(7,030		)	42,085		(7,372		)
Other	27		(2		)	1,161		(8		)	1,188		(10		)
Trust investments, at fair value	128,963		(11,908		)	236,859		(33,452		)	365,822		(45,360		)
Private equity	873		(459		)	19,368		(3,817		)	20,241		(4,276		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	873		(459		)	19,368		(3,817		)	20,241		(4,276		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	129,836	$	(12,367	)	$	256,227	$	(37,269	)	$	386,063	$	(49,636	)



	December 31, 2015
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	37,008	$	(1,273	)	$	4,687	$	(58	)	$	41,695	$	(1,331	)
Canadian government	2,336		(17		)	11,535		(638		)	13,871		(655		)
Corporate	4,644		(156		)	4,025		(128		)	8,669		(284		)
Residential mortgage-backed	377		(6		)	133		(16		)	510		(22		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	448		(60		)	42		(98		)	490		(158		)
Common stock:
United States	128,725		(16,448		)	14,531		(2,701		)	143,256		(19,149		)
Canada	1,956		(355		)	1,097		(722		)	3,053		(1,077		)
Other international	9,458		(1,638		)	6,151		(2,269		)	15,609		(3,907		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	185,726		(23,385		)	79,855		(20,590		)	265,581		(43,975		)
Fixed income	108,984		(5,052		)	27,048		(8,040		)	136,032		(13,092		)
Trust investments, at fair value	479,662		(48,390		)	149,104		(35,260		)	628,766		(83,650		)
Fixed income commingled funds	68,578		(442		)	—		—			68,578		(442		)
Private equity	—		—			18,713		(6,467		)	18,713		(6,467		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	68,578		(442		)	18,713		(6,467		)	87,291		(6,909		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	548,240	$	(48,832	)	$	167,817	$	(41,727	)	$	716,057	$	(90,559	)

Table of Contents

4. Preneed Cemetery Activities

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, for contracts sold in advance of when the property interment rights, merchandise, or services are needed. Our merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 3 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed cemetery revenue into Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts when the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenue until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with these preneed merchandise and service trusts:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	41,133	$	40,327	$	120,398	$	116,581
Withdrawals	$	39,108	$	33,260	$	105,471	$	115,930
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	$	119,699	$	165,025	$	490,752	$	389,219
Sales of available-for-sale securities	$	123,063	$	150,804	$	471,162	$	389,747

The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:



	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,449,883		$	1,343,916
Cash and cash equivalents	115,922			118,583
Trust investments	1,565,805			1,462,499
Receivables from customers	1,009,525			958,503
Unearned finance charges	(34,460		)	(31,332		)
	2,540,870			2,389,670
Allowance for cancellation	(74,669		)	(71,503		)
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	$	2,466,201		$	2,318,167

Table of Contents

The costs and values associated with the trust investments measured at market at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in the trusts. Value represents the market value of the underlying securities held by the trusts.



	September 30, 2016
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	69,841	$	2,301	$	—		$	72,142
Canadian government	2	33,751		511		(54		)	34,208
Corporate	2	2,547		20		(40		)	2,527
Asset-backed	2	170		21		—			191
Equity securities:
Common stock:
United States	1	540,836		72,329		(22,978		)	590,187
Canada	1	8,662		4,800		(145		)	13,317
Other international	1	44,166		4,443		(4,128		)	44,481
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	353,122		12,682		(21,193		)	344,611
Fixed income	1	97,339		2,107		(10,677		)	88,769
Other	3	160		—		(126		)	34
Trust investments, at fair value		1,150,594		99,214		(59,341		)	1,190,467
Fixed income commingled funds		214,718		10,084		—			224,802
Private equity		32,074		4,622		(2,082		)	34,614
Trust investments, at net asset value		246,792		14,706		(2,082		)	259,416
Trust investments, at market		$	1,397,386	$	113,920	$	(61,423	)	$	1,449,883

Table of Contents



	December 31, 2015
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	69,746	$	25	$	(1,437	)	$	68,334
Canadian government	2	24,648		183		(169		)	24,662
Corporate	2	5,112		26		(118		)	5,020
Residential mortgage-backed	2	129		3		(3		)	129
Asset-backed	2	170		15		—			185
Equity securities:
Common stock:
United States	1	532,026		44,181		(32,037		)	544,170
Canada	1	8,984		3,858		(891		)	11,951
Other international	1	50,053		4,207		(5,799		)	48,461
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	356,798		1,620		(49,642		)	308,776
Fixed income	1	203,983		92		(18,526		)	185,549
Other	3	1,381		122		—			1,503
Trust investments, at fair value		1,253,030		54,332		(108,622		)	1,198,740
Fixed income commingled funds		108,883		—		(570		)	108,313
Private equity		35,411		5,954		(4,502		)	36,863
Trust investments, at net asset value		144,294		5,954		(5,072		)	145,176
Trust investments, at market		$	1,397,324	$	60,286	$	(113,694	)	$	1,343,916

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the fair value measurements hierarchy.

Fixed income commingled funds and private equity investments are measured at net asset value. Fixed income commingled funds are redeemable for net asset value with two weeks notice. Our private equity investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, due to the nature of the investments in this category, distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years. As of September 30, 2016, our unfunded commitment for our private equity investments was $36.9 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts.

Table of Contents

The change in our trust investments measured at fair value with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows:



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
				(In thousands)
Fair value, beginning balance	$	1,319		$	1,576		$	1,503		$	203
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in Accumulated other comprehensive income⁽¹⁾	10			(83		)	(174		)	(84		)
Purchases	—			—			—			1,348
Sales	(1,295		)	(26		)	(1,295		)	—
Fair value, ending balance	$	34		$	1,467		$	34		$	1,467

________________________________________

(1)

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2016 to 2041. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at September 30, 2016 are estimated as follows:



	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	32,187
Due in one to five years	26,897
Due in five to ten years	35,498
Thereafter	14,486
	$	109,068

Earnings from all our merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current revenue when merchandise is delivered or a service is performed. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenue. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenue in the period in which they are earned. Recognized trust fund income (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments was $11.2 million and $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Recognized trust fund income (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments was $31.5 million and $34.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income (expense), net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net, which reduces Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the remaining securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated values and the duration of unrealized losses as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

Table of Contents



	September 30, 2016
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
Canadian government	$	6	$	—		$	1,259	$	(54	)	$	1,265	$	(54	)
Corporate	866		(11		)	776		(29		)	1,642		(40		)
Equity securities:
Common stock:
United States	130,167		(14,779		)	40,411		(8,199		)	170,578		(22,978		)
Canada	—		—			747		(145		)	747		(145		)
Other international	12,357		(1,839		)	8,629		(2,289		)	20,986		(4,128		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	10,414		(452		)	165,722		(20,741		)	176,136		(21,193		)
Fixed income	12,430		(171		)	44,609		(10,506		)	57,039		(10,677		)
Other	34		(126		)	—		—			34		(126		)
Trust investments, at fair value	166,274		(17,378		)	262,153		(41,963		)	428,427		(59,341		)
Private equity	36		(1		)	13,466		(2,081		)	13,502		(2,082		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	36		(1		)	13,466		(2,081		)	13,502		(2,082		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	166,310	$	(17,379	)	$	275,619	$	(44,044	)	$	441,929	$	(61,423	)



	December 31, 2015
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	52,533	$	(1,435	)	$	21	$	(2	)	$	52,554	$	(1,437	)
Canadian government	16,039		(105		)	841		(64		)	16,880		(169		)
Corporate	1,754		(22		)	2,347		(96		)	4,101		(118		)
Residential mortgage-backed	42		(1		)	18		(2		)	60		(3		)
Equity securities:
Common stock:
United States	198,843		(26,038		)	21,355		(5,999		)	220,198		(32,037		)
Canada	470		(6		)	1,430		(885		)	1,900		(891		)
Other international	15,567		(2,507		)	9,412		(3,292		)	24,979		(5,799		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	207,349		(25,991		)	86,720		(23,651		)	294,069		(49,642		)
Fixed income	139,749		(6,322		)	44,550		(12,204		)	184,299		(18,526		)
Trust investments, at fair value	632,346		(62,427		)	166,694		(46,195		)	799,040		(108,622		)
Fixed income commingled funds	108,347		(570		)	—		—			108,347		(570		)
Private equity	—		—			9,526		(4,502		)	9,526		(4,502		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	108,347		(570		)	9,526		(4,502		)	117,873		(5,072		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	740,693	$	(62,997	)	$	176,220	$	(50,697	)	$	916,913	$	(113,694	)

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5. Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts

We are required by state and provincial law to pay into cemetery perpetual care trusts a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights. Our cemetery perpetual care trusts are variable interest entities. We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 3 and 4 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. We consolidate our cemetery perpetual care trust investments with a corresponding amount recorded as Care trusts’ corpus. Cash flows from cemetery perpetual care trusts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our cemetery perpetual care trusts:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	10,542	$	10,264	$	31,731	$	29,717
Withdrawals	$	5,928	$	8,073	$	36,478	$	32,749
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	$	298,509	$	29,129	$	388,216	$	174,243
Sales of available-for-sale securities	$	274,495	$	14,466	$	352,109	$	120,602

The components of Cemetery perpetual care trust investments in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are as follows:



	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,341,129	$	1,232,592
Cash and cash equivalents	54,274		86,835
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,395,403	$	1,319,427

The costs and values associated with trust investments, at market at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in the trusts. Value represents the value of the underlying securities or cash held by the trusts.

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	September 30, 2016
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	2,983	$	—	$	(30	)	$	2,953
Canadian government	2	37,001		611		(95		)	37,517
Corporate	2	6,388		128		(124		)	6,392
Residential mortgage-backed	2	352		1		—			353
Asset-backed	2	255		6		(18		)	243
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2	1,523		35		(78		)	1,480
Common stock:
United States	1	233,177		20,035		(7,311		)	245,901
Canada	1	4,856		2,654		(172		)	7,338
Other international	1	14,733		180		(1,402		)	13,511
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	20,125		4,244		(1,504		)	22,865
Fixed income	1	683,595		10,815		(26,624		)	667,786
Other	3	631		1,253		(2		)	1,882
Trust investments, at fair value		1,005,619		39,962		(37,360		)	1,008,221
Fixed income commingled funds		245,295		—		(1,153		)	244,142
Private equity		92,273		2,565		(6,072		)	88,766
Trust investments, at net asset value		337,568		2,565		(7,225		)	332,908
Trust investments, at market		$	1,343,187	$	42,527	$	(44,585	)	$	1,341,129

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	December 31, 2015
	Value Hierarchy Level	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Value
				(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	2	$	3,636	$	20	$	(81	)	$	3,575
Canadian government	2	32,477		321		(266		)	32,532
Corporate	2	12,694		149		(284		)	12,559
Residential mortgage-backed	2	934		13		(9		)	938
Asset-backed	2	660		5		(31		)	634
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2	5,850		55		(159		)	5,746
Common stock:
United States	1	231,012		15,224		(10,898		)	235,338
Canada	1	5,648		2,112		(606		)	7,154
Other international	1	14,820		160		(2,390		)	12,590
Mutual funds:
Equity	1	21,783		3,138		(1,850		)	23,071
Fixed income	1	890,013		530		(63,913		)	826,630
Other	3	645		1,257		—			1,902
Trust investments, at fair value		1,220,172		22,984		(80,487		)	1,162,669
Private equity		75,613		2,406		(8,096		)	69,923
Trust investments, at net asset value		75,613		2,406		(8,096		)	69,923
Trust investments, at market		$	1,295,785	$	25,390	$	(88,583	)	$	1,232,592

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the fair value measurements hierarchy.

Private equity investments are measured at net asset value. Our private equity investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, due to the nature of the investments in this category, distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years. As of September 30, 2016, our unfunded commitment for our private equity investments was $34.9 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts.

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The change in our trust investments measured at fair value with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016			2015
			(In thousands)
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	1,881	$	1,561	$	1,902		$	1,556
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in Accumulated other comprehensive income⁽¹⁾	1		354		(20		)	359
Fair market value, ending balance	$	1,882	$	1,915	$	1,882		$	1,915

_________________________________________


(1)	All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 6 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2016 to 2040. Maturities of fixed income securities at September 30, 2016 are estimated as follows:



	Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	28,832
Due in one to five years	18,273
Due in five to ten years	108
Thereafter	245
	$	47,458

Distributable earnings from these cemetery perpetual care trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenue to the extent we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenue. Recognized trust fund income related to these trust investments was $11.5 million and $10.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Recognized trust fund income related to these trust investments was $47.6 million and $43.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income (expense), net and a decrease to Cemetery perpetual care trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net, which reduces Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 6 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the remaining securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated values and the duration of unrealized losses as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

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	September 30, 2016
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	2,953	$	(30	)	$	2,953	$	(30	)
Canadian government	—		—			1,993		(95		)	1,993		(95		)
Corporate	1,738		(26		)	1,938		(98		)	3,676		(124		)
Asset-backed	22		(14		)	101		(4		)	123		(18		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	206		(3		)	474		(75		)	680		(78		)
Common stock:
United States	43,842		(2,795		)	21,929		(4,516		)	65,771		(7,311		)
Canada	—		—			655		(172		)	655		(172		)
Other international	2,420		(85		)	6,102		(1,317		)	8,522		(1,402		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	1,028		(42		)	3,998		(1,462		)	5,026		(1,504		)
Fixed income	14,945		(142		)	342,796		(26,482		)	357,741		(26,624		)
Other	—		—			—		(2		)	—		(2		)
Trust investments, at fair value	64,201		(3,107		)	382,939		(34,253		)	447,140		(37,360		)
Fixed income commingled funds	244,142		(1,153		)	—		—			244,142		(1,153		)
Private equity	2,207		(178		)	32,518		(5,894		)	34,725		(6,072		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	246,349		(1,331		)	32,518		(5,894		)	278,867		(7,225		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	310,550	$	(4,438	)	$	415,457	$	(40,147	)	$	726,007	$	(44,585	)

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	December 31, 2015
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses			Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	3,275	$	(80	)	$	35	$	(1	)	$	3,310	$	(81	)
Canadian government	18,499		(164		)	1,371		(102		)	19,870		(266		)
Corporate	5,163		(134		)	4,147		(150		)	9,310		(284		)
Residential mortgage-backed	303		(3		)	117		(6		)	420		(9		)
Asset-backed	145		(12		)	360		(19		)	505		(31		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,029		(159		)	—		—			4,029		(159		)
Common stock:
United States	81,624		(7,793		)	14,900		(3,105		)	96,524		(10,898		)
Canada	702		(31		)	1,026		(575		)	1,728		(606		)
Other international	8,734		(940		)	2,347		(1,450		)	11,081		(2,390		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	4,580		(606		)	1,258		(1,244		)	5,838		(1,850		)
Fixed income	519,981		(18,205		)	294,309		(45,708		)	814,290		(63,913		)
Trust investments, at fair value	647,035		(28,127		)	319,870		(52,360		)	966,905		(80,487		)
Private equity	10,592		(61		)	24,556		(8,035		)	35,148		(8,096		)
Trust investments, at net asset value	10,592		(61		)	24,556		(8,035		)	35,148		(8,096		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	657,627	$	(28,188	)	$	344,426	$	(60,395	)	$	1,002,053	$	(88,583	)

6. Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts’ Corpus

Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust

We consolidate the merchandise and service trusts associated with our preneed activities. Although the consolidation of the merchandise and service trusts is required by accounting standards, it does not change the legal relationships among the trusts, us, or our customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of these merchandise and service trusts, and therefore their interests in these trusts represent a liability to us. The components of Deferred preneed receipts held in trust in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are detailed below.



	September 30, 2016									December 31, 2015
	Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total			Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total
	(In thousands)
Trust investments	$	1,559,964		$	1,565,805		$	3,125,769		$	1,515,113		$	1,462,499		$	2,977,612
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(271		)	(336		)	(607		)	(1,381		)	(2,845		)	(4,226		)
Deferred preneed receipts held in trust	$	1,559,693		$	1,565,469		$	3,125,162		$	1,513,732		$	1,459,654		$	2,973,386

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Care Trusts’ Corpus

The Care trusts’ corpus reflected in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet represents the cemetery perpetual care trusts, including the related accrued expenses. The components of Care trusts’ corpus in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are detailed below.



	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,395,403	$	1,319,427
Accrued trust deferred taxes, operating payables, and other	1,124		137
Care trusts’ corpus	$	1,396,527	$	1,319,564

Other Income (Expense), Net

The components of Other income (expense), net in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are detailed below. See Notes 3, 4, and 5 for further discussion of the amounts related to the funeral, cemetery, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	10,031		$	13,638		$	1,393		$	—	$	25,062
Realized losses	(5,988		)	(7,458		)	(591		)	—		(14,037		)
Impairment charges	(802		)	(1,086		)	—			—		(1,888		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	3,811			7,035			12,927			—		23,773
Trust expenses and income taxes	(5,374		)	(10,379		)	(5,774		)	—		(21,527		)
Net trust investment (loss) income	1,678			1,750			7,955			—		11,383
Reclassification to deferred preneed receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(1,678		)	(1,750		)	(7,955		)	—		(11,383		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			110		110
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	110	$	110



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net			Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	23,101		$	31,557		$	5,187		$	—		$	59,845
Realized losses	(35,840		)	(48,907		)	(5,932		)	—			(90,679		)
Impairment charges	(4,002		)	(5,767		)	(115		)	—			(9,884		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	12,539			10,750			39,982			—			63,271
Trust expenses and income taxes	(13,568		)	(16,599		)	(19,678		)	—			(49,845		)
Net trust investment (loss) income	(17,770		)	(28,966		)	19,444			—			(27,292		)
Reclassification to deferred preneed receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	17,770			28,966			(19,444		)	—			27,292
Other expense, net	—			—			—			(697		)	(697		)
Total other expense, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(697	)	$	(697	)

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	Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	9,341		$	10,318		$	524		$	—	$	20,183
Realized losses	(8,982		)	(11,948		)	(156		)	—		(21,086		)
Impairment charges	(1,385		)	(1,761		)	(106		)	—		(3,252		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	4,244			4,360			14,035			—		22,639
Trust expenses and income taxes	(5,804		)	(7,902		)	(4,524		)	—		(18,230		)
Net trust investment (loss) income	(2,586		)	(6,933		)	9,773			—		254
Reclassification to deferred preneed receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	2,586			6,933			(9,773		)	—		(254		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			336		336
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	336	$	336



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	23,546		$	33,859		$	2,675		$	—	$	60,080
Realized losses	(17,554		)	(25,375		)	(4,478		)	—		(47,407		)
Impairment charges	(2,880		)	(3,811		)	(1,613		)	—		(8,304		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	17,126			16,138			40,369			—		73,633
Trust expenses and income taxes	(15,641		)	(23,009		)	(27,367		)	—		(66,017		)
Net trust investment (loss) income	4,597			(2,198		)	9,586			—		11,985
Reclassification to deferred preneed receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(4,597		)	2,198			(9,586		)	—		(11,985		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			169		169
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	169	$	169

7. Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items, which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates due to the finalization of tax returns, tax audit settlements, expiration of statutes of limitation, and increases or decreases in valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. Our effective tax rate was 36.6% and 35.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 40.8% and 36.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 is above the 35% federal statutory tax rate primarily due to state tax expense and impairment charges related to the planned divestiture of certain funeral homes in Los Angeles, California, as well as the change in uncertain tax liabilities, partially offset by lower rates on foreign earnings.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

As of September 30, 2016, the total amount of our unrecognized tax benefits was $178.3 million and the total amount of our accrued interest was $55.8 million. Additional interest expense of $4.1 million was accrued during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have unrecognized tax benefits, are settled. While we have effectively concluded our 2003 through 2005 tax years with respect to our affiliate, SCI Funeral & Cemetery Purchasing Cooperative, Inc., SCI and subsidiaries' tax years 1999 through 2005 remain under review at the IRS Appeals level. The completion of the audit for the amended returns for the tax years 2006 through 2007 is also pending the IRS Appeals finalization of the tax years 1999-2005. Furthermore, SCI and its affiliates are under audit by various state and foreign jurisdictions for years 2010 through 2014. The outcome of each of these audits cannot be predicted at this time. It is reasonably possible that the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits could significantly increase or decrease over the next twelve months either because we prevail on positions or because the tax authorities prevail. Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of

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completion of audits and possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increases or decreases that may occur within the next twelve months cannot be made.

8. Debt

Debt as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:



	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	$	—		$	295,000
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	250,000			250,000
4.5% Senior Notes due November 2020	200,000			200,000
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	150,000			150,000
5.375% Senior Notes due January 2022	425,000			425,000
5.375% Senior Notes due May 2024	850,000			850,000
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	200,000			200,000
Term Loan due July 2018	—			310,000
Bank Credit Facility due July 2018	—			270,000
Term Loan due March 2021	682,500			—
Bank Credit Facility due March 2021	325,000			—
Obligations under capital leases	210,760			204,246
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050	3,786			4,037
Unamortized premiums, net	8,522			8,636
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(34,343		)	(42,491		)
Total debt	3,271,225			3,124,428
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt	(89,531		)	(86,823		)
Total long-term debt	$	3,181,694		$	3,037,605

Current maturities of debt at September 30, 2016 include amounts due under our Term Loan, mortgage notes and other debt, and capital leases within the next year. Our consolidated debt had a weighted average interest rate of 4.6% and 5.2% at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. Approximately 63% and 76% of our total debt had a fixed interest rate at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, we paid $98.8 million and $99.3 million in cash interest, respectively.

Bank Credit Agreement

In March 2016, we entered into a new $1.4 billion bank credit agreement due March 2021 with a syndicate of banks.

As of September 30, 2016, we have $325.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021; $682.5 million of outstanding borrowings under our Term Loan due March 2021; and have issued $33.0 million of letters of credit. The bank credit agreement due March 2021 provides us with flexibility for working capital, if needed, and is guaranteed by a majority of our domestic subsidiaries. The subsidiary guaranty is a guaranty of payment of the outstanding amount of the total lending commitment, including letters of credit. The bank credit agreement contains certain financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum leverage ratio, and certain dividend and share repurchase restrictions. We pay a quarterly fee on the unused commitment, which was 0.30% at September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2016, we have $342.0 million in borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2015, we had a $500.0 million Bank Credit Facility due July 2018 with a syndicate of financial institutions, including a sublimit of $175.0 million for letters of credit. In March 2016, the new $1.4 billion credit agreement replaced the existing $500.0 million Bank Credit Facility due July 2018 and $600.0 million Term Loan due July 2018 providing for a new $700.0 million Bank Credit Facility and a $700.0 million Term Loan, both maturing in March 2021, including a sublimit of $100.0 million for letters of credit.

Debt Issuances and Additions

In September 2016, we drew $75.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021 to make required payments on our Term Loan due March 2021 and for general corporate purposes.

In June 2016, we drew $50.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021 to fund acquisition activity and make required payments on our Term Loan due March 2021.

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In April 2016, we drew $170.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021, and $150.0 million on our Term Loan due March 2021, to repay our $295.0 million 7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017 and associated transaction costs.

In January 2016, we drew $10.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due July 2018 for general corporate purposes. In March 2016, we drew $30.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021 and $550.0 million on our Term Loan due March 2021 to repay outstanding borrowings under our Bank Credit Facility due July 2018 and our Term Loan due July 2018. These transactions resulted in the addition of $5.2 million in debt issuance costs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we drew $90.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due July 2018, which was used to make required payments on our Term Loan due July 2018 and for general corporate purposes.

Debt Extinguishments and Reductions

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we made debt payments of $902.7 million for scheduled and early extinguishment payments including:


•	$310.0 million in aggregate principal of our Term Loan due July 2018;


•	$295.0 million in aggregate principal of our 7.0% Senior Notes due 2017;


•	$280.0 million in aggregate principal of our Bank Credit Facility due July 2018; and


•	$17.5 million in aggregate principal of our Term Loan due March 2021.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we made debt payments of $342.5 million for scheduled and early extinguishment payments including:


•	$197.4 million in aggregate principal of our 6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016;


•	$100.0 million in aggregate principal of our Bank Credit Facility; and


•	$45.0 million in aggregate principal of our Term Loan due July 2018.

9. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Estimates

The fair value estimates of the following financial instruments have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate the fair values of those instruments due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair value of receivables on preneed contracts are impracticable to estimate because of the lack of a trading market and the diverse number of individual contracts with varying terms.

The fair value of our debt instruments at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was as follows:



	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In thousands)
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	$	—	$	314,618
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	279,375		279,375
4.5% Senior Notes due November 2020	205,100		201,500
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	179,343		176,438
5.375% Senior Notes due January 2022	442,616		445,188
5.375% Senior Notes due May 2024	907,375		884,094
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	238,000		216,500
Term Loan due March 2021	682,500		—
Bank Credit Facility due March 2021	325,000		—
Term Loan due July 2018	—		310,000
Bank Credit Facility due July 2018	—		270,000
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050	3,786		4,047
Total fair value of debt instruments	$	3,263,095	$	3,101,760

The fair value of our long-term, fixed-rate loans were estimated using market prices for those loans, and therefore they are classified within Level 2 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The Term Loan, Bank Credit Facility agreement and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The fair value of these instruments have been estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements. An increase (decrease) in the inputs results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.

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10. Share-Based Compensation

Stock Benefit Plans

We maintain benefit plans whereby shares of our common stock may be issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options, restricted stock, or other stock-based awards granted to officers and key employees. In May 2016, our shareholders approved the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan that reserves 13,000,000 shares of common stock for outstanding and future awards of stock options, restricted stock, and other stock-based awards to officers and key employees.

We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options. This model uses a range of assumptions related to volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected life, and the dividend yield. The fair values of our stock options are calculated using the following weighted average assumptions for the nine months ended September 30, 2016:



Dividend yield	2.0	%
Expected volatility	19.7	%
Risk-free interest rate	1.0	%
Expected holding period (in years)	4.0

Stock Options

The following table sets forth stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016:



	Options		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2015	11,047,920		$	13.98
Granted	1,863,700		$	22.28
Exercised	(1,924,324	)	$	8.33
Canceled	(28,272	)	$	20.98
Outstanding at September 30, 2016	10,959,024		$	16.36
Exercisable at September 30, 2016	7,100,945		$	13.54

As of September 30, 2016, the unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options of $10.3 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was as follows:



	Restricted Stock Awards		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested restricted stock awards at December 31, 2015	573,739		$	19.32
Granted	241,510		$	22.28
Vested	(313,247	)	$	18.14
Forfeited	(1,258	)	$	20.85
Nonvested restricted stock awards at September 30, 2016	500,744		$	21.48

As of September 30, 2016, the unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock awards of $7.1 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was as follows:



	Restricted Stock Units		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2015	—		$	—
Granted	130,660		$	25.72
Forfeited	(5,200	)	$	25.72
Nonvested restricted stock units at September 30, 2016	125,460		$	25.72

As of September 30, 2016, the unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock units of $2.7 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years.

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11. Equity

(All shares reported in whole numbers)

Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:



	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Gains and Losses			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
				(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	6,164		$	—		$	6,164
Activity in 2016	18,110			—			18,110
Decrease in net unrealized losses associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			147,017			147,017
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes	—			(147,017		)	(147,017		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	24,274		$	—		$	24,274

Balance at December 31, 2014	$	59,414		$	—		$	59,414
Activity in 2015	(42,913		)	—			(42,913		)
Increase in net unrealized losses associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			(110,016		)	(110,016		)
Reclassification of net unrealized loss activity attributable to the Deferred preneed receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes	—			110,016			110,016
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	16,501		$	—		$	16,501

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rate. The U.S. dollar amount that arises from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

Share Repurchases

Subject to market conditions, normal trading restrictions, and limitations in our debt covenants, we may make purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions under our stock repurchase program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we repurchased 7,542,812 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $193.0 million, which is an average cost per share of $25.59. After these repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program was approximately $88.0 million at September 30, 2016.

12. Segment Reporting

Our operations are both product-based and geographically-based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations. Our geographic areas include the United States and Canada, where we conduct both funeral and cemetery operations.

Our reportable segment information is as follows:

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	Funeral		Cemetery		Reportable Segments
	(In thousands)
Three months ended September 30,
Revenue from external customers:
2016	$	445,462	$	276,005	$	721,467
2015	$	449,300	$	265,153	$	714,453
Gross profit:
2016	$	75,576	$	65,169	$	140,745
2015	$	77,734	$	63,945	$	141,679
Nine months ended September 30,
Revenue from external customers:
2016	$	1,404,623	$	817,460	$	2,222,083
2015	$	1,428,469	$	788,292	$	2,216,761
Gross profit:
2016	$	273,938	$	191,720	$	465,658
2015	$	299,769	$	187,018	$	486,787

The following table reconciles gross profit from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:



		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2016			2015			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Gross profit from reportable segments		$	140,745		$	141,679		$	465,658		$	486,787
General and administrative expenses		(26,916		)	(27,895		)	(102,668		)	(96,947		)
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net		557			10,764			(30,432		)	3,403
Operating income		114,386			124,548			332,558			393,243
Interest expense		(39,508		)	(43,921		)	(121,988		)	(129,842		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(25		)	(6,918		)	(22,503		)	(6,918		)
Other income (expense), net		110			336			(697		)	169
Income before income taxes		$	74,963		$	74,045		$	187,370		$	256,652

Our geographic area information is as follows:



	United States		Canada		Total
			(In thousands)
Three months ended September 30,
Revenue from external customers:
2016	$	681,769	$	39,698	$	721,467
2015	$	671,785	$	42,668	$	714,453
Nine months ended September 30,
Revenue from external customers:
2016	$	2,098,091	$	123,992	$	2,222,083
2015	$	2,077,143	$	139,618	$	2,216,761

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13. Supplementary Information

Revenue and Costs and Expenses

The detail of certain income statement accounts as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated Statement of Operations is as follows:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands)
Property and merchandise revenue:
Funeral	$	145,989	$	146,187	$	459,907	$	460,317
Cemetery	215,570		206,231		631,000		601,372
Total property and merchandise revenue	361,559		352,418		1,090,907		1,061,689
Services revenue:
Funeral	268,588		267,279		843,004		867,969
Cemetery	52,748		51,804		163,495		164,075
Total services revenue	321,336		319,083		1,006,499		1,032,044
Other revenue	38,572		42,952		124,677		123,028
Total revenue	$	721,467	$	714,453	$	2,222,083	$	2,216,761
Property and merchandise costs and expenses:
Funeral	$	67,529	$	69,902	$	216,752	$	220,372
Cemetery	118,467		112,125		352,087		332,940
Total cost of property and merchandise	185,996		182,027		568,839		553,312
Services costs and expenses:
Funeral	154,166		156,105		470,974		469,885
Cemetery	26,005		24,388		82,593		80,594
Total cost of services	180,171		180,493		553,567		550,479
Overhead and other expenses	214,555		210,254		634,019		626,183
Total costs and expenses	$	580,722	$	572,774	$	1,756,425	$	1,729,974

Non-Cash Investing and Financing Transactions



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Net change in capital expenditure accrual	$	(6,160	)	$	(1,587	)
Acquisitions of capital leases, primarily transportation equipment	$	33,814		$	51,347

14. Commitments and Contingencies

Insurance Loss Reserves

We purchase comprehensive general liability, morticians’ and cemetery professional liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage all of which are structured with high deductibles. The high-deductible insurance program means we are primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs and losses covered by these policies. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we have self-insurance reserves of $78.3 million and $76.6 million, respectively.

Litigation

We are a party to various litigation matters, investigations, and proceedings. Some of the more frequent ordinary routine litigations incidental to our business are based on burial practices claims and employment related matters, including discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour laws and regulations. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the lawsuits described herein; however, if we determine that an

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unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of certain of these litigation matters. We accrue such insurance recoveries when they become probable of being paid and can be reasonably estimated.

Wage and Hour Claims. We are named a defendant in various lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state laws regulating wage and hour pay, including but not limited to the Samborsky and Vasquez lawsuits described below.

Charles Samborsky, et al, individually and on behalf of those persons similarly situated, v. SCI California Funeral Services, Inc., et al ; Case No. BC544180; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Central District-Central Civil West Courthouse. This lawsuit was filed in April 2014 against an SCI subsidiary and purports to have been brought on behalf of employees who worked as family service counselors in California since April 2010. The plaintiffs allege causes of action for various violations of state laws regulating wage and hour pay. The plaintiffs seek unpaid wages, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, interest, and injunctive relief. The claims have been sent to arbitration. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Adrian Mercedes Vasquez, an individual and on behalf of others similarly situated, v. California Cemetery and Funeral Services, LLC, et al; Case No. BC58837; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles. This lawsuit was filed in July 2015 against SCI subsidiaries and purports to be brought on behalf of current and former non-exempt California employees of defendants during the four years preceding the filing of the complaint. The plaintiff alleges numerous causes of action for alleged wage and hour pay violations. The plaintiff seeks unpaid wages, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, interest and injunctive relief. The claims have been ordered to arbitration, with the arbitrator to determine whether the claims will proceed as a class or individual claims. In addition, the plaintiff filed an unfair labor practice charge against defendants with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that by enforcing a mandatory arbitration provision, defendants allegedly violated the National Labor Relations Act. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Claims Regarding Acquisition of Stewart Enterprises. We are involved in the following lawsuits.

Karen Moulton, Individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Stewart Enterprises, Inc., Service Corporation International and others ; Case No. 2013-5636; in the Civil District Court Parish of New Orleans. This case was filed as a class action in June 2013 against SCI and our subsidiary in connection with SCI's proposed acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. The plaintiffs allege that SCI aided and abetted breaches of fiduciary duties by Stewart Enterprises and its board of directors in negotiating the combination of Stewart Enterprises with a subsidiary of SCI. The plaintiffs seek damages concerning the combination. We filed exceptions to the plaintiffs’ complaint that were granted in June 2014. Thus, subject to appeals, SCI will no longer be party to the suit. The case will continue against our subsidiary Stewart Enterprises and its former individual directors. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of damages.

S.E. Funeral Homes of California, Inc. v. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, et al.; Case No. BC559142; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles. The plaintiff is a company indirectly owned by Stewart Enterprises, Inc. The plaintiff filed this action in September 2014 to prevent The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles (the “Archdiocese”) from terminating six ground leases. In reliance on the leases having 40 year terms beginning at the earliest in 1997, the plaintiff had previously made material investments since 1997 in constructing and operating funeral homes, chapels, mausoleums, and other improvements on the leased premises. In addition, the plaintiff has created a material backlog of deferred preneed revenue that plaintiff expects to receive in the coming years. In September 2014, the Archdiocese delivered notices purporting to terminate the leases and alleging that the leases were breached because the plaintiff did not obtain the Archdiocese’s consent before Stewart Enterprises, Inc. entered into a reverse merger with an affiliate of SCI. The plaintiff disputes this contention and seeks, among other things, a declaratory judgment declaring that the Archdiocese’s purported termination notices are invalid, requiring specific performance of the leases, or, in the alternative, awarding the plaintiff compensatory damages. The Archdiocese filed a counterclaim and a separate action for unlawful detainer in October 2014, and all claims and actions of the respective parties have been consolidated into one case for all purposes. In February 2016, the Court entered a ruling on the parties’ cross motions for summary adjudication based on the parties’ opposing interpretations of the relevant lease provisions and adopted the Archdiocese’s interpretation of its right to terminate the leases.

On July 27, 2016, the parties executed an agreement to settle the consolidated case. Under the settlement agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to the Archdiocese substantially all of the assets used in the operations of the six mortuaries located on cemeteries of the Archdiocese and to terminate its rights under the related ground leases. In exchange, the Archdiocese will pay the Company $24.0 million when the Company closes on the sale of the assets, as well as make three additional annual payments, based on a formula related to gross revenue of the mortuary operations going forward of between $800,000 to $1,000,000 per payment. The closing of the sale is expected to take place on November 30, 2016. As a result of the settlement, the consolidated case pending between the parties will be dismissed.

The ultimate outcome of the matters described above cannot be determined at this time. We intend to vigorously defend all of the above lawsuits; however, an adverse decision in one or more of such matters could have a material effect on us, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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15. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing Net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared in our earnings.

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is presented below:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income:
Net income — basic	$	47,727	$	47,448	$	110,792	$	161,418
After tax interest on convertible debt	13		13		35		37
Net income — diluted	$	47,740	$	47,461	$	110,827	$	161,455
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares — basic	193,274		199,310		193,999		201,729
Stock options	3,154		4,013		3,049		4,100
Restricted stock units	18		—		6		—
Convertible debt	121		121		121		121
Weighted average shares — diluted	196,567		203,444		197,175		205,950
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.25	$	0.24	$	0.57	$	0.80
Diluted	$	0.24	$	0.23	$	0.56	$	0.78

Earnings per share from discontinued operations were less than $0.005 for all periods; therefore, net income from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders per share is the same as net income per share in the table above.

The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options and restricted stock units in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options and restricted share units would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented. Total options and restricted share units not included in the computation of dilutive EPS are as follows (in shares):



	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2016	2015	2016	2015
	(In thousands)
Antidilutive options	551	—	936	—
Antidilutive restricted stock units	—	—	2	—
Total common stock equivalents excluded from computation	551	—	938	—

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16. Divestiture-Related Activities

As divestitures occur in the normal course of business, gains or losses on the sale of such locations are recognized in the income statement line item Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net, which consist of the following:



	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Gains on divestitures, net	$	864		$	12,400		$	2,974		$	9,373
Impairment losses	(307		)	(1,636		)	(33,406		)	(5,970		)
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	$	557		$	10,764		$	(30,432	)	$	3,403

We classified certain funeral homes as held-for-sale in connection with the settlement of litigation with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and recognized a $31.2 million non-cash impairment charge related to this planned divestiture, which is included in the schedule below. The carrying value of total assets held-for-sale as presented in our unaudited condensed consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):



Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	$	1,034
Property and equipment, net	24,199
Goodwill	25,896
Deferred charges and other assets	12,960
Assets held-for-sale	64,089
Less: impairment on assets held-for-sale	(32,143		)
Assets held-for-sale, net	$	31,946

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The Company

We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral service locations and cemeteries unequaled in geographic scale and reach. At September 30, 2016, we operated 1,531 funeral service locations and 471 cemeteries (including 262 funeral service/cemetery combination locations), which are geographically diversified across 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

We are well known for our Dignity Memorial® brand, North America's first transcontinental brand of deathcare products and services. Our other brands are Dignity Planning™, National Cremation Society®, Advantage® Funeral and Cremation Services, Funeraria del Angel™, Making Everlasting Memories®, Neptune Society™, and Trident Society™. Our funeral and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses, which enables us to serve a wide array of customer needs. We sell cemetery property and funeral and cemetery merchandise and services at the time of need and on a preneed basis.

Our financial position is enhanced by our approximately $10.0 billion backlog of future revenue from both trust and insurance-funded sales at September 30, 2016, which is the result of preneed sales. Preneed selling provides us with a current opportunity to lock-in future market share while deterring the customer from going to a competitor in the future. We believe it adds to the stability and predictability of our revenue and cash flows. While revenue on the majority of preneed merchandise and service sales is deferred until the time of need, sales of preneed cemetery property provide opportunities for full current revenue recognition (to the extent we collect 10% from the customer and the property is developed).

We believe we have the financial strength and flexibility to reward shareholders through dividends while maintaining a prudent capital structure and pursuing new opportunities for profitable growth.

Factors affecting our operating results include: 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 selling complementary services and merchandise; controlling salary and merchandise costs; and exercising pricing leverage related to our at-need revenue. The average revenue per funeral contract is influenced by the mix of traditional and cremation services because our average cremation service revenue is approximately half of the average revenue earned from a traditional burial service. To further enhance revenue opportunities, we have developed memorialization merchandise and services that specifically appeal to cremation customers. We believe that these additional merchandise and services will help drive increases in the average revenue for a cremation in future periods.

For further discussion of our key operating metrics, see our Results of Operations and Cash Flow sections below.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Capital Allocation Considerations

We rely on cash flow from operations as a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flow from operating activities provided $358.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. We have $342.0 million in borrowing capacity under our bank credit agreement.

Our bank credit agreement requires us to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. As of September 30, 2016, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. Our financial covenant requirements and actual ratios as of September 30, 2016 are as follows:



	Per Credit Agreement	Actual
Leverage ratio	4.25 (Max)	3.92
Interest coverage ratio	3.00 (Min)	4.85

We believe our sources of liquidity can be supplemented by our ability to access the capital markets for additional debt or equity securities. In March 2016, we entered into a new $1.4 billion bank credit agreement due March 2021 with a syndicate of banks. The credit agreement consists of a $700.0 million Bank Credit Facility and a $700.0 million Term Loan. We used $550.0 million of the Term Loan due March 2021 and $30.0 million of the Bank Credit Facility due March 2021 to repay $270.0 million outstanding borrowings on the Bank Credit Facility due July 2018 and $310.0 million outstanding borrowings on the Term Loan due July 2018. In April 2016, we drew $170.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility due March 2021, and $150.0 million on our Term Loan due March 2021, to repay our $295.0 million 7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017 and associated transaction costs, which resulted in the recognition of a $21.7 million loss on early extinguishment of debt.

We believe that our unencumbered cash on hand, future operating cash flows, and the available capacity under our bank credit agreement will give us adequate liquidity to meet our short-term needs as well as our long-term financial obligations. Due to cash balances residing in Canada and expected minimum operating cash in transit, a portion of our cash on hand is encumbered.

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We intend to evaluate the best uses of our cash flow that will yield the highest value and return on capital. Our capital deployment strategy is prioritized as follows:

Invest in acquisitions and new builds. We intend to make acquisitions of funeral service locations and cemeteries when pricing and terms are favorable. We expect an acquisition investment to earn an after-tax cash return that is in excess of our weighted average cost of capital with room for execution risk. We will also invest in the construction of funeral service locations. We target businesses with favorable customer segments and/or where we can achieve additional economies of scale.

Pay a dividend. Our quarterly dividend rate has steadily grown from $0.025 per common share in 2005 to $0.13 per common share in 2016. We target a payout ratio of 35% to 45% and intend to grow our cash dividend commensurate with the growth in our business. While we intend to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all future dividends are subject to limitations in our debt covenants and final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter upon review of our financial performance.

Repurchase shares. Absent a strategic acquisition opportunity, we believe share repurchases are attractive at the appropriate price. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we repurchased 7,542,812 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $193.0 million, which is an average cost per share of $25.59. After these repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program was approximately $88.0 million at September 30, 2016. We intend to make purchases from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions, debt covenants, and normal trading restrictions. Our bank credit agreement contains covenants that limit our ability to repurchase our common stock. There can be no assurance that we will buy our common stock under our share repurchase program in the future.

Repurchase debt. We will seek to make open market debt repurchases when it is opportunistic to do so relative to other capital development opportunities to manage our near-term debt maturity profile. We have a relatively consistent annual cash flow stream that is generally resistant to down economic cycles. This cash flow stream and our significant liquidity is available to substantially reduce our long-term debt maturities should we choose to do so. Furthermore, our capital expenditures are generally discretionary in nature and can be managed based on the availability of operating cash flow.

Cash Flow

We believe our ability to generate strong operating cash flow is one of our fundamental financial strengths and provides us with substantial flexibility in meeting our operating and investing needs.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $358.5 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $396.6 million in the first nine months of 2015.

Operating cash flows are impacted by the following items:



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016		2015
	(In millions)
Premiums paid on early extinguishment	$	20.5	$	6.5
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	$	11.5	$	17.3
System transition and other costs	$	11.1	$	4.2

Excluding the above items, cash flow from operations decreased $23.0 million for the first nine months of 2016 versus the same period in 2015. The 2016 decrease is primarily due to expected higher cash tax payments of $29.9 million, partially offset by favorable working capital initiatives.

Investing Activities

Cash flows from investing activities used $179.1 million in the first nine months of 2016 compared to using $125.8 million in the same period of 2015. This was primarily attributable to an increase of $24.7 million in cash spent on acquisitions, a $26.5 million increase in capital expenditures, and a $2.9 million increase in net withdrawals of restricted funds, partially offset by a $1.7 million increase in cash receipts from divestitures and asset sales. The increase in capital expenditures primarily relates to the development of contemporary cemetery property, which enables our sales force to drive sustainable growth in our preneed cemetery property sales, and the construction of new funeral homes.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $140.3 million in the first nine months of 2016 compared to using $298.4 million in the same period of 2015. This decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in purchases of Company common stock of $112.5 million and an increase in debt issuance proceeds net of payments of $69.4 million partially offset by decreased proceeds from exercise

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of stock options of $14.5 million, a decrease of $5.8 million in excess tax benefits from share based awards, and a $9.6 million increase in payments of dividends.

We repurchased 7.5 million shares in the first nine months of 2016 for $193.0 million and 11.0 million shares in the same period of 2015 for $305.5 million. We paid cash dividends of $73.7 million in the first nine months of 2016 and $64.1 million in the same period of 2015.

Financial Assurances

In support of our operations, we have entered into arrangements with certain surety companies whereby such companies agree to issue surety bonds on our behalf as financial assurance and/or as required by existing state and local regulations. The surety bonds are used for various business purposes; however, the majority of the surety bonds issued and outstanding have been used to support our preneed funeral and cemetery sales activities. The obligations underlying these surety bonds are recorded on the unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as Deferred preneed funeral revenue and Deferred preneed cemetery revenue. The breakdown of surety bonds between funeral and cemetery preneed arrangements, as well as surety bonds for other activities, is described below.



	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
	(In millions)
Preneed funeral	$	118.6	$	112.7
Preneed cemetery:
Merchandise and services	141.3		136.7
Pre-construction	7.8		5.9
Bonds supporting preneed obligations	267.7		255.3
Bonds supporting preneed business permits	4.5		4.5
Other bonds	18.9		17.9
Total surety bonds outstanding	$	291.1	$	277.7

When selling preneed contracts, we may post surety bonds where allowed by state law. We post the surety bonds in lieu of trusting a certain amount of funds received from the customer. The amount of the bond posted is generally determined by the total amount of the preneed contract that would otherwise be required to be trusted, in accordance with applicable state law. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, we had $5.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively, of cash receipts attributable to bonded sales. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, we had $16.1 million and $15.2 million, respectively, of cash receipts attributable to bonded sales. These amounts do not consider reductions associated with taxes, obtaining costs, or other costs.

Surety bond premiums are paid annually and are automatically renewable until maturity of the underlying preneed contracts, unless we are given prior notice of cancellation. Except for cemetery pre-construction bonds (which are irrevocable), the surety companies generally have the right to cancel the surety bonds at any time with appropriate notice. In the event a surety company were to cancel the surety bond, we are required to obtain replacement surety assurance from another surety company or fund a trust for an amount generally less than the posted bond amount. Management does not expect that we will be required to fund material future amounts related to these surety bonds because of lack of surety capacity or surety company non-performance.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Activities and Backlog of Contracts

In addition to selling our products and services to client families at the time of need, we sell price-guaranteed preneed contracts, which provide for future funeral or cemetery services and merchandise. Since preneed merchandise or services will not be provided until sometime in the future, most states and provinces require that all or a portion of the funds collected from customers on preneed contracts be paid into merchandise and service trusts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. These trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices. In certain situations, as described above, where permitted by state or provincial laws, we may post a surety bond as financial assurance for a certain amount of the preneed contract in lieu of placing funds into trust accounts.

Trust-Funded Preneed Contracts: The funds are deposited into trust and invested by independent trustees in accordance with state and provincial laws. We retain any funds above the amounts required to be deposited into trust accounts and use them for working capital purposes, generally to offset the selling and administrative costs of our preneed programs.

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The tables below detail our results of preneed production and maturities, excluding insurance contracts, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Funeral:
Preneed trust-funded (including bonded):
Sales production	$	72.5	$	65.0	$	216.4	$	196.9
Sales production (number of contracts)	22,549		20,975		68,562		63,623
Maturities	$	58.1	$	53.5	$	177.2	$	168.5
Maturities (number of contracts)	15,295		15,798		48,417		49,518
Cemetery:
Sales production:
Preneed	$	189.8	$	180.5	$	595.6	$	569.1
Atneed	72.6		73.9		230.1		228.3
Total sales production	$	262.4	$	254.4	$	825.7	$	797.4
Sales production deferred to backlog:
Preneed	$	93.9	$	88.6	$	283.8	$	262.2
Atneed	55.6		54.8		172.4		171.1
Total sales production deferred to backlog	$	149.5	$	143.4	$	456.2	$	433.3
Revenue recognized from backlog:
Preneed	$	73.4	$	64.9	$	187.1	$	167.5
Atneed	56.5		54.9		171.3		167.5
Total revenue recognized from backlog	$	129.9	$	119.8	$	358.4	$	335.0

Insurance-Funded Preneed Contracts: Where permitted by state or provincial law, customers may arrange their preneed contract by purchasing a life insurance policy from third-party insurance companies, for which we earn a commission as a general sales agent for the insurance company. The policy amount of the insurance contract between the customer and the third-party insurance company generally equals the amount of the preneed contract. As the insurance contract is between the insurance company and the customer, we do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed contract amounts in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The table below details the results of insurance-funded preneed production and maturities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and the number of contracts associated with those transactions.



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Preneed insurance-funded:
Sales production ⁽¹⁾	$	131.9	$	136.4	$	422.4	$	409.7
Sales production (number of contracts) ⁽¹⁾	21,434		22,803		69,156		68,215
General agency revenue	$	32.1	$	34.9	$	105.4	$	101.3
Maturities	$	76.0	$	72.8	$	239.4	$	241.4
Maturities (number of contracts)	12,943		12,086		40,778		40,873


(1)	Amounts are not included in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Backlog of Preneed Contracts: The following table reflects our backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed contract revenue, including amounts related to Deferred preneed receipts held in trust at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. Additionally, the table reflects our backlog of unfulfilled insurance-funded contracts (which are not included in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet) at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The backlog amounts presented are reduced by an amount that we believe will cancel before maturity based on historical experience.

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The table also reflects our preneed receivables and trust investments (fair value and cost bases) associated with the backlog of deferred preneed contract revenue, net of the estimated cancellation allowance. We believe that the table below is meaningful because it sets forth the aggregate amount of future revenue we expect to recognize as a result of preneed sales, as well as the amount of assets associated with this revenue. Because the future revenue exceeds the asset amounts, future revenue will exceed the cash distributions actually received from the associated trusts. The following table does not include backlog associated with businesses held-for-sale.



	September 30, 2016						December 31, 2015
	Fair Value			Cost			Fair Value			Cost
				(In billions)
Deferred preneed funeral revenue	$	0.57		$	0.57		$	0.56		$	0.56
Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	1.56			1.53			1.51			1.56
	$	2.13		$	2.10		$	2.07		$	2.12
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.12		)	(0.12		)	(0.16		)	(0.16		)
Backlog of trust-funded preneed funeral revenue	$	2.01		$	1.98		$	1.91		$	1.96
Backlog of insurance-funded preneed revenue⁽¹⁾	5.34			5.34			5.10			5.10
Total backlog of preneed funeral revenue	$	7.35		$	7.32		$	7.01		$	7.06
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	$	1.82		$	1.79		$	1.76		$	1.81
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.10		)	(0.10		)	(0.15		)	(0.15		)
Assets associated with backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed funeral revenue, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	1.72		$	1.69		$	1.61		$	1.66
Insurance policies associated with insurance-funded deferred revenue, net of estimated allowance for cancellation⁽¹⁾	5.34			5.34			5.10			5.10
Total assets associated with backlog of preneed funeral revenue, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	7.06		$	7.03		$	6.71		$	6.76

Deferred preneed cemetery revenue	$	1.18		$	1.18		$	1.12		$	1.12
Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	1.57			1.52			1.46			1.51
	$	2.75		$	2.70		$	2.58		$	2.63
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.11		)	(0.11		)
Total backlog of deferred cemetery revenue	$	2.60		$	2.55		$	2.47		$	2.52
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	$	2.47		$	2.42		$	2.32		$	2.37
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.12		)	(0.12		)
Total assets associated with backlog of deferred cemetery revenue, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	2.32		$	2.27		$	2.20		$	2.25


(1)	Amounts are not included in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The fair value of our trust investments was based on a combination of quoted market prices, observable inputs such as interest rates or yield curves, and appraisals. As of September 30, 2016, the difference between the backlog and asset fair value amounts represents $0.26 billion related to contracts for which we have posted surety bonds as financial assurance in lieu of trusting, $0.11 billion collected from customers that were not required to be deposited into trust, and $0.20 billion in allowable cash distributions from trust assets.

The table also reflects the amounts expected to be received from insurance companies through the assignment of policy proceeds related to insurance-funded contracts. We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed amounts in our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet because they are not assets or liabilities as defined in Statement of Accounting Concepts No. 6 as we have no claim to the insurance proceeds until the contract is fulfilled and no obligation under the contract until the benefits are assigned to us upon or after the time of need.

Trust Investments

In addition to selling our products and services to client families at the time of need, we enter into price-guaranteed preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, which provide for future funeral or cemetery merchandise and services. Since preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise or services will generally not be provided until sometime in the future, most states and provinces require that all or a portion of the funds collected from customers on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts be paid into trusts and/or escrow accounts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. Investment earnings associated with the trust investments are expected to mitigate the inflationary costs of providing the preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services in the future at the prices that were guaranteed at the time of sale.

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Also, we are required by state and provincial law to pay a portion of the proceeds from the preneed or atneed sale of cemetery property interment rights into perpetual care trusts. For these investments, the original corpus remains in the trust in perpetuity and the net ordinary earnings are distributed with the intention of offsetting the expense to maintain the cemetery property. While many states require that net capital gains or losses be retained and added to the corpus, certain states allow the net realized capital gains and losses to be included in the net ordinary earnings that are distributed.

Independent trustees manage and invest the majority of the funds deposited into the funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts as well as the cemetery perpetual care trusts. The majority of trustees are selected based on their respective geographic footprint and qualifications per state and provincial regulations. Most of the trustees engage the same independent investment managers. These trustees, with input from SCI's wholly-owned registered investment advisor, establish an investment policy that serves as an operating document to guide the investment activities of the trusts including asset allocation and manager selection. The investments are also governed by state and provincial guidelines. Asset allocation is based on the liability structure of each funeral, cemetery, and perpetual care trust. The investment advisor recommends investment managers to the trustees, which are selected on the basis of various criteria set forth in the investment policy. The primary investment objectives for the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts include 1) preserving capital within acceptable levels of volatility and risk and 2) achieving growth of principal over time sufficient to preserve and increase the purchasing power of the assets. Preneed funeral and cemetery contracts generally take years to mature; therefore, the funds associated with these contracts are often invested through several market cycles. The cemetery perpetual care trusts' investment objectives emphasize providing a steady stream of current investment income with some capital appreciation. All of the trusts seek to control risk and volatility through a combination of asset classes, investment styles, and a diverse mix of investment managers.

As of September 30, 2016, approximately 87% of our trusts were under the control and custody of three large financial institutions. The U.S. trustees primarily use three managed limited liability companies (LLCs), one for each trust type, and each with a different independent trustee as custodian. Each financial institution acting as trustee manages its allocation of trust assets in accordance with the investment policy through the purchase of the LLCs' units. For those accounts not eligible for participation in the LLCs or in the event a particular state's regulations contain investment restrictions, the trustee utilizes institutional mutual funds that comply with our investment policy or with such state restrictions. The U.S. trusts include a modest allocation to alternative investments, which comprise private equity and real estate investments. These investments are structured as LLCs and are managed by certain trustees. The trusts that are eligible to allocate a portion of their investments to alternative investments purchase units of the respective LLCs.

Investment Structures

Each financial institution, acting as trustee, manages its allocation of trust assets in compliance with the investment policy primarily through the purchase of three managed limited liability companies (LLCs), one or each trust type and each with a different, independent trustee acting as custodian. The managed LLCs use the following structures for investments:

Commingled funds. These funds allow the trusts to access, at a reduced cost, the same investment managers and strategies used elsewhere in the portfolios.

Mutual funds. The trust funds employ institutional share class mutual funds where operationally or economically efficient. These mutual funds are utilized to invest in various asset classes including U.S. equities, non-U.S. equities, corporate bonds, government bonds, Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS), high yield bonds, and commodities, all of which are governed by guidelines outlined in their individual prospectuses.

Separately managed accounts. To reduce the costs to the investment portfolios, the trusts utilize separately managed accounts where appropriate.

For those accounts not eligible for participation in the managed LLCs, the trustee utilizes institutional share class mutual funds that comply with our investment policy statement or with applicable state or provincial regulations. The U.S. trusts also include a modest allocation to alternative investments, which comprise primarily private equity investments. These investments are also held in LLCs and are managed by certain trustees.

Asset Classes

Fixed income investments are intended to preserve principal, provide a source of current income, and reduce overall portfolio volatility. The majority of the fixed income allocation for the trusts is in institutional share class mutual funds. Where the trusts have direct investments in individual fixed income securities, these are primarily in government and corporate instruments.

Canadian government fixed income securities are investments in Canadian federal and provincial government instruments. In many cases, regulatory restrictions mandate that the funds from the sales of preneed funeral and cemetery products sold in certain Canadian jurisdictions must be invested in these instruments.

Equity investments have historically provided long-term capital appreciation in excess of inflation. The trusts have direct investments in individual equity securities primarily in domestic equity portfolios that include large, mid, and small capitalization companies of different investment styles (i.e., growth and value). The majority of the equity allocation is managed by institutional investment managers that specialize in an objective-specific area of expertise. Our equity securities

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are exposed to market risk; however, we believe these securities are well-diversified. As of September 30, 2016, the largest single equity position represented less than 1% of the total securities portfolio.

The objective of private equity investments is to provide high rates of return with reduced volatility. These investments are typically long-term in duration. These investments are diversified by strategy, sector, manager, and vintage year. The investments consist of numerous limited partnerships, including private equity, real estate, fund of funds, distressed debt, and mezzanine financing. The trustees that have oversight of their respective alternative LLCs work closely with the investment advisor in making all investment decisions.

Trust Performance

The trust fund income recognized from these investment assets is volatile. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index increased 7.8% and the Barclay’s Aggregate Index increased 5.8%, while the combined SCI trusts increased 7.7%.

SCI, the trustees, and the investment advisor monitor the capital markets and the trusts on an ongoing basis. The trustees, with input from the investment advisor, take prudent action as needed to achieve the investment goals and objectives of the trusts.

Results of Operations — Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

Management Summary

In the third quarter of 2016, we reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $47.7 million ($0.24 per diluted share) compared to net income attributable to common stockholders in the third quarter of 2015 of $47.4 million ($0.23 per diluted share). These results were affected by the following items:



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Pre-tax gains from divestitures and impairment, net	$	557		$	10,764
Pre-tax losses from the early extinguishment of debt	$	(25	)	$	(6,918	)
Pre-tax expenses related to system transition costs	$	(2,252	)	$	(124	)
Tax provision from above items	$	(1,467	)	$	(1,131	)
Change in certain tax reserves and other	$	(768	)	$	(1,042	)

In addition to the above items, growth in cemetery revenue, higher recognized preneed funeral revenue, lower interest expense, and effective management of our back office overhead expenses were partially offset by lower funeral services performed and increases in cemetery administrative and maintenance costs.

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Funeral Results



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(Dollars in millions, except average revenue per service)
Consolidated funeral revenue	$	445.5		$	449.3
Less: Revenue associated with acquisitions/new construction	6.8			2.0
Less: Revenue associated with divestitures	0.7			2.4
Comparable¹ funeral revenue	438.0			444.9
Less: Comparable recognized preneed revenue	27.4			25.5
Less: Comparable general agency and other revenue	30.3			35.6
Adjusted comparable funeral revenue	$	380.3		$	383.8
Comparable services performed	71,717			73,062
Comparable average revenue per service²	$	5,303		$	5,253

Consolidated funeral gross profit	$	75.6		$	77.7
Less: Gross profit (loss) associated with acquisitions/new construction	0.8			(0.2		)
Less: Gross loss associated with divestitures	(0.3		)	(0.4		)
Comparablefuneral gross profit	$	75.1		$	78.3


(1)	We define comparable (or same store) operations as those funeral locations owned by us for the entire period beginning January 1, 2015 and ending September 30, 2016.

(2)

We calculate comparable average revenue per service by dividing comparable funeral revenue, excluding general agency revenue, recognized preneed revenue, and other revenue to avoid distorting our average of normal funeral services revenue, by the comparable number of services performed during the period. Recognized preneed revenues are preneed sales of merchandise that are delivered at the time of sale, including memorial merchandise and travel protection, and are excluded from our calculation of comparable average revenue per service because the associated service has not yet been performed.

Funeral Revenue

Consolidated revenue from funeral operations was $445.5 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $449.3 million for the same period in 2015. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $6.9 million decrease in comparable revenue as described below as well as the loss of $1.7 million in revenue contributed by properties that have been subsequently divested. These decreases were partially offset by $4.8 million in revenue contributed by acquired properties.

Comparable revenue from funeral operations was $438.0 million for the third quarter of 2016 compared to $444.9 million for the same period in 2015. This $6.9 million decrease was primarily due to a 1.8% decrease in comparable services performed and lower general agency revenue due to a temporary mix change between trust and insurance production as well as the decision to cease production at the Catholic mortuaries in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.9 million increase in recognized preneed revenue driven by an increase in the number of contracts sold through our non-funeral home channel and the average price per contract. The decrease in services performed comprises a 2.3% decrease in services performed by our funeral homes offset by a 3.4% increase in cremation services performed by our non-funeral home channel.

Average revenue per funeral service increased 1.0% in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2015. Organic growth at the customer level of 2.1% was partially offset by the increase in our cremation mix. Our total comparable cremation rate increased to 52.1% in the third quarter of 2016 from 51.3% in 2015 as a result of an increase in both direct cremations and cremations with service.

Funeral Gross Profit

Consolidated funeral gross profit decreased $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in comparable funeral gross profit of $3.2 million, or 4.1%. The impact of the decline in higher margin core revenue due to lower funeral services performed and a decline in general agency revenue was partially offset by lower operating expenses and increases in recognized preneed revenue from our non-funeral home channel.

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Cemetery Results



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In millions)
Consolidated cemetery revenue	$	276.0		$	265.2
Less: Revenue associated with acquisitions/new construction	2.0			1.8
Less: Revenue associated with divestitures	—			0.3
Comparable¹ cemetery revenue	$	274.0		$	263.1

Consolidated cemetery gross profit	$	65.2		$	63.9
Less: Gross profit associated with acquisitions/new construction	0.4			0.8
Less: Gross loss associated with divestitures	(0.2		)	—
Comparable cemetery gross profit	$	65.0		$	63.1


(1)	We define comparable (or same store) operations as those cemetery locations owned by us for the entire period beginning January 1, 2015 and ending September 30, 2016.

Cemetery Revenue

Consolidated revenue from our cemetery operations increased $10.8 million, or 4.1%, in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily due to a $10.9 million increase in comparable cemetery revenue in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This increase primarily resulted from increased recognized preneed revenue from higher preneed sales production and higher merchandise deliveries.

Cemetery Gross Profit

Consolidated cemetery gross profit increased $1.3 million, or 2.0%, in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This increase is primarily the result of a $1.9 million increase in comparable gross profit primarily driven by growth in recognized preneed revenue, partially offset by increases in cemetery administrative and maintenance costs.

Other Financial Statement Items

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $1.0 million to $26.9 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to $27.9 million in the same period of 2015. The current quarter includes an increase of $2.2 million in system transition costs primarily related to the 2016 implementation of a new general ledger system. Excluding this $2.2 million, general and administrative expenses decreased $3.2 million compared to prior year quarter as we effectively managed our back office overhead expenses.

Gains (Losses) on Divestitures and Impairment Charges, Net

Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net decreased $10.2 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same period of 2015 as we divested non-strategic funeral and cemetery locations in the prior year quarter.

Interest expense

Interest expense decreased $4.4 million to $39.5 million in the third quarter of 2016 as we benefited from the debt refinancings over the past year by lowering interest on our Senior Notes and increasing our proportion of lower variable rate debt.

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

During the third quarter of 2015, we recognized a $6.9 million loss on early extinguishment of debt as we took advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance our 6.75% Senior Notes due 2016.

Provision for Income Taxes

Weighted Average Shares

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The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding was 196.6 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to 203.4 million in the same period in 2015. The decrease in the number of shares reflects the impact of shares repurchased under our share repurchase program.

Results of Operations — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

Management Summary

In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $110.8 million ($0.56 per diluted share) compared to net income attributable to common stockholders for the same period in 2015 of $161.4 million ($0.78 per diluted share). These results were affected by the following items:



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In thousands)
Pre-tax (losses) gains from divestitures and impairment, net	$	(30,432	)	$	3,403
Pre-tax losses from the early extinguishment of debt	$	(22,503	)	$	(6,918	)
Pre-tax acquisition and integration costs	$	(5,486	)	$	(2,968	)
Pre-tax expenses related to system transition costs	$	(11,216	)	$	(1,082	)
Tax benefit from above items	$	21,079		$	2,560
Change in certain tax reserves and other	$	(3,426	)	$	(1,754	)

In addition to the above items, growth in cemetery revenue, higher recognized preneed funeral revenue, lower interest expense, and effective management of our back office overhead were partially offset by lower funeral services performed and increases in cemetery administrative and maintenance costs.

Funeral Results



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(Dollars in millions, except average revenue per service)
Consolidated funeral revenue	$	1,404.6		$	1,428.5
Less: Revenue associated with acquisitions/new construction	12.8			3.8
Less: Revenue associated with divestitures	1.3			8.9
Comparable¹ funeral revenue	1,390.5			1,415.8
Less: Comparable recognized preneed revenue	85.1			74.0
Less: Comparable general agency and other revenue	101.0			100.3
Adjusted comparable funeral revenue	$	1,204.4		$	1,241.5
Comparable services performed	228,221			236,519
Comparable average revenue per service²	$	5,277		$	5,249

Consolidated funeral gross profit	$	273.9		$	299.8
Less: Gross profit associated with acquisitions/new construction	1.1			0.1
Less: Gross loss associated with divestitures	(1.6		)	(2.6		)
Comparablefuneral gross profit	$	274.4		$	302.3


(1)	We define comparable (or same store) operations as those funeral locations owned by us for the entire period beginning January 1, 2015 and ending September 30, 2016.

(2)

Funeral Revenue

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Consolidated revenue from funeral operations was $1,404.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to $1,428.5 million for the same period in 2015. This decrease is primarily attributable to a $25.3 million decrease in comparable revenue as described below.

Comparable revenue from funeral operations was $1,390.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to $1,415.8 million for the same period in 2015. This decrease was primarily due to a 3.5% decrease in comparable services performed, impacted by an unusually strong flu season in the first half of 2015. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in recognized preneed revenue driven by an increase in the number of contracts sold through our non-funeral home channel and the average price per contract. The decrease in services performed comprises a 4.1% decrease in services performed by our funeral homes partially offset by a 3.3% increase in cremation services performed by our non-funeral home channel.

Average revenue per funeral service increased 0.5% in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Organic growth at the customer level of 2.7% was largely offset by the increase in our cremation mix, lower trust fund income, and an unfavorable Canadian currency impact. Our total comparable cremation rate increased to 51.9% in the first nine months of 2016 from 51.0% in 2015 as a result of an increase in both direct cremations and cremations with service.

The decrease in funeral services performed was partially offset by a $3.4 million increase in general agency revenue from higher preneed insurance sales production and an $11.1 million increase in recognized preneed revenue as we sold more contracts through our non-funeral home channel and the average contract price increased.

Funeral Gross Profit

Consolidated funeral gross profit decreased $25.9 million in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in comparable funeral gross profit of $27.9 million. The decline in higher margin revenue from funeral services performed by our funeral homes was partially offset by lower operating expenses and increased gross profit from recognized preneed revenue.

Cemetery Results



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(In millions)
Consolidated cemetery revenue	$	817.5		$	788.3
Less: Revenue associated with acquisitions/new construction	6.4			3.3
Less: Revenue associated with divestitures	0.1			0.7
Comparable¹ cemetery revenue	$	811.0		$	784.3

Consolidated cemetery gross profit	$	191.7		$	187.0
Less: Gross profit associated with acquisitions/new construction	1.8			1.3
Less: Gross loss associated with divestitures	(0.3		)	(0.2		)
Comparable cemetery gross profit	$	190.2		$	185.9


(1)	We define comparable (or same store) operations as those cemetery locations owned by us for the entire period beginning January 1, 2015 and ending September 30, 2016.

Cemetery Revenue

Consolidated revenue from our cemetery operations increased $29.2 million, or 3.7%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 primarily attributable to the $26.7 million increase in comparable revenue. The increase in comparable revenue is primarily the result of an increase in recognized preneed revenue, higher preneed property production, and an increase in cash distributions of capital gains received from perpetual care trusts.

Cemetery Gross Profit

Consolidated cemetery gross profit increased $4.7 million, or 2.5%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. This increase is primarily the result of a $4.3 million increase in comparable gross profit. The gross profit increase was driven by growth in recognized preneed and atneed revenue and higher preneed property production, partially offset by increased selling commissions from higher sales production and increases in cemetery administrative and maintenance costs.

Other Financial Statement Items

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses increased $5.8 million to $102.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to $96.9 million in the same period of 2015. The current period includes $5.5 million in acquisition costs and

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$11.2 million in system transition costs primarily related to our 2016 implementation of a new general ledger system. The prior year period includes $4.1 million of acquisition and system transition costs. Excluding these costs, general and administrative expenses decreased $6.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 as we effectively managed our back office overhead expenses.

Gains (Losses) on Divestitures and Impairment Charges, Net

Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net decreased $33.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the same period of 2015. The nine months ended September 30, 2016 includes $31.2 million of impairment charges related to the planned divestiture of certain funeral homes in Los Angeles, California. The nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily comprises losses on the divestiture of underperforming properties.

Interest expense

Interest expense decreased $7.9 million to $122.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 as we benefited from the debt refinancings over the past year by lowering interest on our Senior Notes and increasing our proportion of lower variable rate debt.

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

We incurred a $22.5 million loss on early extinguishment of debt in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily to manage our near-term debt maturity profile and lower our effective interest rate by refinancing our Senior Notes due 2017. We expect this transaction to result in cash interest savings of approximately $9.0 million in 2016.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we recognized a $6.9 million loss on early extinguishment of debt as we took advantage of historically low interest rates to refinance out 6.75% Senior Notes due 2016.

Provision for Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items, which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates due to the finalization of tax returns, tax audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations, and increases or decreases in valuation allowances. Our effective tax rate was 40.8% and 36.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The higher effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is primarily due to the impairment charges described above and the increased interest expense accruals associated with uncertain tax positions.

Weighted Average Shares

The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding was 197.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to 206.0 million in the same period in 2015. The decrease in the number of shares reflects the impact of shares repurchased under our share repurchase program.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

There were no significant changes to our accounting policies that have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2015, except as described below within Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes

For discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and accounting changes, see Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 2.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” or “predict,” that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by us, or on our behalf. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:


•	Our affiliated 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.


•	We may be required to replenish our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds in order to meet minimum funding requirements, which would have a negative effect on our earnings and cash flow.

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•	Our ability to execute our strategic plan depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.


•	Our credit agreements contain covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions.


•	If we lost the ability to use surety bonding to support our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery activities, we may be required to make material cash payments to fund certain trust funds.


•	The funeral and cemetery industry is competitive.


•	Increasing death benefits related to preneed contracts funded through life insurance contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed service.


•	The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts may impact our future revenue.


•	Unfavorable results of litigation could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.


•	Unfavorable publicity could affect our reputation and business.


•	If the number of deaths in our markets declines, our cash flows and revenue may decrease.


•	If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences, our market share, revenue, and profitability could decrease.


•	The continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America could result in lower revenue and gross profit.


•	Our funeral home and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses.


•	Regulation and compliance could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.


•	Cemetery burial practice legal claims could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.


•	We use a combination of insurance, self-insurance and large deductibles in managing our exposure to certain inherent risks, as such, we could be exposed to unexpected costs that could negatively affect our financial performance.


•	A number of years elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have established accruals, are audited and finally resolved.


•	Declines in overall economic conditions beyond our control could reduce future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future impairments to goodwill and/or other intangible assets.


•	Any failure to maintain the security of the information relating to our customers, their loved ones, our associates, and our vendors could damage our reputation, could cause us to incur substantial additional costs and to become subject to litigation, and could adversely affect our operating results.


•	Our Canadian business exposes us to operational, economic, and currency risks.


•	Our level of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, and may prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness.


•	Failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our results of operations, investor confidence, and our stock price.

For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Marketable Equity and Debt Securities — Price Risk

In connection with our preneed operations and sales, the related trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices.

Cost and market values as of September 30, 2016 are presented in Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements and Notes 3, 4, and 5 of this Form 10-Q. Also, see Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Financial Conditions, Liquidity and Capital Resources, for discussion of trust investments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2016, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)). Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Securities and

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Exchange Commission (SEC) reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time period specified by the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on our evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2016 and that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with US GAAP.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

On July 5, 2016, we deployed a new financial management system that is an integrated and scalable application leveraged to interface with other internal and external computer systems and has resulted in the elimination of certain manual processes while automating and streamlining those tasks. The new financial management system is intended to provide enhanced transactional processing, analysis, and reporting compared to our legacy system and is further intended to strengthen our internal controls over financial reporting. Other than the new financial management system, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting as for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 14 in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q, which information is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our Risk Factors as set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On September 30, 2016, we issued 1,623 deferred common stock equivalents, or units, pursuant to provisions regarding dividends under the Amended and Restated Director Fee Plan to four non-employee directors and one estate of a former director. We did not receive any monetary consideration for the issuances. These issuances were unregistered because they did not constitute a “sale” within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The following table summarizes our share repurchases during the three months ended September 30, 2016:



Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs	Dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program
July 1, 2016 - July 31, 2016	284,692	$	28.09	284,692	$	191,496,529
August 1, 2016 - August 31, 2016	608,140	$	27.06	608,140	$	175,037,934
September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016	3,340,036	$	26.07	3,340,036	$	87,979,735
	4,232,868			4,232,868

Item 6. Exhibits



12.1	Ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.
31.1	Certification of Thomas L. Ryan as Principal Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Thomas L. Ryan as Principal Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101	Interactive data file.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



October 27, 2016		SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
	By:	/s/ Tammy Moore
		Tammy Moore
		Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)