Stewart Enterprises Reports Results for the Third Quarter of 2013

JEFFERSON, La., Sept. 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stewart Enterprises, Inc. STEI reported today its results for the third quarter of 2013.

Thomas M. Kitchen, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The third quarter of 2013 proved to be a challenging period for the Company, with the pending merger with SCI and continued refinements to our sales initiatives. When we started our new sales initiatives, we expected it would be a process that while beneficial in the long-term, would cause short-term disruptions.  In July 2013, we experienced the best month of cemetery property sales since the implementation of the new sales initiatives earlier this year, which we believe indicates that the initiatives are generating positive momentum. We continue to believe that the new structure will improve customer service and increase preneed sales over time.   Operating results were also impacted adversely by the timing of revenue recognition for cemetery construction projects and for cemetery property sales.  As construction occurs and additional payments are received, these contracts will be recognized as revenue in the future.  Additionally, margins for the quarter were negatively impacted due to expenses that exceeded the prior year quarter, particularly increased selling expenses for sales of preneed funerals, which are recognized currently while the related revenue is deferred to a future period. We are continuing to refine the overall sales compensation program."

Mr. Kitchen continued, "Fiscal year 2013 continues to be a very successful year for the Company and our shareholders. For the first nine months of 2013, we increased total revenue by $10 million and gross profit by $6 million, which reflects the highest nine month revenue and gross profit in five years. In addition, we improved adjusted earnings by 13 percent, operating cash flow by 16.5 percent and our investment portfolio has generated a total return of 10 percent over the past nine months. Some additional highlights of the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 include:

• Improving overall revenue, gross profit in dollars and margin and earnings from continuing operations compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2012;
   
• Generating operating cash flow of $68.4 million, or a 16.5 percent improvement, and free cash flow of $54.1 million, or more than a 14 percent improvement, compared to the same period of last year. As of July 31, 2013, we had more than $117 million of cash and marketable securities with no amounts borrowed on our $150 million credit facility;
   
• Realizing a 7 percent improvement in adjusted EBITDA to $88.6 million or a 22.3 percent adjusted EBITDA margin, as discussed in the table "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures;" and
   
• Producing total returns of 11 percent in our preneed trusts and 8 percent in our cemetery perpetual care trusts."

Mr. Kitchen concluded, "We are pleased with the progress of the activities related to the pending merger with SCI over the past three months. We continue to expect it will be completed in late 2013 or early 2014."

Definitive Merger Agreement with Service Corporation International

On May 29, 2013, the Company announced that it entered into a definitive merger agreement with SCI.  Pursuant to the agreement, holders of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock will receive $13.25 in cash for each share of common stock.   The transaction was approved by the Company's shareholders on August 13, 2013. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR Act") or of any agreement with the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") not to consummate the merger. On July 17, 2013, the Company announced that it and SCI had received second requests from the FTC, which extends the waiting period under the HSR Act until the 30th day after substantial compliance by SCI and the Company with the requests, unless that period is extended voluntarily by the parties or terminated sooner by the FTC. Subsequently, the Company and SCI have entered into an agreement with the FTC not to consummate the merger prior to 90 days after both SCI and Stewart certify substantial compliance with the second request, or December 13, 2013, whichever is earlier. The parties may close the merger sooner if the FTC grants early termination, closes its investigation or accepts for public comment a proposed consent agreement settling the matter.  The Company is preparing responses to the second request and continues to anticipate that the transaction will close in late calendar year 2013 or early 2014. For additional information, see the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2013.

Third Quarter Results

FUNERAL

• Funeral revenue declined $0.2 million, or 0.3 percent, to $68.7 million for the third quarter of 2013. This decline is primarily due to a 0.4 percent decrease in same-store funeral services performed, coupled with a 0.7 percent decrease in same-store average revenue per funeral service. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company experienced a $0.7 million increase in revenue related to trust activities.
   
• Funeral gross profit decreased $1.8 million, or 11.4 percent, to $14.0 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $15.8 million for the same period of 2012. Funeral gross profit margin declined 250 basis points to 20.4 percent for the third quarter of 2013 from 22.9 percent for the third quarter of 2012. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company continued to refine its sales compensation plan, which resulted in an increase of preneed selling costs of $1.5 million. This negatively affected the Company's third quarter results, because preneed selling costs are expensed as incurred, while preneed funeral sales are deferred until they are performed. The Company is continuing to refine its sales compensation plan to seek the appropriate balance between preneed production and current period expenses.
   
• The cremation rate for the Company's same-store operations was 44.9 percent for the third quarter of 2013 compared to 43.8 percent for the third quarter of 2012.
   
• Net preneed funeral sales decreased 2.0 percent during the third quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.

CEMETERY

• Cemetery revenue decreased $2.0 million, or 3.3 percent, to $58.4 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $60.4 million during the third quarter of 2012. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company experienced a $3.0 million decline in revenue due to the timing of revenue recognition for both construction of cemetery projects and the payments for cemetery property sales. Due to the nature of these items, revenue recognition does not happen evenly throughout the year. As construction occurs and additional payments are received, these contracts will be recognized as revenue in the future. In addition, the Company experienced a strong third quarter in fiscal year 2012 of revenue recognized from these items. These results were partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in revenue related to trust activities and a $0.9 million improvement in merchandise delivered and services performed.
   
• Cemetery property sales were essentially flat compared to the third quarter of 2012. These results are the strongest quarter of property sales since the implementation of the new sales initiatives earlier this year, due primarily to strong sales throughout the month of July.
   
• Cemetery gross profit decreased $2.0 million, or 17.9 percent, to $9.2 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $11.2 million for the same period of 2012. Cemetery gross profit margin declined 270 basis points to 15.8 percent for the third quarter of 2013 from 18.5 percent for the same period of 2012. The decline is primarily due to the decrease in revenue, as previously noted.

OTHER

• Corporate general and administrative expenses improved $0.9 million to $6.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013. The Company reduced its accrual for annual incentive compensation based on third quarter results.
   
• During the three months ended July 31, 2013, the Company incurred $3.1 million in merger-related costs which consist primarily of legal fees.
   
• The effective tax rate for continuing operations for the quarter ended July 31, 2013 was 0.6 percent compared to 27.9 percent for the same period in 2012.   The reduced rate during the third quarter of 2013 is primarily due to a change in Puerto Rican tax legislation that increased the top tax rate for businesses from 30 percent to 39 percent. This new tax legislation reverses the tax legislation passed in January 2011. As a result, the Company revalued its Puerto Rican deferred tax assets, resulting in a one-time non-cash benefit of $3.0 million, net. During the third quarter of the prior year, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.1 million resulting from a reduction in the valuation allowance for capital losses, associated with the improved performance of the Company's trust portfolio. The Company did not have an adjustment to its valuation allowance during the third quarter of 2013.

Year to Date Results

FUNERAL

• Funeral revenue increased $8.3 million, or 3.9 percent, to $222.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013. Same-store funeral services performed increased 4.3 percent, or 1,736 events. In addition, the Company experienced a $1.1 million improvement in revenue related to trust activities. These increases were partially offset by a 0.4 percent decrease in same-store average revenue per funeral service.
   
• Funeral gross profit increased $0.7 million, or 1.3 percent, to $53.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to the $8.3 million improvement in revenue, as previously noted.  Funeral gross profit margin declined 60 basis points to 24.2 percent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 from 24.8 percent for the same period of 2012, due in part to an increase in preneed selling costs, as previously discussed.
   
• The cremation rate for the Company's same-store operations was 43.8 percent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 compared to 43.2 percent for the corresponding period of 2012.
   
• Net preneed funeral sales decreased 5.2 percent during the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period of 2012.  As part of the integration of its operations and sales teams, the Company revised its organizational structure and compensation packages. These actions negatively impacted preneed funeral sales and cemetery property sales for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013. The Company anticipated these changes would create challenges, and is taking the necessary steps to address them. The Company has been recruiting, hiring and training new counselors. The Company continues to believe that the new structure will improve customer service and increase preneed sales over time. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.

CEMETERY

• Cemetery revenue increased $1.6 million, or 0.9 percent, to $174.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013. The Company produced a $4.9 million increase in revenue related to trust activities and a $3.2 million improvement in merchandise delivered and services performed. In addition, the Company generated a $3.1 million increase in revenue recognized for cemetery property sales for which the down payment required for revenue recognition was received and a $1.6 million increase in revenue recognized from the construction of various cemetery projects. These increases were partially offset by a $1.3 million decline in finance charges.
   
• Cemetery property sales declined $9.3 million, or 11.9 percent, compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2012, primarily due to the revised sales initiatives, as previously discussed.
   
• Cemetery gross profit increased $5.3 million, or 18.6 percent, to $33.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013. Cemetery gross profit margin improved 290 basis points to 19.4 percent for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 from 16.5 percent for the corresponding period of fiscal year 2012. The increase in gross profit is primarily due to a reduction in property and related selling costs, coupled with the improvement in revenue, as previously noted.

OTHER

• During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, the Company incurred $3.7 million in merger-related costs which consist primarily of financial advisory and legal fees.
   
• During the first nine months of the prior fiscal year, the Company recorded $2.9 million in restructuring and other charges. These charges were primarily related to separation pay, termination benefits and a non-cash asset impairment due to the restructuring of the sales and operations of the organization, as well as a separate reduction in workforce associated with the Company's ongoing continuous improvement initiative.
   
• Other operating income, net increased $0.9 million compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2012 primarily due to the sale of excess cemetery land during fiscal year 2013.
   
• The effective tax rate for continuing operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was 25.9 percent compared to 32.7 percent for the corresponding period in fiscal year 2012. The reduced rate for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 is primarily due to a change in Puerto Rican tax legislation that increased the top tax rate for businesses from 30 percent to 39 percent, as previously discussed. As a result, the Company revalued its Puerto Rican deferred tax assets, resulting in a one-time non-cash benefit of $3.0 million, net. In addition, the Company benefitted from a $2.7 million and a $2.1 million reduction in the valuation allowance for capital losses, associated with the positive performance of its trust portfolio for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
   
• During the nine months ended July 31, 2012, the Company decided to hold one of its e-commerce businesses for sale. The results of operations and the related impairment resulted in a net loss of $1.4 million in discontinued operations.

Cash Flow Results and Debt for Total Operations

• Cash flow provided by operating activities for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $23.3 million compared to $30.3 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in operating cash flow is due in part to the decline in net earnings, coupled with additional net tax payments in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the same period of last year.
   
• Cash flow provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2013 was $68.4 million compared to $58.7 million for the same period in fiscal year 2012. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2013, the Company generated an $8.7 million improvement in net earnings. In addition, the Company experienced a change in working capital, partly driven by a $4.5 million decline in spending on cemetery development projects and a $2.1 million improvement in cash flow from receivables due in part to the decline in preneed funeral and cemetery property sales, which are typically financed. These changes were partially offset by the timing of trust withdrawals and deposits, coupled with additional net tax payments in the first nine months of fiscal year 2013.
   
• Free cash flow was $17.5 million and $54.1 million for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2013, respectively, compared to $26.7 million and $47.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal year 2012, respectively, primarily due to the changes in operating cash flow, as described above. See table "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for additional information on free cash flow.
   
• The Company paid $.045 per share in dividends in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, compared to $.040 per share in the prior year period. The Company paid $11.0 million, or $.13 per share, in dividends in the first nine months of fiscal year 2013, compared to $10.0 million, or $.115 per share, in the corresponding period of last year.

Trust Performance

The following total returns include realized and unrealized gains and losses:

• For the quarter ended July 31, 2013, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced a total return of 0.4 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced a total decline of 0.9 percent.
   
• For the twelve months ended July 31, 2013, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced a total return of 13.3 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced a total return of 10.8 percent.
   
• For the three years ended July 31, 2013, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an average annual total return of 10.8 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an average annual total return of 10.4 percent.
   
• For the five years ended July 31, 2013, the Company's preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an average annual total return of 6.7 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an average annual total return of 8.2 percent.
   
• For fiscal year 2013, the fair market value of the Company's portfolio improved $45.1 million to $901.3 million as of July 31, 2013.

Founded in 1910, Stewart Enterprises, Inc. is the second largest provider of products and services in the death care industry in the United States. The Company currently owns and operates 217 funeral homes and 141 cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides a complete range of funeral and cremation merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services, both at the time of need and on a preneed basis. For additional information on Stewart Enterprises, Inc. please visit www.stewartenterprises.com.

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are generally identifiable through the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements rely on assumptions, estimates and predictions that could be inaccurate and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our goals or forecasts. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

• effects on our trusts and escrow accounts of changes in stock and bond prices and interest and dividend rates;
   
• effects of the substantial unrealized losses in the investments in our trusts, including:

• decreased future cash flow and earnings as a result of reduced earnings from our trusts and trust fund management;
   
• the potential to realize additional losses and additional cemetery perpetual care funding obligations and tax valuation allowances;

• effects on at-need and preneed sales of a weak economy;
   
• effects on revenue due to the changes in the number of deaths in our markets and recent annual declines in funeral call volume;
   
• effects on our revenue and earnings of the continuing national trend toward increased cremation and the increases in the percentage of cremations performed by us that are inexpensive direct cremations;
   
• effects on our future revenue and costs of our organizational restructuring designed to better integrate operations and sales, implemented primarily during the latter part of fiscal year 2012 and the beginning of fiscal year 2013;
   
• effects on cash flow and earnings as a result of increased costs, particularly supply costs related to increases in commodity prices;
   
• effects on our market share, prices, revenues and margins of intensified price competition or improved advertising and marketing by competitors, including low-cost casket providers and increased offerings of products or services over the Internet;
   
• risk of loss due to hurricanes and other natural disasters;
   
• effects of the call options the Company purchased and the warrants the Company sold on our Class A common stock and the effects of the outstanding warrants on the ownership interest of our current stockholders;
   
• our ability to pay future dividends on our common stock;
   
• the effects on us as a result of our industry's complex accounting model;
   
• the occurrence of any circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company related to the merger agreement; the inability to complete the transaction due to the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the transaction, including the receipt of all regulatory approvals related to the transaction; the disruption of management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations due to the transaction; the effect of the announcement of the transaction on the Company's relationships with its customers, operating results and business generally;

and other risks and uncertainties described in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2012 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2013, filed with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation or intent to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.