Carriage Services stock in focus after lower 2026 outlook

Published on 11/12/2026 at 02:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Carriage Services stock remains in focus after management reduced its 2026 targets. Funeral volumes improved, but cemetery weakness hurt the quarter.

Outlook reset weighs on Carriage Services

Weaker cemetery pre-need sales led management to reduce its 2026 targets.
Funeral contract volumes recovered in the third quarter, while acquisitions remain part of the growth plan.
Analysts responded with lower valuation targets, highlighting greater near-term execution risk.

CSV, US1439051079, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Carriage Services lowered its 2026 financial outlook after weaker cemetery pre-need sales weighed on third-quarter performance. In its November 4 earnings release, the funeral-services company said third-quarter revenue fell 2.4 percent year over year to USD 100.3 million, while adjusted diluted earnings per share declined to USD 0.59 from USD 0.75.

Management now expects 2026 revenue of USD 415 million to USD 420 million, adjusted EBITDA of USD 125 million to USD 130 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share of USD 2.90 to USD 3.05. The previous outlook called for revenue of USD 435 million to USD 445 million, adjusted EBITDA of USD 135 million to USD 140 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share of USD 3.35 to USD 3.55.

Cemetery weakness offsets funeral recovery

The cemetery segment was the main drag. Comparable cemetery revenue declined 7.8 percent to USD 32.5 million, while comparable cemetery EBITDA fell to USD 13.6 million from USD 17.1 million. Management said the weakness was concentrated in California and described changes to pricing, inventory, lead generation, recruiting and sales leadership.

Funeral operations provided a partial counterweight. Same-store funeral contracts increased 2.3 percent in the quarter after declines in the first half, and the consolidated average revenue per contract rose 1.9 percent. Insurance-funded pre-need funeral contracts sold increased 7 percent, according to the company.

Analysts reassess near-term prospects

Analyst opinion has become more cautious since the results. Markets Insider reported on November 5 that Barrington lowered its price target for Carriage Services from USD 50 to USD 40 while retaining an Outperform rating. The change followed the weaker quarter and the reduced company outlook.

Carriage Services stock traded at 25.90 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 11:00 p.m. CET on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The company has also announced acquisitions under contract or letters of intent representing more than USD 14 million in annual revenue, with closings expected in late 2026 and early 2027.

Funeral and cemetery services

Carriage Services, headquartered in Houston, Texas, provides funeral-home and cemetery services across the United States. Its funeral operations include memorial services, transportation, burial and cremation services, caskets and urns, while its cemetery operations cover interment rights and related merchandise. The company operates through these two segments and focuses on a specialized US market within consumer services.