Service Corporation International (SCI) 10-Q 26 Apr 18 2018 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information Document - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 24, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Service Corp International
Entity Central Index Key	89,089
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		183,343,868

Unaudited Condensed Consolidate

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Statement - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 794,482	$ 777,710
Costs and expenses	(598,720)	(600,471)
Operating profit	195,762	177,239
General and administrative expenses	(34,784)	(42,283)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	482	4,935
Hurricane Expenses, Net of Insurance Proceeds	2,232	0
Operating income	163,692	139,891
Interest expense	(43,576)	(40,636)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	(10,131)	0
Other income (expense), net	384	(729)
Income before income taxes	110,369	98,526
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(28,321)	76,223
Net Income	82,048	174,749
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(60)	(47)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 81,988	$ 174,702
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic	$ 0.44	$ 0.93
Basic weighted average number of shares	185,130	188,260
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.91
Diluted weighted average number of shares	189,923	192,867
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.17	$ 0.13

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat3

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 82,048	$ 174,749
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(9,592)	3,164
Total comprehensive income	72,456	177,913
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(57)	(47)
Total comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ 72,399	$ 177,866

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat4

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 219,507	$ 330,039
Receivables, net	77,080	90,304
Inventories	26,955	25,378
Other	27,463	35,575
Total current assets	351,005	481,296
Preneed receivables, net and trust investments	4,199,414	4,778,842
Cemetery property	1,794,070	1,791,989
Property and equipment, net	1,890,475	1,873,044
Goodwill	1,819,134	1,805,981
Deferred charges and other assets	877,690	601,184
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	1,497,220	1,532,167
Total assets	12,429,008	12,864,503
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	469,159	489,172
Current maturities of long-term debt	89,249	337,337
Income taxes payable	33,397	2,470
Total current liabilities	591,805	828,979
Long-term debt	3,316,695	3,135,316
Deferred revenue, net	1,337,045	1,789,776
Deferred tax liability	341,272	283,765
Other liabilities	403,877	410,982
Deferred receipts held in trust	3,431,781	3,475,430
Care trusts’ corpus	1,494,684	1,530,818
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 192,428,122 and 191,935,647 shares issued, respectively, and 184,011,668 and 186,614,747 shares outstanding, respectively	184,012	186,615
Capital in excess of par value	961,744	970,468
Retained earnings	333,864	210,364
Accumulated other comprehensive income	32,125	41,943
Total common stockholders’ equity	1,511,745	1,409,390
Noncontrolling interests	104	47
Total equity	1,511,849	1,409,437
Total liabilities and equity	$ 12,429,008	$ 12,864,503

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat5

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	192,428,122	191,935,647
Common stock, shares outstanding	184,011,668	186,614,747

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat6

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 82,048	$ 174,749
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	(10,131)	0
Depreciation and amortization	38,981	38,043
Amortization of intangibles	7,103	6,844
Amortization of cemetery property	12,825	13,881
Amortization of loan costs	1,518	1,433
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,158	2,484
Benefit from deferred income taxes	(1,692)	(149,585)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(482)	(4,935)
Share-based compensation	3,699	3,633
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease in receivables	11,587	10,959
Increase in other assets	(6,685)	(5,128)
Increase in payables and other liabilities	20,486	86,596
Effect of preneed production and maturities:
Decrease (increase) in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	9,742	(10,243)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	16,550	23,401
Increase (decrease) in deferred receipts held in trust	3,489	(4,019)
Net cash provided by operating activities	211,458	188,113
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(46,241)	(40,150)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(33,934)	(33,212)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	6,452	20,235
Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies	(9,246)	(2,827)
Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies	2,810	906
Other	70	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,089)	(55,048)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	185,000	35,000
Scheduled payments of debt	(8,535)	(8,787)
Early payments of debt	(259,594)	0
Principal payments on capital leases	7,646	21,055
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,989	15,261
Purchase of Company common stock	(118,797)	(83,460)
Payments of dividends	(31,348)	(24,433)
Bank overdrafts and other	(7,574)	(2,096)
Net cash used in financing activities	(243,505)	(89,570)
Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(1,145)	784
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(113,281)	44,279
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period	340,601	211,506
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period	$ 227,320	$ 255,785

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat7

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity Statement - 3 months ended Mar. 31, 2018 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,409,437	$ 191,936	$ (5,321)	$ 970,468	$ 210,364	$ 41,943	$ 47
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	72,456	0	0	0	81,988	(9,589)	57
Dividends declared on common stock	31,348	0	0	0	(31,348)	0	0
Employee share-based compensation earned	3,699	0	0	3,699	0	0	0
Stock option exercises	(4,989)	(282)	0	(4,707)	0	0	0
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	0	163	0	163	0	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	(118,797)	0	(3,095)	(16,101)	(99,601)	0	0
Other	(819)	47	0	(866)	0	0	0
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2018	1,511,849	$ 192,428	$ (8,416)	$ 961,744	333,864	32,125	$ 104
Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	$ 172,232				$ 172,461	$ (229)

Unaudited Condensed Consolidat8

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.17	$ 0.13

Nature of Operations (Notes)

Nature of Operations (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Nature of Operations [Abstract]
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 service and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and other 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, travel protection, 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 interments, are sold at our cemeteries.

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	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, 2017 , 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 except as described below under "Accounting Standards Adopted in 2018" . 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, 2017 . 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. Funeral and Cemetery Operations Revenue is recognized when control of the performance obligation is transferred to the customer. Our performance obligations include funeral and cemetery merchandise and services and cemetery property internment rights. Control transfers when merchandise is delivered or services are performed. For cemetery property interment rights, control transfers when construction is complete and the property is available for use by the customer. Once the property is constructed, the customer has obtained substantially all of the remaining benefits of the property. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our condensed consolidated financial statements. We sell price-guaranteed preneed contracts through various programs providing for future merchandise and services at prices prevailing when the agreements are signed. Revenue associated with sales of preneed contracts is deferred until merchandise is delivered or the services are performed, generally at the time of need. Travel protection and certain memorialization merchandise sold on a preneed basis are delivered to the customer at the time of sale and are recognized at the time delivery occurs. For personalized marker merchandise, with the customer’s direction generally obtained at the time of sale, we may order, store, and transfer title to the customer. In situations in which we have no further obligation or involvement related to the merchandise, we recognize revenue and record the cost of sales upon the earlier of vendor storage of these items or delivery in our cemetery. There is no general right of return for delivered items. The total consideration received for contracts with customers is allocated to each performance obligation based on relative selling price. Relative selling prices are determined by either the amount we sell the performance obligation for on a stand-alone basis or our best estimate of the amount we would sell it for based on an adjusted market assessment approach that is consistent with our historical pricing practices. Payment on atneed contracts is generally due at the time the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. For preneed contracts, payment generally occurs prior to our fulfillment of the performance obligations. Our preneed contracts may also have extended payment terms with associated financing charges. Pursuant to state or provincial law, all or a portion of the proceeds from merchandise or services sold on a preneed basis may be required to be deposited into trust funds. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the merchandise and service trusts and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred revenue, net into Deferred receipts held in trust . Amounts are withdrawn from the merchandise and service trusts when we fulfill the performance obligations. We defer investment earnings related to these merchandise and service trusts until the associated merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in revenue in the period in which they are earned. 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 revenue. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights is required by state or provincial law to be paid into perpetual care trust funds. Investment earnings from these trusts are distributed to us regularly, are recognized in current cemetery revenue, and are intended to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which are expensed as incurred. The principal of such perpetual care trust funds generally cannot be withdrawn. However, some states allow a total return distribution that may contain elements of income, capital appreciation, and principal. Costs related to delivery or performance of merchandise and services are charged to expense when merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Costs related to property interment rights include the property and construction costs specifically identified by each project. Property and construction costs are charged to expense when the revenue is recognized by specific identification in the performance of a contract. Incremental direct selling costs are deferred and recognized when the associated performance obligation is fulfilled based on specific identification in the fulfillment of a contract. All other selling costs are expensed as incurred. As of March 31, 2018, we had $274.7 million in deferred incremental direct selling costs included in Deferred charges and other assets. These deferred costs are classified as long-term on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet because we do not control the timing of the delivery of the merchandise or performance of the services as they are generally provided at the time of need. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recognized $7.3 million from deferred incremental direct selling costs. Insurance-funded preneed contracts Not included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet are insurance-funded preneed contracts that will be funded by life insurance or annuity contracts issued by third party insurers. Where permitted by state or provincial law, we may sell a life insurance or annuity policy from third-party insurance companies, for which we earn a commission as general sales agent for the insurance company. These general agency commissions (GA revenue) are based on a percentage per contract sold and are recognized as funeral revenue when the insurance purchase transaction between the preneed purchaser and third-party insurance provider is completed. All selling costs incurred pursuant to the sale of insurance-funded preneed contracts are expensed as incurred. We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed contract amounts in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The proceeds of the life insurance policies or annuity contracts will be reflected in funeral revenue as we perform these funerals. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash The components of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 219,507 $ 330,039 Restricted cash (1) : Included in Other current assets 5,877 8,625 Included in Deferred charges and other assets 1,936 1,937 Total restricted cash 7,813 10,562 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $ 227,320 $ 340,601 (1) Restricted cash in both periods primarily consists of proceeds from divestitures deposited into escrow accounts under IRS code section 1031 and collateralized obligations under certain insurance policies. Accounting Standards Adopted in 2018 Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB issued "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", which replaced existing revenue recognition guidance. During 2016, the FASB made several amendments to the new standard that clarified guidance on several matters, including principal vs. agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, sales taxes, and licensing. The new standard, as amended, requires that we recognize revenue in the amount to which we expect to be entitled for delivery of promised goods and services to our customers. The new standard also resulted in enhanced revenue-related disclosures, including any significant judgments and changes in judgments. Additionally, the new standard requires the deferral of incremental direct selling costs to the period in which the related revenue is recognized. We adopted the standard as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach applied to all contracts that were not completed at adoption based on the contract terms in existence at adoption. As a result of the adoption, we recorded a $172.2 million increase to Retained earnings , which comprises a $268.0 million increase to Deferred charges and other assets partially offset by a $38.0 million increase to Deferred revenue, net and a $57.8 million increase to Deferred tax liability . Additionally, we reclassified $606.9 million of amounts due from customers for unfulfilled performance obligations on cancelable preneed contracts from Preneed receivables, net and trust investments to Deferred revenue, net. As a result of this reclassification, we eliminated our previous cancellation reserve on these performance obligations. We made the enhanced revenue-related disclosures in Footnotes 2, 3, and 8 of this Form 10-Q. The standard primarily impacts the manner in which we recognize a) certain nonrefundable up-front fees and b) incremental costs to acquire new preneed funeral trust contracts and preneed and atneed cemetery contracts (i.e., selling costs). The nonrefundable fees will be deferred and recognized as revenue when the underlying goods and services are delivered to the customer. The incremental direct selling costs will be deferred and recognized by specific identification to the delivery of the underlying goods and services. Additionally, the amounts due from customers for unfulfilled performance obligations for cancelable preneed contracts are required to be presented with Deferred revenue, net, instead of as Preneed receivables, net and trust investments on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We will continue to expense costs to acquire new preneed funeral insurance contracts in the period incurred. The insurance contracts are not, and will not be, reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet because they do not represent assets or liabilities, 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 at the time of need. The impact of adopting the new guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: As Reported Effect of New Guidance Without New Guidance (In thousands, except per share amounts) Revenue $ 794,482 $ 557 $ 795,039 Costs and expenses (598,720 ) (7,267 ) (605,987 ) Operating profit (loss) 195,762 (6,710 ) 189,052 General and administrative expenses (34,784 ) — (34,784 ) Gain on divestitures and impairment charges, net 482 — 482 Hurricane recoveries, net 2,232 — 2,232 Operating income (loss) 163,692 (6,710 ) 156,982 Interest expense (43,576 ) — (43,576 ) Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net (10,131 ) — (10,131 ) Other income, net 384 — 384 Income (loss) before income taxes 110,369 (6,710 ) 103,659 (Provision for) benefit from income taxes (28,321 ) 1,724 (26,597 ) Net income (loss) 82,048 (4,986 ) 77,062 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (60 ) — (60 ) Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 81,988 $ (4,986 ) $ 77,002 Earnings per share (1) Basic $ 0.44 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.42 Diluted $ 0.43 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.41 (1) Net income per share is computed independently for each of the columns presented. Therefore, the sum of the first two columns' earnings per share may not equal the Without New Guidance column. Cash Flow In August and November 2016, the FASB amended "Statement of Cash Flows" to clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. Additionally, the guidance requires that the statement of cash flows reflects changes in restricted cash in addition to cash and cash equivalents. Amended guidance includes clarification on debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, contingent consideration in business combinations, proceeds from insurance claims, and premium payments on Company-owned life insurance. We adopted the new guidance retrospectively on January 1, 2018. As a result, we have recast our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as follows: As Previously Reported Effect of New Guidance As Recast (in thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 188,383 $ (270 ) $ 188,113 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (40,150 ) — (40,150 ) Acquisitions (19,327 ) (13,885 ) (33,212 ) Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment 3,148 17,087 20,235 Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies — (2,827 ) (2,827 ) Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies — 906 906 Net cash used in investing activities (56,329 ) 1,281 (55,048 ) Net cash used in financing activities (89,570 ) — (89,570 ) Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 784 — 784 Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 43,268 1,011 44,279 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 194,986 16,520 211,506 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 238,254 $ 17,531 255,785 Retirement Plans In March 2017, the FASB amended "Retirement Plans" to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost by requiring the classification of interest costs and actuarial gains and losses separately from operating income on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and applied the practical expedient of reclassifying the amounts disclosed as "total net periodic benefit cost" in Note 11 to our December 31, 2017 Form 10-K from Operating incom e to Other income (expense), net . For the three months ended March 31, 2017 we reclassified $74 thousand and $221 thousand from Costs and expenses and General and administrative expenses , respectively, to Other income (expense), net . Financial Instruments In January 2016 and February 2018, 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. For us, these changes in fair value will be offset by a corresponding change in the fair value of Deferred receipts held in trust or Care trusts' corpus . The amendment also changes the required disclosures associated with equity instruments as a result of the change in presentation. The new guidance was effective for us on January 1, 2018 and our adoption did not materially impact our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We made the appropriate disclosure changes in Footnote 3 of this Form 10-Q. Stock Compensation In May 2017, the FASB amended "Stock Compensation" to clarify which changes in terms and conditions of share-based awards require accounting for as modifications. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Financial Instruments 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 support 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 and January 2018, 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 in the process of reviewing our existing leases, have selected a software solution, and are assessing process changes as a result of the new guidance. We are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows. Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB amended "Goodwill" to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. Amended guidance eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, impairment is defined as the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Preneed Activities (Notes)

Preneed Activities (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Preneed Activities [Abstract]
Preneed Activities	3. Preneed Activities Preneed receivables, net and trust investments The components of Preneed receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Preneed funeral receivables (1) $ 33,528 $ 336,925 Preneed cemetery receivables (1) 824,719 1,118,146 Preneed receivables from customers (1) 858,247 1,455,071 Unearned finance charge (45,541 ) (45,515 ) Allowance for cancellation (1) (46,136 ) (107,749 ) Preneed receivables, net $ 766,570 $ 1,301,807 Trust investments, at market $ 4,666,645 $ 4,749,548 Assets associated with businesses held for sale (144 ) (5,660 ) Insurance-backed fixed income securities and other 263,563 265,314 Trust investments 4,930,064 5,009,202 Less: Cemetery perpetual care trust investments (1,497,220 ) (1,532,167 ) Preneed trust investments $ 3,432,844 $ 3,477,035 Preneed receivables, net and trust investments $ 4,199,414 $ 4,778,842 (1) Upon adoption of "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" on January 1, 2018, we reclassified amounts due from customers for unfulfilled performance obligations on cancelable preneed contracts as a reduction in Deferred revenue, net. As a result of this reclassification, we eliminated the allowance for cancellation on these performance obligations. The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our trusts: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Deposits $ 93,269 $ 84,487 Withdrawals $ 106,769 $ 93,082 Purchases of securities $ 599,651 $ 517,031 Sales of securities $ 614,424 $ 487,925 Realized gains (1) $ 58,306 $ 52,433 Realized losses (1) $ (12,296 ) $ (21,774 ) (1) All realized gains and losses are recognized in Other income (expense) , net for our trust investments and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense) , net to Deferred receipts held in trust and Care trusts' corpus. The costs and values associated with trust investments recorded at fair value at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in the trusts. Fair value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the trusts. March 31, 2018 Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Value (In thousands) Fixed income securities: U.S. Treasury 2 $ 47,338 $ 12 $ (429 ) $ 46,921 Canadian government 2 60,522 78 (1,379 ) 59,221 Corporate 2 12,402 269 (260 ) 12,411 Residential mortgage-backed 2 3,312 16 (61 ) 3,267 Asset-backed 2 305 11 (11 ) 305 Equity securities: Preferred stock 2 7,120 363 (172 ) 7,311 Common stock: United States 1 1,208,816 241,804 (46,846 ) 1,403,774 Canada 1 30,150 9,751 (1,503 ) 38,398 Other international 1 63,594 12,741 (3,280 ) 73,055 Mutual funds: Equity 1 696,520 53,631 (9,364 ) 740,787 Fixed income 1 1,139,940 4,227 (32,959 ) 1,111,208 Other 3 5,441 3,107 (15 ) 8,533 Trust investments, at fair value 3,275,460 326,010 (96,279 ) 3,505,191 Commingled funds Fixed income 417,729 41 (12,473 ) 405,297 Equity 223,207 10,312 (647 ) 232,872 Money market funds 294,039 — — 294,039 Private equity 172,522 59,112 (2,388 ) 229,246 Trust investments, at net asset value 1,107,497 69,465 (15,508 ) 1,161,454 Trust investments, at market $ 4,382,957 $ 395,475 $ (111,787 ) $ 4,666,645 December 31, 2017 Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Value (In thousands) Fixed income securities: U.S. Treasury 2 $ 48,805 $ 14 $ (117 ) $ 48,702 Canadian government 2 81,500 160 (1,089 ) 80,571 Corporate 2 13,540 327 (170 ) 13,697 Residential mortgage-backed 2 3,279 16 (14 ) 3,281 Asset-backed 2 320 15 (10 ) 325 Equity securities: Preferred stock 2 7,834 385 (139 ) 8,080 Common stock: United States 1 1,161,015 266,822 (24,739 ) 1,403,098 Canada 1 30,762 12,545 (522 ) 42,785 Other international 1 63,510 13,174 (2,834 ) 73,850 Mutual funds: Equity 1 613,934 59,100 (4,312 ) 668,722 Fixed income 1 1,230,196 11,897 (23,943 ) 1,218,150 Other 3 5,953 3,114 — 9,067 Trust investments, at fair value 3,260,648 367,569 (57,889 ) 3,570,328 Commingled funds Fixed income 454,242 235 (5,860 ) 448,617 Equity 214,000 12,826 — 226,826 Money market funds 287,435 — — 287,435 Private equity 166,860 51,631 (2,149 ) 216,342 Trust investments, at net asset value 1,122,537 64,692 (8,009 ) 1,179,220 Trust investments, at market $ 4,383,185 $ 432,261 $ (65,898 ) $ 4,749,548 As of March 31, 2018 , our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $112.8 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. The change in our market-based trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Fair value, beginning balance $ 9,067 $ 8,667 Net unrealized (loss) gain included in Other income (expense), net (1) (534 ) 16 Distributions and other — (73 ) Fair value, ending balance $ 8,533 $ 8,610 (1) All net unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Other income (expense), net for our trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net to Deferred receipts held in trust and Care trusts' corpus . Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2018 to 2040 . Maturities of fixed income securities (excluding mutual funds) at March 31, 2018 are estimated as follows: Fair Value (In thousands) Due in one year or less $ 54,629 Due in one to five years 57,445 Due in five to ten years 9,680 Thereafter 371 $ 122,125 Recognized trust fund income (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments was $ 44.9 million and $ 38.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. We have determined that the unrealized losses in our fixed income investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates. We believe that none of the 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 credit ratings and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our fixed income investment unrealized losses, their associated values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively, are shown in the following tables: March 31, 2018 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 $ 27,045 $ (402 ) $ 2,045 $ (27 ) $ 29,090 $ (429 ) Canadian government 16,545 (684 ) 9,999 (695 ) 26,544 (1,379 ) Corporate 4,728 (80 ) 4,165 (180 ) 8,893 (260 ) Residential mortgage-backed 2,868 (59 ) 150 (2 ) 3,018 (61 ) Asset-backed 5 (1 ) 93 (10 ) 98 (11 ) Total temporarily fixed income impaired securities $ 51,191 $ (1,226 ) $ 16,452 $ (914 ) $ 67,643 $ (2,140 ) December 31, 2017 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 $ 29,014 $ (115 ) $ 106 $ (2 ) $ 29,120 $ (117 ) Canadian government 20,947 (639 ) 6,370 (450 ) 27,317 (1,089 ) Corporate 2,423 (31 ) 4,453 (139 ) 6,876 (170 ) Residential mortgage-backed 2,880 (12 ) 151 (2 ) 3,031 (14 ) Asset-backed — — 74 (10 ) 74 (10 ) Total temporarily impaired fixed income securities $ 55,264 $ (797 ) $ 11,154 $ (603 ) $ 66,418 $ (1,400 )

Income Taxes (Notes)

Income Taxes (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure	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 an expense of 25.7% and a benefit of 77.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to the effects of the IRS audit settlement and windfall tax benefits recognized on the settlement of employee share-based awards, partially offset by a higher corporate income tax rate, which was reduced from 35% to 21% as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("the Tax Act") enacted in December 2017. The higher effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily a result of limitation on deductibility of certain executive compensation and repeal of the domestic manufacturing deduction. We continue to assess forthcoming guidance and accounting interpretations on the effects of the Tax Act, which could potentially affect the provisional estimates that were recorded at December 31, 2017, and expect to complete our analysis within the measurement period. Unrecognized Tax Benefits As of March 31, 2018 , the total amount of our unrecognized tax benefits was $79.5 million and the total amount of our accrued interest was $11.1 million . In March 2017, we received from the IRS Office of Appeals the fully executed Form 870-AD for the years 1999-2005, which effectively settled the issues under audit for those years. Tax years subsequent to 2005 remain open to review and adjustment by the IRS. In addition, we are under audit by various state jurisdictions for years 2000 through 2016 . There are currently no federal or provincial audits in Canada. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could significantly decrease over the next 12 months as certain tax positions will be released as a result of Statutes closing. However, since the years to which uncertain tax positions relate remain subject to review by the tax authorities, a current estimate of the range of decrease that may occur within the next 12 months cannot be made.

Debt (Notes)

Debt (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Debt Disclosure	Debt Debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018 $ — $ 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 4.625% Senior Notes due December 2027 550,000 550,000 Term Loan due December 2022 666,563 675,000 Bank Credit Facility due December 2022 185,000 — Obligations under capital leases 202,324 197,232 Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050 5,940 6,036 Unamortized premiums, net 7,236 7,456 Unamortized debt issuance costs (36,119 ) (38,071 ) Total debt 3,405,944 3,472,653 Less: Current maturities of long-term debt (89,249 ) (337,337 ) Total long-term debt $ 3,316,695 $ 3,135,316 Current maturities of debt at March 31, 2018 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 4.90% and 4.73% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. Approximately 70% and 75% of our total debt had a fixed interest rate at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 , we paid $24.9 million and $20.0 million in cash interest, respectively. Bank Credit Agreement As of March 31, 2018 , we have $185.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our Bank Credit Facility due December 2022; $667 million of outstanding borrowings under our Term Loan due December 2022; and issued $33 million of letters of credit. The bank credit agreement 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. As of March 31, 2018 , we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. We pay a quarterly fee on the unused commitment, which was 0.25% at March 31, 2018 . As of March 31, 2018 , we have $781.7 million in borrowing capacity under the Bank Credit Facility. Debt Issuances and Additions In January 2018, we drew $175.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility to fund the redemption of our 7.625% Senior notes due October 2018. In March 2018, we drew $10.0 million on our Bank Credit Facility to make required payments on our Term Loan due December 2022. In January 2017, we drew $ 25.0 million and in March 2017 we drew $ 10.0 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. Debt Extinguishments and Reductions During the three months ended March 31, 2018 , we made aggregate debt payments of $268.1 million for scheduled and early extinguishment payments including: • $250 million in aggregate principal of our 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018; • $9.6 million in call premium for redemption of the 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018; • $8.4 million in aggregate principal of our Term Loan due December 2022; and • $0.1 million in other debt. Certain of the above transactions resulted in the recognition of a loss of $ 10.1 million recorded in Losses on early extinguishment of debt in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three months end March 31, 2017, we made aggregate principal payments of $8.8 million for scheduled payments toward our previous Term Loan due March 2021.

Credit Risk and Fair Value of F

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments	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 March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018 $ — $ 259,563 4.5% Senior Notes due November 2020 201,500 199,590 8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021 173,340 175,313 5.375% Senior Notes due January 2022 433,373 436,178 5.375% Senior Notes due May 2024 882,181 892,118 4.625% Senior Notes due December 2027 531,449 558,250 7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027 229,000 238,004 Term Loan due December 2022 666,563 675,000 Bank Credit Facility due December 2022 185,000 — Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050 5,941 6,036 Total fair value of debt instruments $ 3,308,347 $ 3,440,052 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 notes and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The fair value of these instruments has 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.

Equity (Notes)

Equity (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure	Equity 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 three months ended March 31, 2018 , we repurchased 3,095,554 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $118.8 million , which is an average cost per share of $38.38 . After these repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program was approximately $351.4 million at March 31, 2018 .

Segment Reporting (Notes)

Segment Reporting (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	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, including disaggregated revenue, information is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (1) (In thousands) Revenue from customers: Funeral revenue: Atneed revenue $ 274,406 $ 271,833 Matured preneed revenue 165,306 151,797 Core funeral revenue 439,712 423,630 Non-funeral home revenue 13,793 12,274 Recognized preneed revenue 32,460 32,056 Other revenue 28,400 30,804 Total funeral revenue 514,365 498,764 Cemetery revenue: Atneed revenue 83,044 81,574 Recognized preneed property revenue 108,940 114,025 Recognized preneed merchandise and services revenue 68,363 63,866 Core revenue 260,347 259,465 Other revenue 19,770 19,481 Total cemetery revenue 280,117 278,946 Total revenue from customers $ 794,482 $ 777,710 Operating profit: Funeral operating profit $ 120,455 $ 112,607 Cemetery operating profit 75,307 64,632 Operating profit from reportable segments 195,762 177,239 General and administrative expenses (34,784 ) (42,283 ) Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net 482 4,935 Hurricane recoveries, net 2,232 — Operating income 163,692 139,891 Interest expense (43,576 ) (40,636 ) Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net (10,131 ) — Other income (expense), net 384 (729 ) Income before income taxes $ 110,369 $ 98,526 (1) The results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 have not been adjusted for the impact of our adoption of "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" on January 1, 2018. Our geographic area information is as follows: United States Canada Total (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, Revenue from external customers: 2018 $ 744,113 $ 50,369 $ 794,482 2017 $ 727,240 $ 50,470 $ 777,710

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure	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 March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 , we have self-insurance reserves of $75.4 million and $78.2 million , respectively. Litigation and Regulatory Matters We are a party to various litigation and regulatory matters, investigations, and proceedings. Some of the more frequent 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 matters described herein; however, if we determine that an 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 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, Vasquez, Romano, and Horton 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. In July 2017, the arbitrator entered an award rejecting the plantiffs' claims, ruling that they did not sue the correct party. 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. Nicole Romano, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. SCI Direct, Inc., et al; Case No. BC656654; in the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. This lawsuit was filed in April 2017 against an SCI subsidiary and purports to have been brought on behalf of persons who worked as independent sales representatives in the U.S. during the four years preceding the filing of the complaint. The plaintiff alleges numerous causes of action for alleged wage and hour pay violations, including misclassifying the independent sales representatives as independent contractors instead of employees. The plaintiff seeks unpaid wages, compulsory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, interest, and injunctive relief. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in the lawsuit. Felicia Horton, an individual and on behalf of other aggrieved employees v. SCI Direct, Inc., et al; Case No. 37-2016-00039356-CU-OE-CTL; in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego. This lawsuit was filed in November 2016 on behalf of the plaintiff who worked as an independent sales representative of our subsidiary in California. In addition, this lawsuit asserts claims under California Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”) provisions on behalf of other similarly situated California persons. The lawsuit alleges causes of action and seeks damages and relief similar to those in the Romano case described above. The attorneys in the Horton case have also filed additional lawsuits alleging individual and PAGA claims similar to those alleged in the Horton case. The additional lawsuits are styled Jandy Quismundo v. SCI Direct, Inc., et al; Case No. 37-2017-00031825-CU-OE-CTL; in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, and Jaime Kallweit v. SCI Direct, Inc., et al; Case No. 37-2017-00037186-CU-OE-CTL; The Superior Court for the State of California for the County of San Diego. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in the lawsuits. Claims Regarding Acquisition of Stewart Enterprises . We are involved in the following lawsuit. 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 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 has continued against our subsidiary Stewart Enterprises and its former individual directors. However, in October 2016, the court entered a judgment dismissing all of plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of damages. Operational Claims. We are named a defendant in various lawsuits alleging operational claims, including but not limited to the Allard lawsuit described below. Linda Allard, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated v. SCI Direct, Inc., Case No 16-1033; in the United States District Court, Middle District of Tennessee. This case was filed in June 2016 as a class action under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the Act). Plaintiff alleged she received telemarketing telephone calls that were made with a prerecorded voice or made by an automatic telephone dialing system in violation of the Act. Plaintiff sought actual and statutory damages, as well as attorney’s fees and costs. The parties reached a settlement of the lawsuit as reported in our Form 8-K filed on August 30, 2017. The settlement agreement has been approved by the Court and is final. The financial terms of the settlement called for SCI Direct to pay $15.0 million , of which $3.5 million was paid by its insurer. Caroline Bernstein, on behalf of herself and Marla Urofsky on behalf of Rhea Schwartz, and both on behalf of all others similarly situated v. SCI Pennsylvania Funeral Services, Inc. and Service Corporation International , Case No. 2:17-cv-04960-GAM; in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This case was filed in November 2017 as a purported national or alternatively as a Pennsylvania class action regarding our Forest Hills/Shalom Memorial Park in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania and our Roosevelt Memorial Park Cemetery in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs allege wrongful burial and sales practices. Plaintiffs seek compensatory, consequential and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, interest, and injunctive relief. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this matter. Unclaimed Property Audit. We are involved in the following matter. We received notices from a third party auditor representing unclaimed property departments of certain states regarding preneed funeral and cemetery contracts that were not funded by the purchase and assignment of the proceeds of insurance policies. The auditor claims that we are subject to the laws of those states concerning escheatment of unclaimed funds. The auditor seeks escheatment of funds from the portion of such contracts for which it claims that we will probably not be required to provide services or merchandise in the future. No actual audits have commenced at this time. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this matter. The ultimate outcome of the matters described above cannot be determined at this time. We intend to vigorously defend all of the above matters; 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.

Earnings Per Share (Notes)

Earnings Per Share (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	10. 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 March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands, except per share amounts) Amounts attributable to common stockholders: Net income: Net income — basic $ 81,988 $ 174,702 After tax interest on convertible debt 15 12 Net income — diluted $ 82,003 $ 174,714 Weighted average shares (denominator): Weighted average shares — basic 185,130 188,260 Stock options 4,522 4,425 Restricted stock units 150 61 Convertible debt 121 121 Weighted average shares — diluted 189,923 192,867 Net income per share: Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.93 Diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.91 The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented. Total options not included in the computation of dilutive EPS are as follows (in shares): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Antidilutive options 577 898

Divestiture-Related Activities

Divestiture-Related Activities (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Divestiture-Related Activities [Abstract]
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure	Divestiture-Related Activities As divestitures occur in the normal course of business, gains or losses on the sale of such assets are recognized in the income statement line item Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net, which consist of the following: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Gains on divestitures, net $ 1,276 $ 16,751 Impairment losses (794 ) (11,816 ) Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net $ 482 $ 4,935

Summary of Significant Accoun20

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy	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 notes and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The fair value of these instruments has been estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements.
Consolidation, Policy	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, 2017 , 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.
Use of Estimates, Policy	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, 2017 . 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.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Accounting Standards Adopted in 2018 Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB issued "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", which replaced existing revenue recognition guidance. During 2016, the FASB made several amendments to the new standard that clarified guidance on several matters, including principal vs. agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, sales taxes, and licensing. The new standard, as amended, requires that we recognize revenue in the amount to which we expect to be entitled for delivery of promised goods and services to our customers. The new standard also resulted in enhanced revenue-related disclosures, including any significant judgments and changes in judgments. Additionally, the new standard requires the deferral of incremental direct selling costs to the period in which the related revenue is recognized. We adopted the standard as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach applied to all contracts that were not completed at adoption based on the contract terms in existence at adoption. As a result of the adoption, we recorded a $172.2 million increase to Retained earnings , which comprises a $268.0 million increase to Deferred charges and other assets partially offset by a $38.0 million increase to Deferred revenue, net and a $57.8 million increase to Deferred tax liability . Additionally, we reclassified $606.9 million of amounts due from customers for unfulfilled performance obligations on cancelable preneed contracts from Preneed receivables, net and trust investments to Deferred revenue, net. As a result of this reclassification, we eliminated our previous cancellation reserve on these performance obligations. We made the enhanced revenue-related disclosures in Footnotes 2, 3, and 8 of this Form 10-Q. The standard primarily impacts the manner in which we recognize a) certain nonrefundable up-front fees and b) incremental costs to acquire new preneed funeral trust contracts and preneed and atneed cemetery contracts (i.e., selling costs). The nonrefundable fees will be deferred and recognized as revenue when the underlying goods and services are delivered to the customer. The incremental direct selling costs will be deferred and recognized by specific identification to the delivery of the underlying goods and services. Additionally, the amounts due from customers for unfulfilled performance obligations for cancelable preneed contracts are required to be presented with Deferred revenue, net, instead of as Preneed receivables, net and trust investments on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We will continue to expense costs to acquire new preneed funeral insurance contracts in the period incurred. The insurance contracts are not, and will not be, reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet because they do not represent assets or liabilities, 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 at the time of need. The impact of adopting the new guidance on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows: As Reported Effect of New Guidance Without New Guidance (In thousands, except per share amounts) Revenue $ 794,482 $ 557 $ 795,039 Costs and expenses (598,720 ) (7,267 ) (605,987 ) Operating profit (loss) 195,762 (6,710 ) 189,052 General and administrative expenses (34,784 ) — (34,784 ) Gain on divestitures and impairment charges, net 482 — 482 Hurricane recoveries, net 2,232 — 2,232 Operating income (loss) 163,692 (6,710 ) 156,982 Interest expense (43,576 ) — (43,576 ) Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net (10,131 ) — (10,131 ) Other income, net 384 — 384 Income (loss) before income taxes 110,369 (6,710 ) 103,659 (Provision for) benefit from income taxes (28,321 ) 1,724 (26,597 ) Net income (loss) 82,048 (4,986 ) 77,062 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (60 ) — (60 ) Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 81,988 $ (4,986 ) $ 77,002 Earnings per share (1) Basic $ 0.44 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.42 Diluted $ 0.43 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.41 (1) Net income per share is computed independently for each of the columns presented. Therefore, the sum of the first two columns' earnings per share may not equal the Without New Guidance column. Cash Flow In August and November 2016, the FASB amended "Statement of Cash Flows" to clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments. Additionally, the guidance requires that the statement of cash flows reflects changes in restricted cash in addition to cash and cash equivalents. Amended guidance includes clarification on debt prepayment and extinguishment costs, contingent consideration in business combinations, proceeds from insurance claims, and premium payments on Company-owned life insurance. We adopted the new guidance retrospectively on January 1, 2018. As a result, we have recast our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as follows: As Previously Reported Effect of New Guidance As Recast (in thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 188,383 $ (270 ) $ 188,113 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (40,150 ) — (40,150 ) Acquisitions (19,327 ) (13,885 ) (33,212 ) Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment 3,148 17,087 20,235 Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies — (2,827 ) (2,827 ) Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies — 906 906 Net cash used in investing activities (56,329 ) 1,281 (55,048 ) Net cash used in financing activities (89,570 ) — (89,570 ) Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 784 — 784 Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 43,268 1,011 44,279 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 194,986 16,520 211,506 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 238,254 $ 17,531 255,785 Retirement Plans In March 2017, the FASB amended "Retirement Plans" to improve the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost by requiring the classification of interest costs and actuarial gains and losses separately from operating income on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and applied the practical expedient of reclassifying the amounts disclosed as "total net periodic benefit cost" in Note 11 to our December 31, 2017 Form 10-K from Operating incom e to Other income (expense), net . For the three months ended March 31, 2017 we reclassified $74 thousand and $221 thousand from Costs and expenses and General and administrative expenses , respectively, to Other income (expense), net . Financial Instruments In January 2016 and February 2018, 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. For us, these changes in fair value will be offset by a corresponding change in the fair value of Deferred receipts held in trust or Care trusts' corpus . The amendment also changes the required disclosures associated with equity instruments as a result of the change in presentation. The new guidance was effective for us on January 1, 2018 and our adoption did not materially impact our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018. We made the appropriate disclosure changes in Footnote 3 of this Form 10-Q. Stock Compensation In May 2017, the FASB amended "Stock Compensation" to clarify which changes in terms and conditions of share-based awards require accounting for as modifications. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2018 and adoption did not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Financial Instruments 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 support 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 and January 2018, 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 in the process of reviewing our existing leases, have selected a software solution, and are assessing process changes as a result of the new guidance. We are still evaluating the impact of adoption on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows. Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB amended "Goodwill" to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. Amended guidance eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, impairment is defined as the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill. The new guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2020, and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Summary of Significant Accoun21

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]	March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 219,507 $ 330,039 Restricted cash (1) : Included in Other current assets 5,877 8,625 Included in Deferred charges and other assets 1,936 1,937 Total restricted cash 7,813 10,562 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash $ 227,320 $ 340,601
Cumulative Effect Revenue Table Text Block [Table Text Block]	As Reported Effect of New Guidance Without New Guidance (In thousands, except per share amounts) Revenue $ 794,482 $ 557 $ 795,039 Costs and expenses (598,720 ) (7,267 ) (605,987 ) Operating profit (loss) 195,762 (6,710 ) 189,052 General and administrative expenses (34,784 ) — (34,784 ) Gain on divestitures and impairment charges, net 482 — 482 Hurricane recoveries, net 2,232 — 2,232 Operating income (loss) 163,692 (6,710 ) 156,982 Interest expense (43,576 ) — (43,576 ) Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net (10,131 ) — (10,131 ) Other income, net 384 — 384 Income (loss) before income taxes 110,369 (6,710 ) 103,659 (Provision for) benefit from income taxes (28,321 ) 1,724 (26,597 ) Net income (loss) 82,048 (4,986 ) 77,062 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (60 ) — (60 ) Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ 81,988 $ (4,986 ) $ 77,002 Earnings per share (1) Basic $ 0.44 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.42 Diluted $ 0.43 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.41
Recast Cash Flow Table Text Block [Table Text Block]	As Previously Reported Effect of New Guidance As Recast (in thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 188,383 $ (270 ) $ 188,113 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (40,150 ) — (40,150 ) Acquisitions (19,327 ) (13,885 ) (33,212 ) Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment 3,148 17,087 20,235 Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies — (2,827 ) (2,827 ) Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies — 906 906 Net cash used in investing activities (56,329 ) 1,281 (55,048 ) Net cash used in financing activities (89,570 ) — (89,570 ) Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 784 — 784 Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 43,268 1,011 44,279 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 194,986 16,520 211,506 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 238,254 $ 17,531 255,785

Preneed Activities (Tables)

Preneed Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Preneed Activities [Abstract]
Long-term receivable and investment components	March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) Preneed funeral receivables (1) $ 33,528 $ 336,925 Preneed cemetery receivables (1) 824,719 1,118,146 Preneed receivables from customers (1) 858,247 1,455,071 Unearned finance charge (45,541 ) (45,515 ) Allowance for cancellation (1) (46,136 ) (107,749 ) Preneed receivables, net $ 766,570 $ 1,301,807 Trust investments, at market $ 4,666,645 $ 4,749,548 Assets associated with businesses held for sale (144 ) (5,660 ) Insurance-backed fixed income securities and other 263,563 265,314 Trust investments 4,930,064 5,009,202 Less: Cemetery perpetual care trust investments (1,497,220 ) (1,532,167 ) Preneed trust investments $ 3,432,844 $ 3,477,035 Preneed receivables, net and trust investments $ 4,199,414 $ 4,778,842
Investment related activities	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Deposits $ 93,269 $ 84,487 Withdrawals $ 106,769 $ 93,082 Purchases of securities $ 599,651 $ 517,031 Sales of securities $ 614,424 $ 487,925 Realized gains (1) $ 58,306 $ 52,433 Realized losses (1) $ (12,296 ) $ (21,774 )
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation	March 31, 2018 Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Value (In thousands) Fixed income securities: U.S. Treasury 2 $ 47,338 $ 12 $ (429 ) $ 46,921 Canadian government 2 60,522 78 (1,379 ) 59,221 Corporate 2 12,402 269 (260 ) 12,411 Residential mortgage-backed 2 3,312 16 (61 ) 3,267 Asset-backed 2 305 11 (11 ) 305 Equity securities: Preferred stock 2 7,120 363 (172 ) 7,311 Common stock: United States 1 1,208,816 241,804 (46,846 ) 1,403,774 Canada 1 30,150 9,751 (1,503 ) 38,398 Other international 1 63,594 12,741 (3,280 ) 73,055 Mutual funds: Equity 1 696,520 53,631 (9,364 ) 740,787 Fixed income 1 1,139,940 4,227 (32,959 ) 1,111,208 Other 3 5,441 3,107 (15 ) 8,533 Trust investments, at fair value 3,275,460 326,010 (96,279 ) 3,505,191 Commingled funds Fixed income 417,729 41 (12,473 ) 405,297 Equity 223,207 10,312 (647 ) 232,872 Money market funds 294,039 — — 294,039 Private equity 172,522 59,112 (2,388 ) 229,246 Trust investments, at net asset value 1,107,497 69,465 (15,508 ) 1,161,454 Trust investments, at market $ 4,382,957 $ 395,475 $ (111,787 ) $ 4,666,645 December 31, 2017 Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Value (In thousands) Fixed income securities: U.S. Treasury 2 $ 48,805 $ 14 $ (117 ) $ 48,702 Canadian government 2 81,500 160 (1,089 ) 80,571 Corporate 2 13,540 327 (170 ) 13,697 Residential mortgage-backed 2 3,279 16 (14 ) 3,281 Asset-backed 2 320 15 (10 ) 325 Equity securities: Preferred stock 2 7,834 385 (139 ) 8,080 Common stock: United States 1 1,161,015 266,822 (24,739 ) 1,403,098 Canada 1 30,762 12,545 (522 ) 42,785 Other international 1 63,510 13,174 (2,834 ) 73,850 Mutual funds: Equity 1 613,934 59,100 (4,312 ) 668,722 Fixed income 1 1,230,196 11,897 (23,943 ) 1,218,150 Other 3 5,953 3,114 — 9,067 Trust investments, at fair value 3,260,648 367,569 (57,889 ) 3,570,328 Commingled funds Fixed income 454,242 235 (5,860 ) 448,617 Equity 214,000 12,826 — 226,826 Money market funds 287,435 — — 287,435 Private equity 166,860 51,631 (2,149 ) 216,342 Trust investments, at net asset value 1,122,537 64,692 (8,009 ) 1,179,220 Trust investments, at market $ 4,383,185 $ 432,261 $ (65,898 ) $ 4,749,548
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date	Fair Value (In thousands) Due in one year or less $ 54,629 Due in one to five years 57,445 Due in five to ten years 9,680 Thereafter 371 $ 122,125
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Fair value, beginning balance $ 9,067 $ 8,667 Net unrealized (loss) gain included in Other income (expense), net (1) (534 ) 16 Distributions and other — (73 ) Fair value, ending balance $ 8,533 $ 8,610
Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments	March 31, 2018 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 $ 27,045 $ (402 ) $ 2,045 $ (27 ) $ 29,090 $ (429 ) Canadian government 16,545 (684 ) 9,999 (695 ) 26,544 (1,379 ) Corporate 4,728 (80 ) 4,165 (180 ) 8,893 (260 ) Residential mortgage-backed 2,868 (59 ) 150 (2 ) 3,018 (61 ) Asset-backed 5 (1 ) 93 (10 ) 98 (11 ) Total temporarily fixed income impaired securities $ 51,191 $ (1,226 ) $ 16,452 $ (914 ) $ 67,643 $ (2,140 ) December 31, 2017 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 $ 29,014 $ (115 ) $ 106 $ (2 ) $ 29,120 $ (117 ) Canadian government 20,947 (639 ) 6,370 (450 ) 27,317 (1,089 ) Corporate 2,423 (31 ) 4,453 (139 ) 6,876 (170 ) Residential mortgage-backed 2,880 (12 ) 151 (2 ) 3,031 (14 ) Asset-backed — — 74 (10 ) 74 (10 ) Total temporarily impaired fixed income securities $ 55,264 $ (797 ) $ 11,154 $ (603 ) $ 66,418 $ (1,400 )

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt [Abstract]
Schedule of Debt	Debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018 $ — $ 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 4.625% Senior Notes due December 2027 550,000 550,000 Term Loan due December 2022 666,563 675,000 Bank Credit Facility due December 2022 185,000 — Obligations under capital leases 202,324 197,232 Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050 5,940 6,036 Unamortized premiums, net 7,236 7,456 Unamortized debt issuance costs (36,119 ) (38,071 ) Total debt 3,405,944 3,472,653 Less: Current maturities of long-term debt (89,249 ) (337,337 ) Total long-term debt $ 3,316,695 $ 3,135,316

Credit Risk and Fair Value of24

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure	The fair value of our debt instruments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was as follows: March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 (In thousands) 7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018 $ — $ 259,563 4.5% Senior Notes due November 2020 201,500 199,590 8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021 173,340 175,313 5.375% Senior Notes due January 2022 433,373 436,178 5.375% Senior Notes due May 2024 882,181 892,118 4.625% Senior Notes due December 2027 531,449 558,250 7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027 229,000 238,004 Term Loan due December 2022 666,563 675,000 Bank Credit Facility due December 2022 185,000 — Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2050 5,941 6,036 Total fair value of debt instruments $ 3,308,347 $ 3,440,052

Equity (Tables)

Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Segment Reporting (Tables)

Segment Reporting (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	Our reportable segment, including disaggregated revenue, information is as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (1) (In thousands) Revenue from customers: Funeral revenue: Atneed revenue $ 274,406 $ 271,833 Matured preneed revenue 165,306 151,797 Core funeral revenue 439,712 423,630 Non-funeral home revenue 13,793 12,274 Recognized preneed revenue 32,460 32,056 Other revenue 28,400 30,804 Total funeral revenue 514,365 498,764 Cemetery revenue: Atneed revenue 83,044 81,574 Recognized preneed property revenue 108,940 114,025 Recognized preneed merchandise and services revenue 68,363 63,866 Core revenue 260,347 259,465 Other revenue 19,770 19,481 Total cemetery revenue 280,117 278,946 Total revenue from customers $ 794,482 $ 777,710 Operating profit: Funeral operating profit $ 120,455 $ 112,607 Cemetery operating profit 75,307 64,632 Operating profit from reportable segments 195,762 177,239 General and administrative expenses (34,784 ) (42,283 ) Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net 482 4,935 Hurricane recoveries, net 2,232 — Operating income 163,692 139,891 Interest expense (43,576 ) (40,636 ) Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net (10,131 ) — Other income (expense), net 384 (729 ) Income before income taxes $ 110,369 $ 98,526
Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]	Our geographic area information is as follows: United States Canada Total (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, Revenue from external customers: 2018 $ 744,113 $ 50,369 $ 794,482 2017 $ 727,240 $ 50,470 $ 777,710

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands, except per share amounts) Amounts attributable to common stockholders: Net income: Net income — basic $ 81,988 $ 174,702 After tax interest on convertible debt 15 12 Net income — diluted $ 82,003 $ 174,714 Weighted average shares (denominator): Weighted average shares — basic 185,130 188,260 Stock options 4,522 4,425 Restricted stock units 150 61 Convertible debt 121 121 Weighted average shares — diluted 189,923 192,867 Net income per share: Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.93 Diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.91
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Antidilutive options 577 898

Divestiture-Related Activitie28

Divestiture-Related Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Divestiture-Related Activities [Abstract]
Gains (Losses) on Divestitures and Impairment Charges	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Gains on divestitures, net $ 1,276 $ 16,751 Impairment losses (794 ) (11,816 ) Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net $ 482 $ 4,935

Summary of Significant Accoun29

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	$ (606,888)	$ 0
Deferred Costs	274,700
Recognized Deferred Sales Costs	7,300
Pension Cost (Reversal of Cost)		74
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Cost (Reversal of Cost)		$ 221
Retained Earnings [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax	172,200
Deferred Charges And Other Assets [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income	268,000
Deferred Revenue [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income	38,000
Deferred Tax Liability [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income	$ 57,800

Summary of Significant Accoun30

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Revenue Recognition Impact (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 794,482	$ 777,710
Costs and expenses	(598,720)	(600,471)
Gross Profit	195,762	177,239
General and administrative expenses	(34,784)	(42,283)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	482	4,935
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both, Net of Insurance Proceeds	2,232	0
Operating income	163,692	139,891
Interest expense	(43,576)	(40,636)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	(10,131)	0
Other income (expense), net	384	(729)
Income before income taxes	110,369	98,526
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(28,321)	76,223
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	82,048	174,749
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(60)	(47)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 81,988	$ 174,702
Basic	$ 0.44	$ 0.93
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.91
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 557
Costs and expenses	(7,267)
Gross Profit	(6,710)
General and administrative expenses	0
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	0
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both, Net of Insurance Proceeds	0
Operating income	(6,710)
Interest expense	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0
Other income (expense), net	0
Income before income taxes	(6,710)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	1,724
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(4,986)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (4,986)
Basic	$ (0.03)
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ (0.03)
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 795,039
Costs and expenses	(605,987)
Gross Profit	189,052
General and administrative expenses	(34,784)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	482
Unusual or Infrequent Item, or Both, Net of Insurance Proceeds	2,232
Operating income	156,982
Interest expense	(43,576)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	(10,131)
Other income (expense), net	384
Income before income taxes	103,659
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(26,597)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	77,062
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(60)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 77,002
Basic	$ 0.42
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.41

Summary of Significant Accoun31

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosure (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 219,507	$ 330,039	$ 255,785
Current restricted cash	5,877	8,625
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	1,936	1,937
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	7,813	10,562
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 227,320	$ 340,601	$ 255,785	$ 211,506

Summary of Significant Accoun32

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Cash Flow Accounting Guidance Recast (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$ 211,458	$ 188,113
Capital expenditures	(46,241)	(40,150)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(33,934)	(33,212)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	6,452	20,235
Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies	(9,246)	(2,827)
Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies	2,810	906
Net cash used in investing activities	(80,089)	(55,048)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	(243,505)	(89,570)
Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(1,145)	784
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		44,279
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	227,320	255,785	$ 340,601	$ 211,506
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 219,507	255,785	$ 330,039
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		(270)
Capital expenditures		0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(13,885)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment		17,087
Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies		(2,827)
Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies		906
Net cash used in investing activities		1,281
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		0
Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		0
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		1,011
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents				16,520
Cash and cash equivalents		17,531
Previous Accounting Guidance [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities		188,383
Capital expenditures		(40,150)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(19,327)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment		3,148
Payments on Company-owned life insurance policies		0
Proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies		0
Net cash used in investing activities		(56,329)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		(89,570)
Effect of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		784
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		43,268
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents				$ 194,986
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 238,254

Preneed Activities Investment R

Preneed Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	$ 93,269	$ 84,487
Withdrawals	106,769	93,082
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	599,651	517,031
Sales of available-for-sale securities	614,424	487,925
Realized gains on investments	58,306	52,433
Realized losses on investments	$ (12,296)	$ (21,774)

Preneed Activities Long-term Re

Preneed Activities Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	$ 858,247	$ 1,455,071
Unearned finance charges	(45,541)	(45,515)
Allowance for cancellation	(46,136)	(107,749)
Preneed Receivables	766,570	1,301,807
Trust investments, at market	4,666,645	4,749,548
Assets associated with businesses held for sale	(144)	(5,660)
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	263,563	265,314
Trust investments	4,930,064	5,009,202
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	(1,497,220)	(1,532,167)
Preneed trust investments	3,432,844	3,477,035
Preneed receivables, net and trust investments, excluding allowance for cancellation	4,199,414	4,778,842
Funeral
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	33,528	336,925
Cemetery
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	$ 824,719	$ 1,118,146

Preneed Activities Schedule of

Preneed Activities Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 3,275,460	$ 3,260,648
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	326,010	367,569
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(96,279)	(57,889)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	3,505,191	3,570,328
Reported at net asset value
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	1,107,497	1,122,537
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	69,465	64,692
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(15,508)	(8,009)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,161,454	1,179,220
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	4,382,957	4,383,185
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	395,475	432,261
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(111,787)	(65,898)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	4,666,645	4,749,548
Fixed Income Commingled funds [Member] | Reported at net asset value
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	417,729	454,242
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	41	235
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(12,473)	(5,860)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	405,297	448,617
Commingled funds - Equity [Member] | Reported at net asset value
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	223,207	214,000
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	10,312	12,826
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(647)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	232,872	226,826
Private Equity Funds | Reported at net asset value
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	172,522	166,860
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	59,112	51,631
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(2,388)	(2,149)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	229,246	216,342
Money Market Funds [Member] | Reported at net asset value
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	294,039	287,435
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	0	0
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	294,039	287,435
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | US Treasury Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	47,338	48,805
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	12	14
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(429)	(117)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	46,921	48,702
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Foreign Government Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	60,522	81,500
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	78	160
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(1,379)	(1,089)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	59,221	80,571
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	12,402	13,540
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	269	327
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(260)	(170)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	12,411	13,697
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	3,312	3,279
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	16	16
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(61)	(14)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	3,267	3,281
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Asset-backed Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	305	320
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	11	15
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(11)	(10)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	305	325
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Preferred Stock Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	7,120	7,834
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	363	385
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(172)	(139)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	7,311	8,080
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | US Common Stock Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	1,208,816	1,161,015
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	241,804	266,822
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(46,846)	(24,739)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,403,774	1,403,098
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Canada Common Stock Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	30,150	30,762
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	9,751	12,545
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(1,503)	(522)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	38,398	42,785
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Other International Common Stock Securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	63,594	63,510
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	12,741	13,174
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(3,280)	(2,834)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	73,055	73,850
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Equity Funds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	696,520	613,934
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	53,631	59,100
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(9,364)	(4,312)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	740,787	668,722
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Fixed Income Funds
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	1,139,940	1,230,196
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	4,227	11,897
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(32,959)	(23,943)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,111,208	1,218,150
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Other Investments
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	5,441	5,953
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax	3,107	3,114
Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	(15)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	$ 8,533	$ 9,067

Preneed Activities Level 3 Acti

Preneed Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) - Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 9,067	$ 8,667
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	(534)	16
Fair market value, ending balance	8,533	8,610
Distributions and other	$ 0	$ (73)

Preneed Activities Investments

Preneed Activities Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)
Investments Classified By Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Fair Value	$ 54,629
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after One Through Five Years, Fair Value	57,445
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	9,680
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Ten Years, Fair Value	371
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Total, Fair Value	$ 122,125

Preneed Activities Schedule o38

Preneed Activities Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	$ 51,191	$ 55,264
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(1,226)	(797)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	16,452	11,154
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(914)	(603)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	67,643	66,418
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(2,140)	(1,400)
US Treasury Securities
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	27,045	29,014
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(402)	(115)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,045	106
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(27)	(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	29,090	29,120
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(429)	(117)
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	16,545	20,947
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(684)	(639)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	9,999	6,370
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(695)	(450)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	26,544	27,317
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(1,379)	(1,089)
Corporate Debt Securities
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,728	2,423
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(80)	(31)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	4,165	4,453
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(180)	(139)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	8,893	6,876
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(260)	(170)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,868	2,880
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(59)	(12)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	150	151
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(2)	(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,018	3,031
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(61)	(14)
Asset-backed Securities
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(1)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	93	74
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(10)	(10)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	98	74
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (11)	$ (10)

Preneed Activities Preneed Acti

Preneed Activities Preneed Activities, Textuals (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Preneed Activities [Abstract]
Unfunded Commitments	$ 112.8
Investment Earnings, Net	$ 44.9	$ 38.2

Preneed Activities Deferred Pre

Preneed Activities Deferred Preneed Revenues [Roll Forward] (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Preneed Activities Deferred Preneed Revenues (Details) [Abstract]
Deferred revenue and deferred receipts held in trust	$ 4,768,826		$ 5,265,206
Accounting Changes [Text Block]	37,991
Net Preneed Deferred Sales	$ 244,091
Deferred Revenue Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net	40,332
Deferred Investment Earnings, Net	(46,918)
Recognized deferred preneed revenues	(115,202)
Recognized deferred revenues, current period sales	(105,256)
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	(606,888)	$ 0
Deferred Revenue Change in Cancellation Allowance	61,987
Effect of foreign currency and other on deferred revenue	$ (6,517)

Preneed Activities Deferred Rev

Preneed Activities Deferred Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Revenue [Abstract]
Deferred revenue, Gross	$ 1,943,933		$ 1,789,776
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	(606,888)	$ 0
Deferred Revenue	$ 1,337,045		$ 1,789,776

Income Taxes Narrative (Details

Income Taxes Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations	25.70%	77.40%
Federal Statutory Tax Rate	21.00%		35.00%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 79.5
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	$ 11.1

Debt (Details)

Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt	$ 268,100	$ 8,800
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	33,300
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(36,119)		$ (38,071)
Total debt	3,405,944		3,472,653
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt	(89,249)		(337,337)
Total long-term debt	3,316,695		3,135,316
October 2,018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net	175,000
December 2,022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt	8,400
Term Loan	666,563		675,000
Bank Credit Facility	185,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			0
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net		10,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt	100
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net	10,000	$ 25,000
Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized pricing discounts and other	7,236		7,456
Unsecured Debt | October 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	0		250,000
Unsecured Debt | November 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	200,000		200,000
Unsecured Debt | November 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	150,000		150,000
Unsecured Debt | January 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	425,000		425,000
Unsecured Debt | May 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	850,000		850,000
Unsecured Debt | April 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	200,000		200,000
Unsecured Debt | December 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	550,000		550,000
Capital Lease Obligations
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Obligations under capital leases	202,324		197,232
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes and other debt	$ 5,940		$ 6,036

Debt Narratives (Details)

Debt Narratives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.90%		4.73%
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate	70.00%		75.00%
Interest Paid	$ 24,900	$ 20,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 33,300
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 781,700
Repayments of Long-term Debt	8,535	8,787
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	(10,131)	0
Repayments of Debt	268,100	8,800
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	7,646	21,055
December 2,022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank Credit Facility	185,000
Term Loan	666,563		$ 675,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			0
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net		10,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt	9,600
Repayments of Debt	8,400
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net	10,000	$ 25,000
Repayments of Debt	100
October 2,018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Net	175,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt	250,000
Unsecured Debt | May 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	850,000		850,000
Unsecured Debt | October 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 0		$ 250,000

Credit Risk and Fair Value of45

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total fair value of debt instruments	$ 3,308,347	$ 3,440,052
October 2,018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	0	259,563
November 2,020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	201,500	199,590
November 2,021
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	173,340	175,313
January 2,022
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	433,373	436,178
May 2,024
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	882,181	892,118
April 2,027
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	229,000	238,004
December 2,027
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	531,449	558,250
December 2,022
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	185,000	0
Bank Credit Facility	185,000
Term Loan [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	666,563	675,000
Mortgages [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure	$ 5,941	$ 6,036

Equity Narratives (Details)

Equity Narratives (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Apr. 25, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired		3,095,554
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Par Value Method		$ 118.8
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share		$ 38.38
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount		$ 351.4
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	667,800
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Par Value Method	$ 25.5
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share	$ 38.12
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount	$ 325.9

Segment Reporting (Details)

Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 794,482	$ 777,710
Gross Profit	195,762	177,239
General and administrative expenses	(34,784)	(42,283)
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	482	4,935
Hurricane Expenses, Net of Insurance Proceeds	2,232	0
Operating income	163,692	139,891
Interest expense	(43,576)	(40,636)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	(10,131)	0
Other income (expense), net	384	(729)
Income before income taxes	110,369	98,526
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	744,113	727,240
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	50,369	50,470
Funeral Atneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	274,406	271,833
Funeral Matured Preneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	165,306	151,797
Funeral Core Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	439,712	423,630
Non-funeral Home Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Profit	13,793	12,274
Funeral Recognized Preneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross Profit	32,460	32,056
Funeral Other Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	28,400	30,804
Funeral
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	514,365	498,764
Gross Profit	120,455	112,607
Cemetery Atneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	83,044	81,574
Cemetery Recognized Preneed Property Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	108,940	114,025
Cemetery Recognized Preneed Merchandise And Service Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	68,363	63,866
Cemetery Core Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	260,347	259,465
Cemetery Other Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	19,770	19,481
Cemetery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	280,117	278,946
Gross Profit	$ 75,307	$ 64,632

Commitments and Contingencies48

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Self Insurance Reserve	$ (75,400)	$ (78,200)
Litigation Settlement, Expense	15,000
Insurance Settlements Receivable	$ 3,500

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 81,988	$ 174,702
After tax interest on convertible debt	15	12
Net income — diluted	$ 82,003	$ 174,714
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares — basic	(185,130)	(188,260)
Convertible debt	121	121
Weighted average shares — diluted	189,923	192,867
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic	$ 0.44	$ 0.93
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.43	$ 0.91
Equity Option [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Stock options	4,522	4,425
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Stock options	150	61
Equity Option [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	577	898

Divestiture-Related Activitie50

Divestiture-Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Divestiture-Related Activities [Abstract]
Gains on divestitures, net	$ 1,276	$ 16,751
Impairment losses	(794)	(11,816)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	$ 482	$ 4,935