STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. Exhibit 12 AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (UNAUDITED) SIX MONTHS YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, ENDED -------------------------------------------------------- APRIL 30, 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 -------- -------- --------- -------- --------- ---------- Earnings from operations before income taxes ........................ $ 41,500(1) $ 82,075 $ 106,477(2) $ 64,964(3) $ 142,551(4) $ 60,115 Fixed charges: Interest charges .......................... 22,815 26,051 38,031 44,107 55,543 30,648 Interest portion of lease expense.......... 1,343 1,522 2,181 2,814 2,859 1,420 -------- -------- --------- -------- --------- ---------- Total fixed charges ......................... 24,158 27,573 40,212 46,921 58,402 32,068 Earnings from operations before income taxes and fixed charges, less capitalized interest $ 65,658(1) $109,648 $ 146,689(2) $111,599(3) $ 200,118(4) $ 91,655 ======== ======== ========= ======== ========= ========== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.72(1) 3.98 3.65(2) 2.38(3) 3.43(4) 2.86 ======== ======== ========= ======== ========= ========== - --------------------- (1) Includes a nonrecurring, noncash charge of $17,252 recorded in connection with the vesting of the Company's performance-based stock options. (2) Excludes cumulative effect of change in accounting principles of $2,324 (net of $2,230 income tax benefit). (3) Includes a nonrecurring, noncash charge of $76,762 recorded in connection with the vesting of the Company's performance-based stock options. (4) Excludes cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $50,101 (net of $28,798 income tax benefit). - --------------------- During the periods presented the Company had no preferred stock outstanding. Therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends was the same as the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods presented.