Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) Stake Lifted by Tranquility Partners LLC

Tranquility Partners LLC increased its stake in Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) by 3.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,652 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 309 shares during the period. Tranquility Partners LLC’s holdings in Service Co. International were worth $729,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its holdings in Service Co. International by 87.4% during the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 53,466 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,055,000 after buying an additional 24,941 shares in the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp boosted its holdings in Service Co. International by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 673,914 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,129,000 after buying an additional 20,879 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank bought a new stake in Service Co. International during the third quarter worth approximately $4,712,000. TIAA Trust National Association bought a new stake in Service Co. International during the third quarter worth approximately $344,000. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its holdings in Service Co. International by 45.4% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,224 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after buying an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Tony Coelho sold 8,950 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $674,740.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 60,887 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,590,270.93. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Tony Coelho sold 8,950 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.39, for a total transaction of $674,740.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 60,887 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,590,270.93. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Sumner J. Waring III sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total transaction of $3,753,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 289,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,725,258. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 202,675 shares of company stock worth $15,066,906 in the last quarter. 4.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Service Co. International Stock Down 1.1 %

SCI stock traded down $0.79 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $68.51. The company had a trading volume of 508,036 shares, compared to its average volume of 827,645. Service Co. International has a 1 year low of $52.89 and a 1 year high of $75.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.02. The company has a market capitalization of $10.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.46, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a 50 day moving average of $72.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $65.97.

Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.02. Service Co. International had a net margin of 13.11% and a return on equity of 32.88%. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.92 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Service Co. International will post 3.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Service Co. International Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th were given a $0.30 dividend. This is an increase from Service Co. International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.75%. Service Co. International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.95%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SCI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of Service Co. International from $71.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Service Co. International from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $75.00.

Service Co. International Profile

Service Corporation International provides deathcare products and services in the United States and Canada. Its funeral service and cemetery operations comprise funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and other businesses. The company also provides professional services related to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral home facilities and motor vehicles; arranging and directing services; and removal, preparation, embalming, cremation, memorialization, and travel protection, as well as catering services.