Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) Holdings Lifted by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,016 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,869 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Service Co. International were worth $2,191,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of SCI. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Service Co. International in the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its position in Service Co. International by 204.1% in the 4th quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 599 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Service Co. International by 125.5% in the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 902 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 502 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in Service Co. International by 45.4% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,224 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ bought a new position in Service Co. International in the 3rd quarter worth about $80,000. Institutional investors own 85.53% of the company’s stock.

Service Co. International Trading Up 2.1 %

Service Co. International stock opened at $70.98 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $72.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $66.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.02, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.40 billion, a PE ratio of 20.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 0.81. Service Co. International has a 12-month low of $52.89 and a 12-month high of $75.97.

Service Co. International (NYSE:SCI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 business had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.02 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.92 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Service Co. International will post 3.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Service Co. International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Service Co. International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. Service Co. International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Insider Activity at Service Co. International

In related news, Director Tony Coelho sold 8,950 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 60,887 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,590,270.93. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Thomas L. Ryan sold 16,580 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.20, for a total value of $1,197,076.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 988,365 shares in the company, valued at approximately $71,359,953. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Tony Coelho sold 8,950 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 60,887 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,590,270.93. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 202,675 shares of company stock valued at $15,066,906 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 4.60% of the company’s stock.

About Service Co. International

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.