8-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 9, 2009

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

LOUISIANA	1-15449	72-0693290
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

1333 South Clearview Parkway
Jefferson, Louisiana 70121

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(504) 729-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

     On June 9, 2009, Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release reporting its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

     The information in this Item 2.02 (and in Item 9.01) shall be deemed to be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission but not filed, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filings by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless the Company expressly states otherwise in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release by Stewart Enterprises, Inc. dated June 9, 2009 reporting its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
June 10, 2009	/s/ Angela M. Lacour
	Angela M. Lacour
	Vice President Corporate Controller Chief Accounting Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press release by Stewart Enterprises, Inc. dated June 9, 2009 reporting its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT:	Thomas M. Kitchen	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
	1333 S. Clearview Parkway
	Jefferson, LA 70121
	504-729-1400

STEWART ENTERPRISES REPORTS RESULTS FOR THE SECOND FISCAL QUARTER OF 2009

NEW ORLEANS, LA June 9, 2009 . . . Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: STEI) reported today its results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2009.

The Company reported net earnings for the quarter ended April 30, 2009 of $13.2 million, or $.14 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $13.9 million, or $.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. After adjusting net earnings for several unusual items in the second quarter of 2009, the Company reported adjusted earnings of $10.6 million, or $.11 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2009, compared to adjusted earnings of $14.1 million, or $.15 per diluted share, for the quarter ended April 30, 2008. See table under “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for further information on adjusted diluted earnings per share and adjusted net earnings.

Thomas J. Crawford, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Given the current economic environment and industry conditions, we are pleased with our operating performance for the quarter, which compares favorably to our first quarter 2009 results. Compared to the first quarter of 2009, our funeral and cemetery gross profit dollars and margins increased, as we grew revenue and continued to control our expenses during the second quarter of fiscal 2009. This resulted in net earnings and earnings per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 in excess of 50 percent greater than the first quarter of this fiscal year. Additionally, we took actions to strengthen our balance sheet and liquidity position by replacing our revolving credit facility and repurchasing debt.”

Mr. Crawford continued, “We generated $21.8 million in operating cash flow for the quarter and $29.1 million year-to-date producing more cash in the first six months of 2009 than the first six months of 2008. During the second fiscal quarter, we repurchased approximately $23 million aggregate principal amount of our senior convertible notes on the open market for $14 million, realizing a net gain of approximately $9 million. Since quarter end, we have repurchased an additional $17 million of our senior convertible notes, realizing an additional net gain of approximately $4 million. In total, with our debt repurchases we have retired 9 percent, or $40 million, of our outstanding debt during this fiscal year and currently have $64 million of cash on hand. Finally, we successfully replaced our revolving credit facility with a new $95 million facility which will expire in June 2012. We are pleased with our new credit facility with stronger than anticipated response from lenders. With the flexible terms and conditions and borrowing availability in this new agreement, combined with strong cash on hand, we believe we are well positioned to execute our long-term strategic objectives. We believe the repurchase of our debt and the new debt agreement are important actions that will further benefit the Company’s financial strength as the economy improves.”

Second Quarter Results

FUNERAL

• Funeral revenue decreased $5.6 million, or 7.3 percent, to $71.2 million.

• The Company’s same-store funeral operations achieved a 2.4 percent increase in the same-store average revenue per funeral service, including trust earnings.

• Same-store funeral services performed decreased 9.6 percent, or 1,537 events. The decline is due to several factors. The Company experienced a 640 call decline, or 42 percent of the total decline, in its two West Coast regions, due in part to a decrease in low-end cremation events. In addition, the Company experienced a 222 call decline, or 14 percent of the total decline, in funeral services due to an additional day in the second quarter of 2008 due to leap year. Finally, the remaining decrease in funeral services is primarily due to a decrease in deaths in the Company’s markets, when compared with the comparable prior year period.

• In the second quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company realized a $2.1 million, or $.01 per diluted share, decrease in earnings related to trust activities, of which $0.8 million related to the funeral segment and $1.3 million related to the cemetery segment. This decrease is consistent with the Company’s previously announced expectations.

• Funeral gross profit decreased $4.0 million to $18.5 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $22.5 million for the same period of fiscal 2008, primarily due to the decrease in revenue, as noted above, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company’s general liability claims experience.

• The cremation rate for the Company’s same-store operations was 41.4 percent for the second quarter of 2009 compared to 39.9 percent for the second quarter of 2008.

• Net preneed funeral sales decreased 1.3 percent during the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008 due in part to current economic conditions. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.

CEMETERY

• Cemetery revenue decreased $4.6 million to $55.4 million for the second quarter of 2009. This decrease is due primarily to a $2.3 million, or 9.0 percent, decrease in cemetery property sales, net of discounts, due to current economic conditions, a $2.2 million decrease in cemetery merchandise delivered and services performed and a $1.3 million decrease in earnings related to trust activities, as noted above. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.8 million increase in construction during the period on various cemetery projects.

• Cemetery gross profit decreased $6.0 million from $13.1 million in the second quarter of 2008 to $7.1 million for the second quarter of 2009 due primarily to the decrease in cemetery revenue, as discussed above, coupled with a $1.4 million increase in expenses. The increase in expenses is primarily due to a $3.1 million charge recorded for the Company’s estimated probable obligation to restore the net realized losses in certain of the Company’s cemetery perpetual care trusts related to investments in General Motors. This increase is partially offset by a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company’s general liability claims experience.

OTHER

• Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased $0.8 million to $7.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to a $1.2 million decrease in professional fees, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in information technology costs primarily due to the implementation of a new business system in the current year.

• The Company incurred $0.2 million in hurricane related charges in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 primarily due to litigation costs associated with the Company’s Hurricane Katrina insurance claim, compared to $0.2 million in hurricane related charges during the second quarter of fiscal 2008 related to Hurricane Katrina.

• Investment and other income, net decreased $0.4 million to less than $0.1 million due primarily to a decrease in the average rate earned on the Company’s cash balances from 1.5 percent in the second quarter of 2008 to 0.2 percent in the second quarter of 2009.

• The Company incurred separation charges of $0.3 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2009 due primarily to separation pay to a former officer who retired in the second quarter of 2009.

• The effective tax rate for the quarter ended April 30, 2009 was 37.7 percent compared to 36.7 percent for the same period in 2008. The increased rate in the current year is primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in the Company’s tax valuation allowance on its capital loss carryforward established in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This increase was partially offset by reduced state income taxes attributable to the gain on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.

• The Company’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 91.9 million shares for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to 94.6 million shares for the same period in 2008, yielding a positive impact on earnings per share.

• In the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased $4.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.125 percent senior convertible notes due 2014 and $18.6 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.375 percent senior convertible notes due 2016 on the open market. As a result, the Company recorded an $8.7 million net gain on early extinguishment of debt during the quarter ended April 30, 2009.

Year to Date Results

FUNERAL

• Funeral revenue decreased $7.3 million, or 4.9 percent, to $143.0 million.

• The Company’s same-store funeral operations achieved a 4.2 percent increase in the same-store average revenue per funeral service, including trust earnings.

• Same-store funeral services performed decreased 8.0 percent, or 2,516 events. The decline is due to several factors. The Company experienced a 1,071 call decline, or 43 percent of the total decline, in its two West Coast regions, due in part to a decrease in low-end cremation events. In addition, the Company experienced a 222 call decline, or 9 percent of the total decline, in funeral services due to an additional day in the second quarter of 2008 due to leap year. Finally, the remaining decrease in funeral services is primarily due to a decrease in deaths in the Company’s markets, when compared with the comparable prior year period.

• For the first six months of fiscal 2009, the Company realized a $4.3 million, or $.03 per diluted share, decrease in earnings related to trust activities, of which $1.7 million related to the funeral segment and $2.6 million related to the cemetery segment. This decrease is consistent with the Company’s previously announced expectations.

• Funeral gross profit decreased $3.8 million to $36.8 million for the first six months of 2009 compared to $40.6 million for the same period of fiscal 2008 primarily due to the decrease in revenue, as noted above, partially offset by a $3.5 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company’s general liability claims experience.

• The cremation rate for the Company’s same-store operations was 40.9 percent for the first six months of fiscal 2009 compared to 40.1 percent for the same period of fiscal 2008.

• Net preneed funeral sales decreased 8.0 percent during the first half of fiscal 2009 compared to the first half of fiscal 2008 due in part to current economic conditions. Preneed funeral sales are deferred until the underlying contracts are performed and have no impact on current revenue.

CEMETERY

• Cemetery revenue decreased $13.8 million to $103.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2009. This decrease is due primarily to a $9.5 million, or 18.5 percent, decrease in cemetery property sales, net of discounts, due to current economic conditions, a $3.0 million decrease in cemetery merchandise delivered and services performed and a $2.6 million decrease in earnings related to trust activities, as noted above. These decreases were partially offset by a $2.4 million increase in construction during the period on various cemetery projects.

• Cemetery gross profit decreased $10.2 million from $22.1 million in the first six months of 2008 to $11.9 million for the first six months of 2009 due primarily to the decrease in cemetery revenue, as discussed above, partially offset by a $3.6 million decrease in expenses. The decrease in expenses is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and wages due to effective labor management and an improvement in the Company’s general liability claims experience. The decrease is partially offset by a $3.2 million charge recorded for the Company’s estimated probable obligation to restore the net realized losses in certain of the Company’s cemetery perpetual care trusts primarily related to investments in General Motors.

OTHER

• Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased $1.5 million to $14.5 million for the first six month period of fiscal 2009 primarily due to a $1.4 million decrease in professional fees.

• The Company incurred $0.5 million in hurricane related charges in the first six months of fiscal 2009 primarily due to litigation costs associated with the Company’s Hurricane Katrina insurance claim, compared to less than $0.1 million in hurricane related charges during the first six months of fiscal 2008 related to Hurricane Katrina.

• Investment and other income, net decreased $1.0 million to $0.1 million due primarily to a decrease in the average rate earned on the Company’s cash balances from 2.6 percent in the first six months of fiscal year 2008 to 0.2 percent for the first six months of fiscal year 2009.

• The Company incurred separation charges of $0.3 million during the first six months of fiscal 2009 due primarily to separation pay to a former officer who retired in the second quarter of 2009.

• The effective tax rate for the six months ended April 30, 2009 was 38.6 percent compared to 37.0 percent for the same period in 2008. The increased rate in the current year is primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in the Company’s tax valuation allowance on its capital loss carryforward established in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This increase was partially offset by reduced state income taxes attributable to the gain on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.

• The Company’s weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 91.9 million shares for the six months ended April 30, 2009 compared to 95.8 million shares for the same period in 2008, yielding a positive impact on earnings per share.

• In the first six months of fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased $4.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.125 percent senior convertible notes due 2014 and $18.6 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.375 percent senior convertible notes due 2016 on the open market. As a result, the Company recorded an $8.7 million net gain on early extinguishment of debt during the six months ended April 30, 2009.

• As of June 9, 2009, the Company has purchased an additional $17.5 million aggregate principal amount of its senior convertible notes, resulting in an additional net gain on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $4.6 million, or a total of $40.1 million aggregate principal amount purchased and approximately $13.3 million net gain for fiscal year 2009.

Depreciation and Amortization

• Depreciation and amortization was $7.4 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2008.

• Depreciation and amortization was $14.8 million for the first six months of 2009 compared to $14.0 million for the first six months of 2008.

Cash Flow Results and Debt for Total Operations

• Cash flow provided by operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $21.8 million compared to $24.3 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in operating cash flow is primarily due to the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by a decrease in net tax payments in the current quarter. The Company paid $7.4 million in net tax payments in the second quarter of 2008 compared to $2.5 million in the second quarter of 2009.

• Cash flow provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2009 was $29.1 million compared to $28.4 million for the same period of last year. The increase in operating cash flow is primarily due to collections of prior period sales exceeding receivables for new sales. In addition, the Company paid $10.7 million in net tax payments in the first half of 2008 compared to $3.4 million in the first half of 2009. These increases were partially offset by $1.3 million of cash outflows related to Hurricane Ike paid in the first six months of 2009, coupled with the timing of payments to vendors and the timing of payroll payments.

• Recurring free cash flow was $18.4 million during the second quarter of 2009 compared to $20.3 million for the second quarter of 2008.

• Recurring free cash flow was $22.6 million for the first six months of fiscal year 2009 compared to $21.2 million for the same period last year.

• During the second quarter of 2009, the Company paid $2.3 million, or $.025 per share, in dividends compared to $2.4 million, or $.025 per share, paid in the second quarter of 2008.

• As of April 30, 2009, the Company had outstanding debt of $427.5 million and cash on hand of $71.8 million, or net debt of $355.7 million.

• The Company’s revolving credit facility, which had no amounts drawn as of April 30, 2009, was set to mature on November 19, 2009. In June 2009, the Company entered into a new $95.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a maturity date of June 2, 2012.

Trust Performance

The following returns include realized and unrealized gains and losses:

• For the quarter ended April 30, 2009, the Company’s preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced a total return of 5.0 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced a total return of 4.8 percent.

• For the last three years ended April 30, 2009, the Company’s preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 7.2 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 5.6 percent.

• For the last five years ended April 30, 2009, the Company’s preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 1.8 percent, and its perpetual care trusts experienced an annual total average decline in value of 1.5 percent.

Founded in 1910, Stewart Enterprises is the second largest provider of products and services in the death care industry in the United States. The Company currently owns and operates 219 funeral homes and 140 cemeteries in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides a complete range of funeral merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services, both at the time of need and on a preneed basis.

Stewart Enterprises, Inc. will host its quarterly conference call for investors to discuss second quarter results on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 10 a.m. Central Standard Time. The teleconference dial-in number is 888-213-3710. To participate, please call the number at least 15 minutes prior to the call. If you are calling from outside the United States, the dial-in number is 913-312-0646. A replay of the call will be available by dialing 888-203-1112 (from within the continental United States) or 719-457-0820 (from outside the continental United States), and using pass code 5487029 until June 17, 2009, at 10:59 p.m. Central Standard Time. Interested parties will also have the opportunity to listen to the live conference call via the Internet through Stewart Enterprises’ website http://www.stewartenterprises.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay will be available at this website shortly following the conference call and will be available at the website until July 10, 2009.

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended April 30,
	2009			2008
Revenues:
Funeral	$	71,240		$	76,855
Cemetery		55,378			59,964
		126,618			136,819
Costs and expenses:
Funeral		52,715			54,289
Cemetery		48,308			46,896
		101,023			101,185
Gross profit		25,595			35,634
Corporate general and administrative expenses		(7,006	)		(7,803	)
Hurricane related charges, net		(205	)		(169	)
Separation charges		(275	)		—
Gain on dispositions and impairment (losses), net		(35	)		(19	)
Other operating income, net		304			104
Operating earnings		18,378			27,747
Interest expense		(5,879	)		(6,093	)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		8,671			—
Investment and other income, net		32			357
Earnings before income taxes		21,202			22,011
Income taxes		8,000			8,071
Net earnings	$	13,202		$	13,940
Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	.14		$	.15
Diluted	$	.14		$	.15
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		91,888			94,525
Diluted		91,921			94,635
Dividends declared per common share	$	.025		$	.025

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Six Months Ended April 30,
	2009			2008
Revenues:
Funeral	$	142,990		$	150,304
Cemetery		102,958			116,788
		245,948			267,092
Costs and expenses:
Funeral		106,210			109,736
Cemetery		91,060			94,652
		197,270			204,388
Gross profit		48,678			62,704
Corporate general and administrative expenses		(14,512	)		(16,038	)
Hurricane related charges, net		(520	)		(10	)
Separation charges		(275	)		—
Gain on dispositions and impairment (losses), net		(98	)		128
Other operating income, net		563			346
Operating earnings		33,836			47,130
Interest expense		(11,789	)		(11,981	)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		8,671			—
Investment and other income, net		73			1,077
Earnings before income taxes		30,791			36,226
Income taxes		11,873			13,401
Net earnings	$	18,918		$	22,825
Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$	.21		$	.24
Diluted	$	.21		$	.24
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		91,856			95,667
Diluted		91,871			95,838
Dividends declared per common share	$	.05		$	.05

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	April 30,		October 31,
	2009		2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	71,783	$	72,574
Marketable securities		150		55
Receivables, net of allowances		54,956		59,129
Inventories		36,517		35,870
Prepaid expenses		10,232		7,317
Deferred income taxes, net		8,942		8,798
Total current assets		182,580		183,743
Receivables due beyond one year, net of allowances		65,787		70,671
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		344,005		368,412
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments		174,322		182,141
Goodwill		247,236		247,236
Cemetery property, at cost		384,121		375,832
Property and equipment, at cost:
Land		42,343		42,343
Buildings		324,202		319,839
Equipment and other		183,140		178,589
		549,685		540,771
Less accumulated depreciation		248,567		236,243
Net property and equipment		301,118		304,528
Deferred income taxes, net		174,107		179,515
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments		172,544		173,090
Non-current assets held for sale		2,873		2,873
Other assets		14,653		16,474
Total assets	$	2,063,346	$	2,104,515

(continued)

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	April 30,			October 31,
	2009			2008
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	4		$	20
Accounts payable		23,705			27,652
Accrued payroll and other benefits		12,078			14,133
Accrued insurance		20,410			21,287
Accrued interest		5,032			5,864
Estimated obligation to fund cemetery perpetual care trust		14,725			13,281
Other current liabilities		12,179			16,198
Income taxes payable		5,044			2,061
Total current liabilities		93,177			100,496
Long-term debt, less current maturities		427,447			450,095
Deferred preneed funeral revenue		244,440			245,182
Deferred preneed cemetery revenue		275,711			275,835
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust		448,222			475,420
Perpetual care trusts’ corpus		171,129			171,371
Other long-term liabilities		22,397			20,479
Total liabilities		1,682,523			1,738,878
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued		—			—
Common stock, $1.00 stated value:
Class A authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 89,121,557 and 88,693,127 shares at April 30, 2009 and October 31, 2008, respectively		89,122			88,693
Class B authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,555,020 shares at April 30, 2009 and October 31, 2008; 10 votes per share convertible into an equal number of Class A shares		3,555			3,555
Additional paid-in capital		532,744			536,902
Accumulated deficit		(244,632	)		(263,550	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized appreciation of investments		34			37
Total accumulated other comprehensive income		34			37
Total shareholders’ equity		380,823			365,637
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	2,063,346		$	2,104,515

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Six Months Ended April 30,
	2009			2008
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	18,918		$	22,825
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gains) on dispositions and impairment losses, net		98			(128	)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt		(8,671	)		—
Depreciation and amortization		14,806			13,985
Provision for doubtful accounts		4,344			3,638
Share-based compensation		1,259			1,851
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements		—			(165	)
Provision for deferred income taxes		4,764			2,594
Estimated obligation to fund cemetery perpetual care trust		3,200			—
Other		157			217
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables		5,175			(5,706	)
Increase in prepaid expenses		(2,915	)		(3,933	)
Decrease in inventories and cemetery property		(515	)		(4,368	)
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses		(10,382	)		(1,644	)
Net effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		15,895			6,654
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue		(743	)		(5,070	)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust		(14,018	)		(4,814	)
Net effect of preneed cemetery production and deliveries:
Decrease in preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments		7,584			3,101
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery revenue		(7,595	)		(244	)
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust		(4,433	)		453
Increase (decrease) in other		2,156			(849	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		29,084			28,397
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities		—			10,219
Purchases of marketable securities		(99	)		(19,897	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		494			338
Purchase of subsidiaries and other investments, net of cash acquired		(1,623	)		(1,378	)
Additions to property and equipment		(10,729	)		(13,385	)
Other		28			21
Net cash used in investing activities		(11,929	)		(24,082	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt		(13,538	)		(150	)
Issuance of common stock		149			1,458
Retirement of call options		1,261			—
Purchase and retirement of common stock		—			(37,320	)
Retirement of common stock warrants		(1,182	)		—
Dividends		(4,636	)		(4,761	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements		—			165
Net cash used in financing activities		(17,946	)		(40,608	)
Net decrease in cash		(791	)		(36,293	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		72,574			71,545
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	71,783		$	35,252
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net	$	3,374		$	10,697
Interest	$	11,798		$	11,437
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock to executive officers and directors	$	305		$	922
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	$	52		$	236

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE PERIODS ENDED APRIL 30, 2009 AND 2008
(Unaudited)

The Company recorded several items during the three and six months ended April 30, 2009 and 2008 that impacted earnings including unusual items such as perpetual care funding obligations and tax valuation charges and non-recurring items such as gains on the early extinguishment of debt, hurricane related charges and separation pay. The Company is presenting adjusted earnings in the table below to eliminate the effects of the specified items, which are not comparable from one period to the next.

	Three Months Ended April 30,										Six Months Ended April 30,
Adjusted Balances are Net of Tax	2009						2008				2009						2008
	millions			per share			millions		per share		millions			per share			millions		per share
Consolidated net earnings	$	13.2		$	.14		$	13.9	$	.15	$	18.9		$	.21		$	22.8	$	.24
Subtract: Gain on early extinguishment of debt		(5.4	)		(.06	)		—		—		(5.3	)		(.06	)		—		—
Add: Hurricane related charges, net		0.1			—			0.2		—		0.3			—			—		—
Add: Perpetual care funding obligation		1.9			.02			—		—		2.0			.02			—		—
Add: Separation charges		0.2			—			—		—		0.2			—			—		—
Add: Tax valuation charge		0.6			.01			—		—		0.9			.01			—		—
Adjusted earnings	$	10.6		$	.11		$	14.1	$	.15	$	17.0		$	.18		$	22.8	$	.24

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE PERIODS ENDED APRIL 30, 2009 AND 2008
(Unaudited)

Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less maintenance capital expenditures. Management believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of the Company’s ability to repay debt, make strategic investments, repurchase stock or pay dividends (subject to the restrictions in its debt agreements). The following table provides a reconciliation between net cash provided by operating activities (the GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is most directly comparable to free cash flow) and free cash flow for the three and six months ended April 30, 2009 and 2008:

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
Free Cash Flow	April 30,						April 30,
(Dollars in millions)	2009			2008			2009			2008
Net cash provided by operating activities (1)	$	21.8		$	24.3		$	29.1		$	28.4
Less: Maintenance capital expenditures		(3.4	)		(4.0	)		(6.5	)		(7.2	)
Free cash flow	$	18.4		$	20.3		$	22.6		$	21.2

(1) Cash flow provided by operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was $21.8 million compared to $24.3 million for the same period of last year. The decrease in operating cash flow is primarily due to the timing of vendor payments, partially offset by a decrease in net tax payments. Cash flow provided by operating activities for the first six months of 2009 was $29.1 million compared to $28.4 million for the same period of last year. The increase in operating cash flow is primarily due to collections of prior period sales exceeding receivables for new sales and a decrease in net tax payments, partially offset by cash outflows related to Hurricane Ike paid in the first six months of 2009, coupled with the timing of payments to vendors and the timing of payroll payments.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are generally identifiable through the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements rely on assumptions, estimates and predictions that could be inaccurate and that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our goals or forecasts. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

• effects on our trusts and escrow accounts of changes in stock and bond prices and interest and dividend rates;

• effects of the recent substantial decline in market value of our trust assets, including:

• decreased future cash flow and earnings as a result of reduced earnings from our trusts and trust fund management;

• the potential to realize additional losses and additional cemetery perpetual care funding obligations and tax valuation allowances;

• effects on at-need and preneed sales of a weakening economy;

• effects on revenue due to the changes in the number of deaths in our markets and decline in funeral call volume;

• effects on cash flow and earnings as a result of increased costs, particularly supply costs related to increases in commodity prices;

• effects on our market share, prices, revenues and margins of intensified price competition or improved advertising and marketing by competitors, including low-cost casket providers and increased offerings of products or services over the Internet;

• effects on our revenue and earnings of the continuing national trend toward increased cremation and the increases in the percentage of cremations performed by us that are inexpensive direct cremations;

• risk of loss due to hurricanes and other natural disasters;

• effects of the call options the Company purchased and the warrants the Company sold on our Class A common stock and the effects of the outstanding warrants on the ownership interest of our current stockholders;

• our ability to pay future dividends on and repurchase our common stock;

• possible adverse outcomes of pending class action lawsuits and the continuing cost of defending against them;

• our ability to consummate significant acquisitions of or investments in death care or related businesses successfully;

• the effects on us as a result of our industry’s complex accounting model;

• the effect of the change in accounting method for our senior convertible notes;

and other risks and uncertainties described in our Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2008, filed with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation or intent to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.