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): September 15, 2011

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

LOUISIANA	1-15449	72-0693290
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer 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 8.01 Other Events

     On September 15, 2011, Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release reporting the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend and an increase to the Company’s $100 million stock repurchase program by $25 million to $125 million. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press release by Stewart Enterprises, Inc. dated September 15, 2011 reporting the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend and an increase to the Company’s stock repurchase program

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.
September 15, 2011	/s/ Angela M. Lacour
	Angela M. Lacour
	Senior Vice President of Finance And Chief Accounting Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	Description
99.1	Press release by Stewart Enterprises, Inc. dated September 15, 2011 reporting the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend and an increase to the Company’s stock repurchase program

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT:	Lewis J. Derbes, Jr.	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
	1333 S. Clearview Parkway
	Jefferson, LA 70121
	504-729-1400

STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC. DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND AND INCREASES STOCK
REPURCHASE PROGRAM

JEFFERSON, La.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—September 15, 2011—Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: STEI) reported today that its Board of Directors has declared its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per share. The dividend is payable on October 26, 2011 to holders of record of Class A and Class B Common Stock as of the close of business on October 12, 2011.

Also today, the Company announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company’s $100 million stock repurchase program by $25 million to $125 million. This increases the Company’s current capacity under its stock repurchase program to $51.7 million.

The Company has approximately 89.6 million common shares outstanding, of which approximately 86 million are Class A shares and 3.6 million are Class B shares. The repurchases will be limited to the Company’s Class A common stock.

Founded in 1910, Stewart Enterprises, Inc. is the second largest provider of products and services in the death care industry in the United States, currently owning and operating 218 funeral homes and 141 cemeteries. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides a complete range of funeral and cremation merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services, both at the time of need and on a preneed basis.