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Preneed Cemetery Activities Level 1 (Notes) (Cemetery [Member])
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Cemetery [Member]
  
Preneed Cemetery Activities Text Block
Preneed Cemetery Activities
 Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, for contracts sold in advance of when the property interment rights, merchandise, or services are needed. Our cemetery merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed cemetery revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts when the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.
The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
 
(In thousands)
Deposits
$
25,195

 
$
24,092

Withdrawals
24,733

 
29,944

Purchases of available-for-sale securities
270,083

 
133,565

Sales of available-for-sale securities
255,417

 
133,555

Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities
39,272

 
16,847

Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities
(13,770
)
 
(5,621
)

The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:
 
March 31, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market
$
1,153,699

 
$
1,051,464

Cash and cash equivalents
92,072

 
104,554

Insurance-backed fixed income securities
10

 
5

Trust investments
1,245,781

 
1,156,023

Receivables from customers
543,488

 
517,917

Unearned finance charges
(31,935
)
 
(33,766
)
 
1,757,334

 
1,640,174

Allowance for cancellation
(44,358
)
 
(44,234
)
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments
$
1,712,976

 
$
1,595,940


The cost and market values associated with our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments.
 
March 31, 2012
 
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
95,800

 
$
6,829

 
$
(2,130
)
 
$
100,499

Canadian government
17,029

 
351

 
(8
)
 
17,372

Corporate
44,452

 
2,785

 
(572
)
 
46,665

Residential mortgage-backed
163

 
4

 
—

 
167

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
3,059

 
130

 
(204
)
 
2,985

Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
347,048

 
88,890

 
(10,942
)
 
424,996

Canada
17,819

 
3,451

 
(1,576
)
 
19,694

Other international
28,236

 
3,165

 
(669
)
 
30,732

Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
236,441

 
10,592

 
(11,010
)
 
236,023

Fixed income
268,654

 
10,588

 
(20,054
)
 
259,188

Private equity
32,483

 
51

 
(17,599
)
 
14,935

Other
331

 
112

 
—

 
443

Trust investments
$
1,091,515

 
$
126,948

 
$
(64,764
)
 
$
1,153,699


 
December 31, 2011
 
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
51,022

 
$
6,438

 
$
(313
)
 
$
57,147

Canadian government
16,566

 
381

 
(24
)
 
16,923

Corporate
42,803

 
2,033

 
(961
)
 
43,875

Residential mortgage-backed
167

 
5

 
(2
)
 
170

Asset-backed
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
3,365

 
86

 
(270
)
 
3,181

Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
408,075

 
71,138

 
(30,454
)
 
448,759

Canada
18,289

 
2,547

 
(1,780
)
 
19,056

Other international
30,501

 
1,843

 
(1,536
)
 
30,808

Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
197,523

 
3,317

 
(24,911
)
 
175,929

Fixed income
248,529

 
11,670

 
(20,238
)
 
239,961

Private equity
30,783

 
53

 
(15,617
)
 
15,219

Other
306

 
130

 
—

 
436

Trust investments
$
1,047,929

 
$
99,641

 
$
(96,106
)
 
$
1,051,464


Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.
Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.
The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.
As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $15.2 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.
Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.
The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:
 
Quoted Market
Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair Market Value
 
(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012
$
970,633

 
$
167,688

 
$
15,378

 
$
1,153,699

Trust investments at December 31, 2011
$
914,513

 
$
121,296

 
$
15,655

 
$
1,051,464


The change in our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
Fair market value, beginning balance
$
15,655

 
$
6,251

Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
(1,345
)
 
6,311

Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)
(12
)
 
(8
)
Sales
—

 
—

Contributions
1,356

 
503

Distributions and other
(276
)
 
(2,393
)
Fair market value, ending balance
$
15,378

 
$
10,664


                                                                               
(1)
All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
(2)
All losses recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:
 
Fair Market Value
 
(In thousands)
Due in one year or less
$
4,793

Due in one to five years
61,108

Due in five to ten years
49,640

Thereafter
49,162

 
$
164,703


Earnings from all our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $7.5 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.3 million and a $1.0 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.
We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:
 
March 31, 2012
 
In Loss Position
Less Than 12 Months
 
In Loss Position
Greater Than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
43,178

 
$
(1,932
)
 
$
2,287

 
$
(198
)
 
$
45,465

 
$
(2,130
)
Canadian government
2,489

 
(8
)
 
—

 
—

 
2,489

 
(8
)
Corporate
13,559

 
(483
)
 
538

 
(89
)
 
14,097

 
(572
)
Residential mortgage-backed
29

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
29

 
—

Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
1,382

 
(198
)
 
66

 
(6
)
 
1,448

 
(204
)
Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
59,820

 
(7,023
)
 
11,828

 
(3,919
)
 
71,648

 
(10,942
)
Canada
4,255

 
(987
)
 
420

 
(589
)
 
4,675

 
(1,576
)
Other international
5,230

 
(223
)
 
2,620

 
(446
)
 
7,850

 
(669
)
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
25,667

 
(1,593
)
 
35,401

 
(9,417
)
 
61,068

 
(11,010
)
Fixed income
83,092

 
(7,603
)
 
9,567

 
(12,451
)
 
92,659

 
(20,054
)
Private equity
474

 
(308
)
 
13,946

 
(17,291
)
 
14,420

 
(17,599
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
$
239,175

 
$
(20,358
)
 
$
76,673

 
$
(44,406
)
 
$
315,848

 
$
(64,764
)


 
December 31, 2011
 
In Loss Position
Less Than 12 Months
 
In Loss Position
Greater Than 12 Months
 
Total
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair Market
Value
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury
$
1,736

 
$
(51
)
 
$
3,038

 
$
(262
)
 
$
4,774

 
$
(313
)
Canadian government
4,024

 
(24
)
 
—

 
—

 
4,024

 
(24
)
Corporate
15,044

 
(850
)
 
1,747

 
(111
)
 
16,791

 
(961
)
Residential mortgage-backed
2

 
(1
)
 
15

 
(1
)
 
17

 
(2
)
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
1,583

 
(270
)
 
—

 
—

 
1,583

 
(270
)
Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
123,849

 
(26,401
)
 
17,085

 
(4,053
)
 
140,934

 
(30,454
)
Canada
7,694

 
(1,260
)
 
366

 
(520
)
 
8,060

 
(1,780
)
Other international
8,654

 
(629
)
 
3,772

 
(907
)
 
12,426

 
(1,536
)
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity
115,725

 
(11,222
)
 
36,398

 
(13,689
)
 
152,123

 
(24,911
)
Fixed income
48,950

 
(7,686
)
 
9,367

 
(12,552
)
 
58,317

 
(20,238
)
Private equity
466

 
(254
)
 
14,213

 
(15,363
)
 
14,679

 
(15,617
)
Total temporarily impaired securities
$
327,727

 
$
(48,648
)
 
$
86,001

 
$
(47,458
)
 
$
413,728

 
$
(96,106
)