Equity Level 1 (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Equity

(All shares reported in whole numbers)

Share Authorization

We are authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1 per share par value. No preferred shares were issued as of December 31, 2012 or 2011. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, 500,000,000 common shares of $1 par value were authorized. We had 211,046,501 and 222,955,853 shares issued and outstanding, net of 10,000 and 1,709,542 shares held in treasury at par at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Unrealized Gains and Losses			Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	97,142		$	—		$	97,142
Activity in 2010	15,626			—			15,626
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			147,688			147,688
Reclassification of net unrealized gains activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes	—			(147,688		)	(147,688		)
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	112,768		$	—		$	112,768
Activity in 2011	(6,916		)	—			(6,916		)
Reduction in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			(80,789		)	(80,789		)
Reclassification of net unrealized losses activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes	—			80,789			80,789
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	105,852		$	—		$	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,865						5,865
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			95,686			95,686
Reclassification of net unrealized gains activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes	—			(95,686		)	(95,686		)
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	111,717		$	—		$	111,717

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rate. The U.S. dollar amount that arises from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the cumulative currency translation adjustments in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

Share Repurchase Program

Subject to market conditions, normal trading restrictions, and limitations in our debt covenants, we may make purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions under our share repurchase program. During 2012, we repurchased 15,294,567 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $184.9 million, which is an average cost per share of $12.09. During 2011, we repurchased 19,752,174 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $195.7 million, which is an average cost per share of $9.91. During 2010, we repurchased 13,927,510 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $116.2 million, which is an average cost per share of $8.34. In November 2012, our Board of Directors approved an additional increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $155.0 million to repurchase our common stock, bringing total authorization up to $200.0 million. The remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under the share repurchase program was $190.1 million at December 31, 2012.

Cash Dividends

On November 14, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.06 per common share payable on December 31, 2012 to stockholders of record as of December 14, 2012. We paid $60.3 million, $44.8 million, and $40.0 million in cash dividends in 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively. In 2012, five dividends were paid including the fourth quarter 2012 dividend, which historically would have been paid in the first quarter of 2013. On February 13, 2013 our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.06 per common share payable on March 28, 2013 to stockholders of record as of March 15, 2013.