Equity Level 1 (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

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, 2014 or 2013. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, 500,000,000 common shares of $1 par value were authorized. We had 204,866,770 and 212,316,642 shares issued and outstanding, net of 591,561 and 10,000 shares held in treasury at par at December 31, 2014 and 2013, 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, 2011	$	105,852		$	—		$	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,865			—			5,865
Reduction in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			95,686			95,686
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	—			(95,686		)	(95,686		)
Balance at December 31, 2012	$	111,717		$	—		$	111,717
Activity in 2013	(23,276		)				(23,276		)
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			(113,553		)	(113,553		)
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	—			113,553			113,553
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	88,441		$	—		$	88,441
Activity in 2014	(32,141		)	—			(32,141		)
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments to Net income from discontinued operations	3,114			—			3,114
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—			(166,570		)	(166,570		)
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	—			166,570			166,570
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	59,414		$	—		$	59,414

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. Under our share repurchase program, during 2014, we repurchased 11,424,446 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $241.7 million, which is an average cost per share of $21.15. During 2013, there were no shares repurchased 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 under the program. In November 2014, our Board of Directors approved an additional increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $290.0 million to repurchase our common stock, bringing total authorization up to $300.0 million. The remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under the share repurchase program was $238.8 million at December 31, 2014.

Subsequent to December 31, 2014, we repurchased 1,974,053 shares for $45.1 million at an average cost per share of $22.84.

Cash Dividends

On November 11, 2014, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.09 per common share paid on December 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of December 15, 2014. We paid $71.5 million, $57.2 million, and $60.3 million in cash dividends in 2014, 2013, and 2012, 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 10, 2015 our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share payable on March 31, 2014 to stockholders of record as of March 16, 2014.