Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Level 2 (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Our consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of the merchandise and service trusts and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. We have retained the specialized industry accounting principles when consolidating the trusts. Our trusts are variable interest entities, for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Although we consolidate the trusts, it does not change the legal relationships among the trusts, us, or our customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of these trusts; therefore, their interests in these trusts represent a liability to us

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications to Prior Period Financial Statements and Adjustments

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows except as described below under "Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019".

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Accounts Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Our trade receivables primarily consist of amounts due for funeral services already performed. We provide various allowances and cancellation reserves for our receivables. These allowances are based on an analysis of historical trends of collection and cancellation activity. Atneed receivables are considered past due after thirty days. Collections are generally managed by the locations or third party agencies acting on behalf of the locations, until a receivable is one hundred eighty days delinquent, at which time it is fully reserved and sent to a collection agency. These estimates are impacted by a number of factors, including changes in the economy, and demographic or competitive changes in our areas of operation.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories and Cemetery Property

Funeral and cemetery merchandise are stated at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Cemetery property is recorded at cost. Inventory costs and cemetery property are relieved using specific identification in fulfillment of performance obligations on our contracts.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense, whereas renewals and major replacements that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Depreciation is recognized ratably over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Buildings and improvements are depreciated over a period ranging from ten years to forty years, equipment is depreciated over a period from three years to twelve years, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or twelve years. Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $151.0 million, $153.7 million, and $153.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. During the fourth quarter of 2018, based on a review of our historical usage patterns for similar assets, we increased our estimate of the remaining useful life of certain building improvements and equipment by one to three years. These changes in useful life, which were made prospectively, reduced depreciation expense by $12.1 million ($0.07 per basic and diluted share) in 2019 and $4.3 million ($0.02 per basic and diluted share) in 2018. When property or equipment is sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheet; resulting gains and losses are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period of sale or disposal.

Lease, Policy [Policy Text Block] (Deprecated 2017-01-31)

Leases

We have operating and finance leases. Our operating leases primarily include funeral service real estate and office equipment for funeral service locations, cemetery locations, and administrative offices. Our finance leases primarily include transportation equipment but also include real estate and office equipment. Lease terms related to real estate generally range from one year to forty years  with options to renew at varying terms. Lease terms related to office and transportation equipment generally range from one year to nine years with options to renew at varying terms.

We determine whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the arrangement based on the unique facts and circumstances present. Right-of-use (ROU) assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Leases with a term greater than one year are recognized on the balance sheet as ROU assets and lease liabilities. We have elected not to recognize on the balance sheet leases with terms of one year or less.

Lease liabilities and their corresponding ROU assets are recorded at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. For transportation equipment, we use the rate implicit in each lease to calculate the present value. For real estate and non-transportation equipment leases, the interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. Therefore, we use the appropriate collateralized incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments for real estate and non-transportation equipment leases. Certain adjustments to the ROU asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received.

For a lessee, the discount rate for the lease is defined as the rate implicit in the lease unless that rate cannot be readily determined. In that case, the lessee is required to use its incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. We use the rate implicit in each lease for vehicles and other transportation equipment, which represent 70% of our total lease liability as of December 31, 2019 and which are all finance leases. For leases of real estate and non-transportation equipment, which are primarily operating leases, we use our incremental borrowing rate since the rate implicit in these leases cannot be readily determined. To establish the incremental borrowing rate we utilize the yield to worst of our publicly traded debt securities, adjusted for the appropriate duration. A final additional adjustment is then applied based on our credit quality spread to notch the rate to secured. As an accounting policy election, we include reasonably certain renewal periods when determining the rate to use as the incremental borrowing rate for each lease.

We calculate operating lease expense ratably over the lease term plus any reasonably assured renewal periods. We consider reasonably assured renewal options and fixed escalation provisions in our calculation. Generally, our leases do not include options to terminate the lease prior to the contractual lease expiration date, but future renewal periods are generally cancelable. The majority of our contractually available renewal periods for leases of buildings and land are considered reasonably certain of being exercised. This determination is made by our real estate team based on facts and circumstances surrounding each property. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The majority of our lease arrangements contain options to (i) purchase the property at fair value on the exercise date, (ii) purchase the property for a value determined at the inception of the lease, or (iii) renew the lease for the fair rental value at the end of the primary lease term. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are generally limited by the expected lease term.

Certain of our lease agreements include variable rental payments based on a percentage of sales over base contractual levels and others include rental payments adjusted periodically for inflation. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. We generally do not have sublease arrangements, sale-leaseback arrangements, or leveraged leases.

We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For leases commencing before January 1, 2019, we have elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components on certain equipment leases, such as copiers where the cost-per-copy maintenance charges are included in the lease charge. On these leases, we have elected to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single component. For leases commencing on or after January 1, 2019, we account for the maintenance charges (non-lease components) separately from the lease components. For more information related to leases, see Note 8.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

The excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is tested annually during the fourth quarter for impairment by assessing the fair value of each of our reporting units.

Our goodwill impairment test involves estimates and management judgment. In order to perform our goodwill impairment test, we compare the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. We determine fair value of each reporting unit using both a market and income approach. The income approach, which is a discounted cash flow method, uses projections of future cash flows and includes assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual future cash flows. We do not record an impairment of goodwill in instances where the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount. If the aggregate fair value is less than the related carrying amount for a reporting unit, we compare the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying amount of goodwill. If the carrying amount of reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

For our most recent annual impairment test performed in the fourth quarter, we used a 6.75% discount rate, revenue growth rates ranging from 1.0% to 3.7% over a seven-year period, plus a terminal value determined using the constant growth method in projecting our future cash flows. Our terminal value was calculated using a long-term revenue growth rate of 1.0% and 2.4% for our funeral and cemetery reporting units, respectively. Additionally, we used a ratio of expenses to revenue ranging from 72.2% to 80.0% and growth rates for other assumptions in our model ranging from 1.0% to 3.7%. Fair

value was calculated as the sum of the projected discounted cash flows of our reporting units over the next seven years plus terminal value at the end of those seven years.

In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of goodwill whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and significant negative industry or economic trends. No interim goodwill impairment reviews were required in 2019 or 2018.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Indefinite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets include covenants-not-to-compete, customer relationships, trademarks and tradenames, and other intangible assets primarily resulting from acquisitions. Certain of our trademark and tradenames and other intangible assets are considered to have an indefinite life and are not subject to amortization. We test for impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets annually during the fourth quarter.

Our intangible asset impairment tests involve estimates and management judgment. For trademark and tradenames, our test uses the relief from royalty method whereby we determine the fair value of the assets by discounting the cash flows that represent a savings over having to pay a royalty fee for use of the trademark and tradenames. The discounted cash flow valuation uses projections of future cash flows and includes assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual future cash flows.

For our most recent annual impairment test performed in the fourth quarter, we estimated that the pre-tax savings would range from 2.0% to 5.0% of the revenue associated with the trademark and tradenames, based primarily on our research of intellectual property valuation and licensing databases. We also assumed a terminal growth rate of 1.0% and 2.4% for our funeral and cemetery segments, respectively, and discounted the cash flows at a 6.95% discount rate based on the relative risk of these assets to our overall business.

In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of intangible assets whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than the fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant under-performance relative to historical or projected future operating results and significant negative industry or economic trends. No interim intangible impairment reviews were required in 2019 or 2018.

Certain of our intangible assets associated with prior acquisitions are relieved using specific identification in fulfillment of performance obligations on our contracts. We amortize all other finite-lived intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from two years to eighty-nine years.

Stockholders' Equity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Treasury Stock

We make treasury stock purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions subject to market conditions and normal trading restrictions. We account for the repurchase of our common stock under the par value method. We canceled 2.2 million, 9.4 million, and 6.9 million shares of common stock held in our treasury in 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. These retired treasury shares were changed to authorized but unissued status.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of Canadian subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect as of the end of the reporting period. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the reporting period. The resulting translation adjustments are included as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statement of Equity and Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The functional currency of SCI and its subsidiaries is the respective local currency. The transactional currency gains and losses that arise from transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of our operations are recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. We do not have any investments in foreign operations considered to be in highly inflationary economies.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

We measure the securities held by our funeral merchandise and service, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We utilize a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

• Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments.

• 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, ratings, and tax-exempt status. These securities are classified as Level 2 investments.

• The valuation of other investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. These securities are classified as Level 3 investments.

An asset’s or liability’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fixed income commingled funds, money market funds, and private equity investments are measured at net asset value. Fixed income commingled funds and money market funds are redeemable for net asset value with two weeks' notice and immediately, respectively. Our private equity 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, due to the nature of the investments in this category, 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 two to ten years.

Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Trust Services department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, valuations are reviewed quarterly by the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors.

We assess our investments in fixed income instruments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Prior to our adoption of the new guidance on financial instruments discussed below in "Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019", we also assessed our investments in equity instruments for other-than temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from these assessments are recognized as investment losses in Other income (expense), net. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net, related to Deferred receipts held in trust, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. We recorded no impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to fixed income investments for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The fair values of our long-term, fixed rate loans were estimated using market prices for those loans, and therefore they are classified within Level 2 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The Term Loan, Bank Credit Facility agreement, and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the fair value measurements hierarchy. The fair values of these instruments have been estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenue is recognized when control of the merchandise or services is transferred to the customer. Our performance obligations include the delivery of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services and cemetery property interment rights. Control transfers when merchandise is delivered or services are performed. For cemetery property interment rights, control transfers to the customer when the property is developed and the interment right has been sold and can no longer be marketed or sold to another customer. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our consolidated financial statements.

On our atneed contracts, we generally deliver the merchandise and perform the services at the time of need. Personalized marker merchandise and marker installation services sold on atneed contracts are recognized when control is transferred to the customer, generally when the marker is delivered and installed in the cemetery.

We also sell price-guaranteed preneed contracts through various programs providing for future merchandise and services at prices prevailing when the agreements are signed. Revenue associated with sales of preneed contracts is deferred until control of the merchandise or the services is transferred to the customer, which is upon delivery of the merchandise or as services are performed, generally at the time of need. On certain preneed contracts, we sell memorialization merchandise, which consists of urns and urn-related products, that we deliver to the customer at the time of sale. Revenue is recognized at the time of delivery when control of the memorialization merchandise is transferred.

For personalized marker merchandise sold on a preneed contract, we will:

• purchase the merchandise from vendors,

• personalize such merchandise in accordance with the customer's specific written instructions,

• either store the merchandise at a third-party bonded storage facility or install the merchandise, based on the customer's instructions, and

• transfer title to the customer.

We recognize revenue and record the cost of sales when control is transferred for the merchandise, which occurs upon delivery to the third-party storage facility or installation of the merchandise at the cemetery.

There is no general right of return for delivered items.

We also sell travel protection as an agent of a third party. Travel protection is a service that provides shipment of remains to the servicing funeral home or cemetery of choice if the purchaser passes away outside of a certain radius of their residence, without any additional expense to the family. We do not provide travel protection services, and we are not primarily obligated to provide such services under these arrangements. Therefore, we record revenues, net of amounts due to the third-party, at the time of sale.

Total consideration received for price-guaranteed preneed and for atneed contracts with customers represents the stated amount of the contract excluding any amounts collected on behalf of third parties, such as sales taxes. Additionally, pursuant to state or provincial law, all or a portion of the proceeds from merchandise or services sold on a preneed basis may be required to be deposited into trust funds. Earnings on these trust funds, which are specifically identifiable for each performance obligation, are also included in total consideration.

The total consideration received for contracts with customers is allocated to each performance obligation based on relative selling price. Relative selling prices are determined by either the amount we sell the performance obligation for on a stand-alone basis or our best estimate of the amount we would sell it for based on an adjusted market assessment approach that is consistent with our historical pricing practices.

Payment on atneed contracts is generally due at the time the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. For preneed contracts, payment generally occurs prior to our fulfillment of the performance obligations. Our preneed contracts may also have extended payment terms with associated financing charges. We do not accrue interest on preneed receivables if they are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment terms given the nature of our merchandise and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider preneed receivables to be past due until the merchandise or services are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than thirty days. For unfulfilled performance obligations on cancelable preneed contracts, our Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects the net contract liability, which represents the amount we have collected from customers, in Deferred revenue, net.

Pursuant to state or provincial law, all or a portion of the proceeds from merchandise or services sold on a preneed basis may be required to be deposited into trust funds. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the merchandise and service trusts and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred revenue, net into Deferred receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the merchandise and service trusts when we fulfill the performance obligations. Earnings on these trust funds, which are specifically identifiable for each performance obligation, are also included in total consideration. We defer these investment earnings related to the merchandise and service trusts until the associated merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in revenue in the period in which they are earned.

If a preneed contract is canceled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract. We recognize these retained funds, if any, and the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount refundable to the customer exceeds the funds in trust.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights is required by state or provincial law to be paid into perpetual care trust funds by us to maintain the cemetery. This portion of the proceeds is not recognized as revenue. Investment earnings from these trusts are distributed to us regularly and recognized in current cemetery revenue. These distributions are intended to defray cemetery maintenance costs incurred by us for our cemetery properties, which are expensed as incurred. The principal of such perpetual care trust funds generally cannot be withdrawn; however, in lieu of the distribution of realized income, certain states allow a total return distribution which may contain elements of income, capital appreciation, and principal.

Costs related to delivery or performance of merchandise and services are charged to expense when merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Costs related to property interment rights include the property and construction costs specifically identified by each project. Property and construction costs are charged to expense when the revenue is recognized by specific identification in the fulfillment of the performance obligation. Incremental direct selling costs are deferred until fulfillment of the performance obligations. These deferred costs are classified as long-term on our Consolidated Balance sheet because we do not control the timing of the delivery of the merchandise or performance of the services as they are generally provided at the time of need. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we recognized $174.7 million and $180.1 million, respectively, of incremental selling costs. All other selling costs are expensed as incurred.

Financing Receivable [Policy Text Block]

Insurance-Funded Preneed Contracts

Where permitted by state or provincial law, we may sell a life insurance or annuity policy from third-party insurance companies, for which we earn a commission as general sales agent for the insurance company. These general agency commissions (GA revenue) are based on a percentage per contract sold and are recognized as funeral revenue when the insurance purchase transaction between the preneed purchaser and third-party insurance provider is completed. All selling costs incurred pursuant to the sale of insurance-funded preneed contracts are expensed as incurred. GA revenue recognized in 2019, 2018, and 2017 was $139.7 million, $134.1 million, and $121.0 million, respectively.

We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed contract amounts in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The policy amount of the insurance contract between the customer and the third-party insurance company generally equals the amount of the preneed contract. The policyholder has made a revocable commitment to assign the proceeds from the policy to us at the time of need. The proceeds of the life insurance policies or annuity contracts will be reflected in funeral revenue as we perform these funerals.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

We compute income taxes using the liability method. Our ability to realize the benefit of our deferred tax assets requires us to achieve certain future earnings levels. We have established a valuation allowance against a portion of our deferred tax assets. We could be required to further adjust that valuation allowance in the near term if market conditions change materially and future earnings are, or are projected to be, significantly different than our current estimates. An increase in the valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense in such period. All deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowances are classified as non-current on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Act. The Tax Act made broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code by, among other things, reducing the federal corporate income tax rate, requiring payment of a one-time transition tax on unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, generally eliminating U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense, creating a bonus depreciation that will allow for full expensing on qualified property, and imposing a limitation on deductibility of certain executive compensation.

On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provided a measurement period of up to one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting for the income tax effects of certain elements of the Tax Act. In accordance with SAB 118, we have recognized the provisional tax impacts related to deemed repatriated earnings and the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities and included these amounts in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017. During 2018, we identified and recorded discrete adjustments to the provisional amounts allowed under SAB 118. The accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act was completed in the fourth quarter of 2018. For further information on the impacts of the Tax Act, see Note 5 in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The provision or benefit for income taxes includes U.S. federal income taxes (determined on a consolidated return basis), foreign income taxes, and state income taxes.In assessing the usefulness of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of net deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. During 2018, we recorded a net $6.6 million decrease in our state valuation allowance due primarily to the legislative change in Iowa and increased activity in Indiana as a result of the Gibraltar acquisition. We also recorded a $43 thousand increase in our foreign valuation allowance due primarily to continuing cumulative operating losses in the Netherlands. The valuation allowances can be affected in future periods by changes to tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates, and changes in estimates of future taxable incomeDeferred taxes are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We currently have a supplemental retirement plan for certain current and former key employees (SERP), a supplemental retirement plan for officers and certain key employees (Senior SERP), a retirement plan for certain non-employee directors (Directors’ Plan), a Retirement Plan for Rose Hills^® Trustees, a Rose Hills^® Supplemental Retirement Plan, and a Stewart Supplemental Retirement Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). All of our Plans have a measurement date of December 31.

The Plans are frozen; therefore, the participants do not earn incremental benefits from additional years of service, and we do not incur any additional service cost.

Retirement benefits under the SERP are based on years of service and average monthly compensation, reduced by benefits under Social Security. The Senior SERP provides retirement benefits based on years of service and position. The Directors’ Plan provides for an annual benefit to directors following retirement, based on a vesting schedule.

The Plans’ weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit cost are as follows:

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We also have an employee savings plan that qualifies under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for the exclusive benefit of our United States employees. Under the plan, participating employees may contribute a portion of their pretax and/or after-tax income in accordance with specified guidelines up to a maximum of 50%.

During 2019, 2018, and 2017, we matched a percentage of the employee contributions through contributions of cash. For these years, our matching contribution was based upon the following:

Years of Vesting Service	Percentage of Deferred Compensation
0 — 5 years	75% of the first 6% of deferred compensation
6 — 10 years	100% of the first 6% of deferred compensation
11 or more years	125% of the first 6% of deferred compensation

Funeral and Cemetery cash flow [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition, Deferred Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]

We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options.

Income Tax Uncertainties, Policy [Policy Text Block]

e include potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within our income tax provision account.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2019

Leases

In February 2016 and in January, July, and December 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued and amended new guidance on "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. Under the new guidance, we are required to recognize right-of-use (ROU) lease assets and liabilities on our balance sheet and disclose key

information about leasing arrangements. In addition, the new guidance offers specific accounting considerations for lessees, lessors, and sale and leaseback transactions. Lessees and lessors are required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.

We adopted the new guidance on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method. As a result of the adoption, we recorded:

• a $0.7 million reclass from Other current assets to Accounts payable and accrued liabilities for prepaid operating lease expenses,

• a $2.7 million reclass from Accounts payable and accrued liabilities to Deferred charges and other assets for accrued operating lease expenses,

• a $62.6 million increase to Deferred charges and other assets for operating lease right-of-use assets, and

• a $9.4 million and $53.2 million increase to Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, for operating lease liabilities.

The modified retrospective transition method includes a number of optional practical expedients and accounting policy elections:

1. We elected a package of practical expedients to not reassess:

• whether a contract is or contains a lease,

• lease classification, or

• initial direct costs.

2. We did not elect a practical expedient to use hindsight when determining lease term.

3. We elected the short-term lease recognition exemption.

4. The remaining practical expedients do not apply or do not have a material impact.

We established a project team to implement the new guidance. We implemented a new enterprise-wide lease management system in the form of a pre-configured cloud-based application to support the adoption and ongoing lease requirements under the new guidance. This system serves as a lease database to manage our lease inventory centrally and ensure completeness of our lease inventory. The system also produces accounting entries and financial reporting disclosures required under the new guidance and provides lease activity business intelligence reporting. We thoroughly tested the new system to ensure it produces accurate data to prepare the required accounting entries and disclosures under the new guidance upon adoption and on an ongoing basis. We evaluated and implemented additional changes to our processes and internal controls to facilitate adoption on January 1, 2019 and to meet the standard’s ongoing reporting and disclosure requirements.

Our current operating lease portfolio is primarily composed of real estate and equipment. As a result of the adoption, we recognized ROU assets and lease liabilities related to substantially all operating lease arrangements. The adoption of "Leases" did not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations or cash flows. We made the required enhanced lease-related disclosures above and in Note 8 of this Form 10-K.

Internal Use Software

In August 2018, the FASB amended "Internal Use Software" to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation

costs incurred in a hosting arrangement for software-as-a-service with the requirements for capitalizing those costs in a hosting arrangement that includes a software license. Costs for implementation activities in the application development stage are capitalized, depending on the nature of the costs, while costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages are expensed. Any capitalized costs are amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement. Cash payments for the implementation costs, whether capitalized or not, are presented as operating outflows as that is consistent with the presentation of the fees in the hosting arrangement. We adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis to implementation costs incurred after January 1, 2019 with an immaterial impact on our consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial position and no impact on cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB amended "Financial Instruments" to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on debt instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. During November 2018 and April 2019, the FASB made amendments to the new standard that clarified guidance on several matters, including accrued interest, recoveries, and various codification improvements. The new standard, as amended, replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in the current

standard with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to support credit loss estimates.

We established an implementation team and began analyzing the impact on our current policies and procedures to identify potential differences that would result from applying the requirements of the new standard. The implementation team reported findings and progress of the project to management on a frequent basis. Through this process, we have identified appropriate changes to our processes, systems, and controls to support recognition and disclosure under the new standard.

During 2019, we evaluated the potential changes from adopting the new standard on our future reporting and disclosures. We made changes to our methodology, data/input gathering, and validation to accommodate recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard. Finally, we identified and designed additional controls around new processes resulting from the new standard. The new standard is effective for us in the first quarter of 2020 and we will adopt it using a modified retrospective approach, except for investments in debt securities, which will utilize a prospective approach. We are still evaluating the impact of the new standard on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB amended "Goodwill" to simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill. The amended

guidance eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, impairment is defined as the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, up to the total amount of goodwill of the reporting unit. The new standard is effective for us in the first quarter of 2020 and is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

In August 2018, the FASB amended "Fair Value Measurements" to modify the disclosure requirements related to fair

value. The amendment removes requirements to disclose (1) the amount of and reasons for transfers between levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, (2) our policy related to the timing of transfers between levels, and (3) the valuation processes used in level 3 measurements. It clarifies that, for investments measured at net asset value, disclosure of liquidation timing is only required if the investee has communicated the timing either to us or publicly. It also clarifies that the narrative disclosure of the effect of changes in level 3 inputs should be based on changes that could occur at the reporting date. The amendment adds a requirement to disclose the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used in level 3 measurements. The guidance is effective for us with our quarterly filing for the period ended March 31, 2020, and we will make the required disclosure changes in that filing. Adoption will not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.

Retirement Plans

In August 2018, the FASB amended "Retirement Plans" to modify the disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans. For us, the amendment requires the disclosure of the weighted average interest crediting rate used for cash balance plans and an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. It removes the requirement to disclose the approximate amount of future benefits covered by insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for us with our annual filing for the year ended December 31, 2020, and we will make the required disclosure changes in that filing. Adoption will not have an impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, and cash flows.