GET DAILY SIGNALSWhy Is Carriage Services (CSV) Stock Down -17.18% Today?
Key Takeaways
- CSV shares plunged 17.18% to $29.80, down from a prior session close of $35.98.
- Primary catalyst: a third-quarter earnings miss and a cut to full-year 2026 guidance announced after the market close on November 4.
- Secondary drivers: weaker cemetery preneed sales, a trust-related tax charge, and a shift in acquisition timing.
- Broader context: the funeral services operator continues to lag the S&P 500, with shares down roughly 19% year-to-date.
- What to watch next: management's November 5 earnings call and any analyst estimate revisions that follow.
- Get more context on Price Targets, Earnings, and Forecast to dig deeper into this stock.
- Explore Trending AI Robots for AI-driven trading signals across thousands of tickers.
Opening Summary
Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV), a Houston-based provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise operating 155 funeral homes in 24 states and 28 cemeteries in 9 states, saw its stock fall sharply in Thursday's session. The shares were trading around $29.80, a decline of 17.18% from the prior close of $35.98. The selloff was driven by a disappointing third-quarter earnings report and a downward revision to full-year guidance, which outweighed otherwise encouraging signs in the company's core funeral business.
Earnings Miss on the Top and Bottom Lines
The immediate catalyst for the decline was a third-quarter earnings report that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. CSV posted adjusted earnings of $0.59 per share, down from $0.75 a year earlier and below consensus estimates that ranged from roughly $0.79 to $0.81. Total revenue came in at $100.3 million, a 2.4% decline from $102.7 million in the prior-year period and below analyst expectations of approximately $109.5 million.
Adjusted consolidated EBITDA contracted to $27.7 million from $33.0 million a year ago, with the margin narrowing to 27.6% from 32.1%. While GAAP net income rose 35.2% to $8.9 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, that improvement was largely attributable to a favorable swing in gains and losses on divestitures and impairment charges rather than operating momentum.
Full-Year Guidance Cut
Compounding the earnings miss, management lowered its 2026 outlook. The company now expects total revenue of $415 million to $420 million, down from a prior range of $435 million to $445 million. Adjusted diluted EPS guidance was reduced to $2.90 to $3.05 from $3.35 to $3.55, and adjusted consolidated EBITDA guidance was trimmed to $125 million to $130 million from $135 million to $140 million.
Management attributed the revised outlook to lower-than-anticipated mortality rates in the first half of the year, weaker cemetery preneed performance, a trust tax charge tied to the sale of certain Master Limited Partnership investments, and a shift in acquisition timing. Cemetery comparable revenue declined 7.8% in the quarter, with preneed interment rights sold falling to 3,166 from 3,509 a year earlier.
Market Context and Trading Activity
The price action reflected a meaningful repricing of CSV rather than a broad-market event. Trading volume was elevated relative to the stock's typical daily average, consistent with an earnings-driven move as investors digested the results and revised guidance. The decline was idiosyncratic to the company, with the funeral services operator already having underperformed the broader market throughout the year.
The stock broke decisively below recent trading levels, giving back gains accumulated earlier in the week and pushing the shares toward the lower end of their multi-month range. The magnitude of the move — roughly four times the company's typical daily fluctuation — underscored the market's negative reaction to the combination of a top-line miss and reduced forward expectations.
What Comes Next for CSV
Investors will focus on management's commentary during the company's November 5 earnings call for additional color on the fourth-quarter outlook and the trajectory of funeral and cemetery volumes. The company noted it has acquisitions under contract or letter of intent representing more than $14 million in annual revenue, with closings anticipated later in 2026 and early 2027, and it recently closed a new $300 million credit facility that increased committed borrowing capacity by $50 million.
Key risks include continued softness in cemetery preneed sales, mortality trends that remain below historical norms, and the timing of integration costs from acquisitions. With several negative estimate revisions in the trailing 90 days, CSV faces an uphill path to restoring investor confidence, though the funeral segment's 2.5% contract volume growth and 1.9% increase in average revenue per contract offer some stabilization.
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Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
CSV's RSI Indicator peaks and leaves overbought zone
The 10-day RSI Oscillator for CSV moved out of overbought territory on October 23, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. Traders may want to look at selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 33 instances where the indicator moved out of the overbought zone. In 25 of the 33 cases the stock moved lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move down at 76%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bearish Trend Analysis
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for CSV turned negative on October 30, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 46 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 32 of the 46 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 70%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where CSV declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 67%.
CSV broke above its upper Bollinger Band on October 06, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. 36 of 56 cases where CSV's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are 64%.
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on November 04, 2026. You may want to consider a long position or call options on CSV as a result. In 50 of 81 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are 62%.
CSV moved above its 50-day moving average on October 12, 2026 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend.
The 10-day moving average for CSV crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on October 15, 2026. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In 10 of 19 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 53%.
Following a +3.79% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where CSV advanced for three days, in 178 of 293 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 61%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 121 of 208 cases where CSV Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 58%.
Fundamental Analysis (Ratings)
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of 48 (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (2.045) is normal, around the industry mean (8.053). P/E Ratio (12.714) is within average values for comparable stocks, (10.767). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (0.568) is also within normal values, averaging (4.440). Dividend Yield (0.013) settles around the average of (0.076) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (1.209) is also within normal values, averaging (1.645).
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is 51 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is 59 (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to consistent earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is 61 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. CSV’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is 100 (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating that the returns do not compensate for the risks. CSV’s unstable profits reported over time resulted in significant Drawdowns within these last five years. A stable profit reduces stock drawdown and volatility. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 85, placing this stock worse than average.
Industry description
Market Cap
High and low price notable news
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Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
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General Information
a provider of funeral and cemetery services
Industry PersonnelServices
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