Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI) Sets New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $85.00 and last traded at $84.88, with a volume of 226174 shares. The stock had previously closed at $83.70.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Service Corporation International from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of Service Corporation International in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $110.00 target price for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Service Corporation International from $88.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $96.50.

Service Corporation International Stock Up 1.2%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.17. The company has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 22.82, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.99. The company’s 50 day moving average is $79.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $79.89.

Insider Activity at Service Corporation International

In other Service Corporation International news, VP Elisabeth G. Nash sold 42,400 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.32, for a total transaction of $3,235,968.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 110,006 shares in the company, valued at $8,395,657.92. This trade represents a 27.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 4.40% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Service Corporation International

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SCI. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. bought a new stake in Service Corporation International in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new position in Service Corporation International during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Root Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Service Corporation International in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Service Corporation International in the third quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Service Corporation International during the third quarter worth $46,000. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Service Corporation International

Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI) is a leading provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services in North America. Through its network of funeral homes, cemeteries, memorial parks and crematoria, the company offers a broad array of end-of-life services, including traditional funeral ceremonies, memorialization, burial and cremation. In addition to core services, SCI provides grief counseling, pre-need planning and merchandise such as caskets, vaults, urns and memorialization products.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Service Corporation International operates more than 1,900 funeral homes, over 450 cemeteries and 40 combination facilities across the United States and Canada.