XML 43 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Preneed Funeral Activities Level 3 (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016
Preneed funeral receivables net and trust investments [Line Items] |
Preneed Funeral Receivables, Net and Trust Investments [Table Text Block] | The activity in Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments for the years ended December 31 was as follows:
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Beginning balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments | $ | 1,760,297 |  |  | $ | 1,843,023 |  |  | $ | 1,870,243 |
Net preneed contract sales | 296,896 |  |  | 283,927 |  |  | 247,994 |
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds | (246,436 | ) |  | (234,413 | ) |  | (211,830 | )
Deposits to trust | 121,668 |  |  | 121,109 |  |  | 102,553 |
Acquisitions (divestitures) of businesses, net | 3,560 |  |  | 1,400 |  |  | (19,203 | )
Net undistributed investment earnings (losses) (1) | 65,954 |  |  | (38,510 | ) |  | 22,480 |
Maturities and distributed earnings | (193,604 | ) |  | (200,635 | ) |  | (162,059 | )
Change in cancellation allowance | 5,295 |  |  | 2,787 |  |  | 7,644 |
Effect of foreign currency and other | 3,815 |  |  | (18,391 | ) |  | (14,799 | )
Ending balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments | $ | 1,817,445 |  |  | $ | 1,760,297 |  |  | $ | 1,843,023 |
(1) | Includes both realized and unrealized investment earnings.
Deferred Preneed Funeral Revenues [Table Text Block] | The following table summarizes the activity in Deferred preneed funeral revenue for the years ended December 31:
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
Beginning balance — Deferred preneed funeral revenue | $ | 557,897 |  |  | $ | 540,164 |  |  | $ | 551,948 |
Net preneed contract sales | 251,134 |  |  | 232,628 |  |  | 198,195 |
Acquisitions (divestitures) of businesses, net | 2,170 |  |  | (2,895 | ) |  | (21,639 | )
Net investment earnings (losses) (1) | 66,656 |  |  | (37,208 | ) |  | 24,256 |
Recognized deferred preneed revenue | (277,248 | ) |  | (276,359 | ) |  | (258,534 | )
Change in cancellation allowance | 8,411 |  |  | 11,675 |  |  | 21,272 |
Change in deferred preneed receipts held in trust | (28,506 | ) |  | 90,351 |  |  | 26,131 |
Effect of foreign currency and other | 766 |  |  | (459 | ) |  | (1,465 | )
Ending balance — Deferred preneed funeral revenue | $ | 581,280 |  |  | $ | 557,897 |  |  | $ | 540,164 |
(1) | Includes both realized and unrealized investment earnings.
Funeral [Member] |
Preneed funeral receivables net and trust investments [Line Items] |
Investment related activities [Table Text Block] | The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed funeral merchandise and service trusts for the years ended December 31:
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
|  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Deposits | $ | 121,668 |  |  | $ | 121,109 |  |  | $ | 102,553 |
Withdrawals | $ | 157,549 |  |  | $ | 160,135 |  |  | $ | 131,352 |
Purchases of available-for-sale securities(1) | $ | 377,813 |  |  | $ | 453,092 |  |  | $ | 1,238,257 |
Sales of available-for-sale securities(1) | $ | 387,959 |  |  | $ | 458,236 |  |  | $ | 1,318,512 |
(1) | The higher level of activity in 2014 was the result of changing the legal structure of the trust investments.
Long-term receivable and investment components [Table Text Block] | The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31 were as follows:
| 2016 |  | 2015
| (In thousands)
Trust investments, at market | $ | 1,152,752 |  |  | $ | 1,109,394 |
Cash and cash equivalents | 122,517 |  |  | 134,642 |
Assets associated with businesses held for sale | — |  |  | (39 | )
Insurance-backed fixed income securities | 271,248 |  |  | 271,116 |
Trust investments | 1,546,517 |  |  | 1,515,113 |
Receivables from customers | 312,556 |  |  | 290,689 |
Unearned finance charge | (12,562 | ) |  | (11,235 | )
| 1,846,511 |  |  | 1,794,567 |
Allowance for cancellation | (29,066 | ) |  | (34,270 | )
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments | $ | 1,817,445 |  |  | $ | 1,760,297 |
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation [Table Text Block] | The cost and market values associated with our funeral merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair value at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in the trusts. Fair value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the trusts.
|  | December 31, 2016
| Fair Value Hierarchy Level | Cost |  | Unrealized Gains |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value
|  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury | 2 | $ | 75,245 |  |  | $ | 317 |  |  | $ | (557 | ) |  | $ | 75,005 |
Canadian government | 2 | 55,752 |  |  | 272 |  |  | (42 | ) |  | 55,982 |
Corporate | 2 | 12,702 |  |  | 177 |  |  | (92 | ) |  | 12,787 |
Residential mortgage-backed | 2 | 29 |  |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 30 |
Asset-backed | 2 | 58 |  |  | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | 55 |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock | 2 | 1,428 |  |  | 81 |  |  | (39 | ) |  | 1,470 |
Common stock: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States | 1 | 334,854 |  |  | 49,785 |  |  | (11,525 | ) |  | 373,114 |
Canada | 1 | 11,853 |  |  | 2,592 |  |  | (263 | ) |  | 14,182 |
Other international | 1 | 25,761 |  |  | 1,824 |  |  | (3,167 | ) |  | 24,418 |
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity | 1 | 313,132 |  |  | 7,780 |  |  | (26,842 | ) |  | 294,070 |
Fixed income | 1 | 92,760 |  |  | 1,344 |  |  | (7,368 | ) |  | 86,736 |
Other | 3 | 4,079 |  |  | 1,214 |  |  | (17 | ) |  | 5,276 |
Trust investments, at fair value |  | 927,653 |  |  | 65,387 |  |  | (49,915 | ) |  | 943,125 |
Fixed income commingled funds |  | 168,959 |  |  | 3,177 |  |  | (1,167 | ) |  | 170,969 |
Private equity |  | 40,892 |  |  | 2,956 |  |  | (5,190 | ) |  | 38,658 |
Trust investments, at net asset value |  | 209,851 |  |  | 6,133 |  |  | (6,357 | ) |  | 209,627 |
Trust investments, at market |  | $ | 1,137,504 |  |  | $ | 71,520 |  |  | $ | (56,272 | ) |  | $ | 1,152,752 |
|  | December 31, 2015
| Fair Value Hierarchy Level | Cost |  | Unrealized Gains |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Value
|  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury | 2 | $ | 64,140 |  |  | $ | 89 |  |  | $ | (1,270 | ) |  | $ | 62,959 |
Canadian government | 2 | 56,975 |  |  | 323 |  |  | (55 | ) |  | 57,243 |
Corporate | 2 | 18,983 |  |  | 235 |  |  | (284 | ) |  | 18,934 |
Residential mortgage-backed | 2 | 1,299 |  |  | 29 |  |  | (22 | ) |  | 1,306 |
Asset-backed | 2 | 5 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5 |
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock | 2 | 1,951 |  |  | 41 |  |  | (158 | ) |  | 1,834 |
Common stock: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States | 1 | 344,544 |  |  | 30,885 |  |  | (19,149 | ) |  | 356,280 |
Canada | 1 | 11,882 |  |  | 2,651 |  |  | (1,077 | ) |  | 13,456 |
Other international | 1 | 32,193 |  |  | 2,636 |  |  | (3,907 | ) |  | 30,922 |
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity | 1 | 324,231 |  |  | 1,263 |  |  | (43,975 | ) |  | 281,519 |
Fixed income | 1 | 155,893 |  |  | 154 |  |  | (13,092 | ) |  | 142,955 |
Other | 3 | 3,687 |  |  | 1,069 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,756 |
Trust investments, at fair value |  | 1,015,783 |  |  | 39,375 |  |  | (82,989 | ) |  | 972,169 |
Fixed income commingled funds |  | 102,063 |  |  | 228 |  |  | (1,103 | ) |  | 101,188 |
Private equity |  | 38,724 |  |  | 3,780 |  |  | (6,467 | ) |  | 36,037 |
Trust investments, at net asset value |  | 140,787 |  |  | 4,008 |  |  | (7,570 | ) |  | 137,225 |
Trust investments, at market |  | $ | 1,156,570 |  |  | $ | 43,383 |  |  | $ | (90,559 | ) |  | $ | 1,109,394 |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] | The change in our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows for the years ended December 31:
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
|  | (In thousands)
Fair value, beginning balance at January 1 |  | $ | 4,756 |  |  | $ | 4,891 |  |  | $ | 801 |
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1) |  | 478 |  |  | (167 | ) |  | 876 |
Purchases |  | 89 |  |  | 32 |  |  | 3,214 |
Sales |  | (47 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Fair value, ending balance at December 31 |  | $ | 5,276 |  |  | $ | 4,756 |  |  | $ | 4,891 |
(1) | All unrealized gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.
Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block] | Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2017 to 2041. Maturities of fixed income securities at December 31, 2016 are estimated as follows:
| Fair Value
| (In thousands)
Due in one year or less | $ | 76,744 |
Due in one to five years | 27,298 |
Due in five to ten years | 31,374 |
Thereafter | 8,443 |
| $ | 143,859 |
Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block] | Our funeral merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair values, and the duration of unrealized losses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, are shown in the following tables.
| December 31, 2016
| In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months |  | In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months |  | Total
| Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses
|  |  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury | $ | 25,996 |  |  | $ | (557 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 25,996 |  |  | $ | (557 | )
Canadian government | 2,847 |  |  | (30 | ) |  | 191 |  |  | (12 | ) |  | 3,038 |  |  | (42 | )
Corporate | 1,710 |  |  | (15 | ) |  | 3,560 |  |  | (77 | ) |  | 5,270 |  |  | (92 | )
Asset-backed | — |  |  | — |  |  | 55 |  |  | (3 | ) |  | 55 |  |  | (3 | )
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock | 125 |  |  | (17 | ) |  | 98 |  |  | (22 | ) |  | 223 |  |  | (39 | )
Common stock: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States | 87,059 |  |  | (8,149 | ) |  | 14,939 |  |  | (3,376 | ) |  | 101,998 |  |  | (11,525 | )
Canada | 2,832 |  |  | (254 | ) |  | 482 |  |  | (9 | ) |  | 3,314 |  |  | (263 | )
Other international | 5,390 |  |  | (1,301 | ) |  | 7,368 |  |  | (1,866 | ) |  | 12,758 |  |  | (3,167 | )
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity | 108,109 |  |  | (5,080 | ) |  | 127,273 |  |  | (21,762 | ) |  | 235,382 |  |  | (26,842 | )
Fixed income | 34,120 |  |  | (817 | ) |  | 31,654 |  |  | (6,551 | ) |  | 65,774 |  |  | (7,368 | )
Other | 26 |  |  | (2 | ) |  | 1,160 |  |  | (15 | ) |  | 1,186 |  |  | (17 | )
Trust investments, at fair value | 268,214 |  |  | (16,222 | ) |  | 186,780 |  |  | (33,693 | ) |  | 454,994 |  |  | (49,915 | )
Fixed income commingled funds | 75,041 |  |  | (687 | ) |  | 17,656 |  |  | (480 | ) |  | 92,697 |  |  | (1,167 | )
Private equity | 693 |  |  | (481 | ) |  | 22,812 |  |  | (4,709 | ) |  | 23,505 |  |  | (5,190 | )
Trust investments, at net asset value | 75,734 |  |  | (1,168 | ) |  | 40,468 |  |  | (5,189 | ) |  | 116,202 |  |  | (6,357 | )
Total temporarily impaired securities | $ | 343,948 |  |  | $ | (17,390 | ) |  | $ | 227,248 |  |  | $ | (38,882 | ) |  | $ | 571,196 |  |  | $ | (56,272 | )
| December 31, 2015
| In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months |  | In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months |  | Total
| Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses |  | Fair Market Value |  | Unrealized Losses
|  |  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury | $ | 36,113 |  |  | $ | (1,268 | ) |  | $ | 141 |  |  | $ | (2 | ) |  | $ | 36,254 |  |  | $ | (1,270 | )
Canadian government | 209 |  |  | (7 | ) |  | 971 |  |  | (48 | ) |  | 1,180 |  |  | (55 | )
Corporate | 4,618 |  |  | (156 | ) |  | 3,880 |  |  | (128 | ) |  | 8,498 |  |  | (284 | )
Residential mortgage-backed | 378 |  |  | (6 | ) |  | 132 |  |  | (16 | ) |  | 510 |  |  | (22 | )
Equity securities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock | 449 |  |  | (60 | ) |  | 42 |  |  | (98 | ) |  | 491 |  |  | (158 | )
Common stock: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States | 128,925 |  |  | (16,448 | ) |  | 14,537 |  |  | (2,701 | ) |  | 143,462 |  |  | (19,149 | )
Canada | 1,941 |  |  | (355 | ) |  | 1,051 |  |  | (722 | ) |  | 2,992 |  |  | (1,077 | )
Other international | 9,473 |  |  | (1,638 | ) |  | 6,154 |  |  | (2,269 | ) |  | 15,627 |  |  | (3,907 | )
Mutual funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity | 186,016 |  |  | (23,385 | ) |  | 79,892 |  |  | (20,590 | ) |  | 265,908 |  |  | (43,975 | )
Fixed income | 109,154 |  |  | (5,052 | ) |  | 27,061 |  |  | (8,040 | ) |  | 136,215 |  |  | (13,092 | )
Trust investments, at fair value | 477,276 |  |  | (48,375 | ) |  | 133,861 |  |  | (34,614 | ) |  | 611,137 |  |  | (82,989 | )
Fixed income commingled funds | 70,964 |  |  | (457 | ) |  | 15,243 |  |  | (646 | ) |  | 86,207 |  |  | (1,103 | )
Private equity | — |  |  | — |  |  | 18,714 |  |  | (6,467 | ) |  | 18,714 |  |  | (6,467 | )
Trust investments, at net asset value | 70,964 |  |  | (457 | ) |  | 33,957 |  |  | (7,113 | ) |  | 104,921 |  |  | (7,570 | )
Total temporarily impaired securities | $ | 548,240 |  |  | $ | (48,832 | ) |  | $ | 167,818 |  |  | $ | (41,727 | ) |  | $ | 716,058 |  |  | $ | (90,559 | )

X
- Definition The noncurrent portion of deferred revenue amount as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue is a liability related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized, and is not expected to be recognized in the next twelve months. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sci_DeferredPreneedFuneralRevenuesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This table sets forth information regarding deposits,withdrawals, purchases and sales of securities, and realized gains and losses from those sales. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sci_InvestmentRelatedActivitiesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the components of long-term receivables and investments, including trust investments, at market; cash and cash equivalents held by the trust; insurance policies held by the trust; and gross carrying value of long-term receivables from customers and unearned finance charges and cancellation allowance related to those receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sci_LongTermReceivableAndInvestmentComponentsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract. The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sci_PreneedFuneralReceivablesNetAndTrustInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | sci_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract. The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | sci_PreneedFuneralReceivablesNetAndTrustInvestmentsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | sci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the fair value measurement of assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances, separately presenting changes during the period attributable to the following: (1) total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), segregating those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) and gains or losses recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), and a description of where those gains or losses included in earnings (or changes in net assets) are reported in the statement of income (or activities); (2) purchases, sales, issues, and settlements (each type disclosed separately); and (3) transfers in and transfers out of Level 3 (for example, transfers due to changes in the observability of significant inputs), by class of asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19279-110258 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of maturities of an entity's investments as well as any other information pertinent to the investments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsClassifiedByContractualMaturityDateTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the reconciliation of available-for-sale securities from cost basis to fair value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesReconciliationTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For all investments in an unrealized loss position, including those for which other-than-temporary impairments have not been recognized in earnings (including investments for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized in other comprehensive income), a tabular disclosure of the aggregate related fair value of investments with unrealized losses and the aggregate amount of unrealized losses (that is, the amount by which amortized cost basis exceeds fair value). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfUnrealizedLossOnInvestmentsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=sci_FuneralMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |