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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The Company Carriage Services, Inc. (“Carriage,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a leading provider of funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the United States. At December 31, 2018, we operated 182 funeral homes in 29 states and 29 cemeteries in 11 states. Our operations are reported in two business segments: Funeral Home Operations, which currently accounts for approximately 80% of our revenue and Cemetery Operations, which currently accounts for approximately 20% of our revenue. Our funeral homes offer a complete range of high value personal services to meet a family's funeral needs, including consultation, the removal and preparation of remains, the sale of caskets and related funeral merchandise, the use of funeral home facilities for visitation and remembrance services and transportation services. Our cemeteries provide interment rights (grave sites and mausoleum spaces) and related merchandise, such as markers and outer burial containers. We provide funeral and cemetery services and products on both an “atneed” (time of death) and “preneed” (planned prior to death) basis. Principles of Consolidation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Reclassifications 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 for the impact of adopting the new guidance on revenue recognition. See Notes 2 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information related to our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Use of Estimates The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience, third party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenue and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance, as there can be no assurance that our results of operations will be consistent from year to year. Inventory Inventory consists primarily of caskets, outer burial containers and cemetery monuments and markers and is recorded at the lower of its cost basis (determined by the specific identification method) or net realizable value. Revenue Recognition - Funeral Home Operations Our funeral home operations are principally service businesses that generate revenue from sales of burial and cremation services and related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Funeral services include consultation, the removal and preparation of remains, the use of funeral home facilities for visitation and remembrance services and transportation services. We provide funeral services and products on both an atneed and preneed basis. Funeral arrangements sold at the time of death are referred to as atneed funeral contracts. The performance obligation on these atneed contracts for both merchandise and services are bundled as a single performance obligation, as the performance of these obligations occur within a short time frame (usually within a few days) from the time of death to the funeral service. Although our performance activities are transferred in sequence such as, embalming the body, delivering the casket, obtaining service related items like flowers and performing the service, these are all essential to satisfy our contractual obligation to the customer, thus, bundled into a single performance obligation. Revenue is recognized on the date of funeral service, as all performance obligations have been satisfied. Payment is due at or before time of transfer. Outstanding balances due from customers, if any, on atneed funeral contracts are included in Accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The performance obligation is satisfied at the date of the service or the delivery of the merchandise as control has transferred to the customer and the benefit has concluded in the following manner:
• | we have the right to payment;
• | the customer has title to merchandise;
• | the deceased has used the merchandise or has been a part of the service; and
• | the customer directed the use of the merchandise or the plan of the service.
Funeral arrangements sold prior to death occurring are referred to as preneed funeral contracts. In many instances, the customer pays for the preneed contract over a period of time. For preneed funeral merchandise and service contracts, the performance obligation occurs at the time of need (when death occurs) and revenue is recognized on the date of delivery of merchandise or performance of service. We do not deliver merchandise on preneed contracts or provide service prior to the time of death. The performance obligation for preneed funeral contracts is similar to the elements of the performance obligation of atneed funeral contracts. For preneed funeral services, all preneed funeral contracts are re-written upon the date of death as an atneed contract. The performance obligation is satisfied at the date of the service. The performance of a preneed funeral contract is secured by placing the funds collected, less amounts that we may retain under state regulations, in trust for the benefit of the customer or by the customer's purchase of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. These methods are intended to fund preneed funeral contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include an element of growth (earnings) designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. Revenue from preneed funeral contracts, along with accumulated earnings, is deferred until the time the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. The principal and accumulated earnings of the trusts are withdrawn at maturity (death) or cancellation. The cumulative trust income earned and the increases in insurance benefits on the insurance products are recognized when the service is performed. The amounts deposited in trusts that we control are included in the non-current asset section of our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Beginning January 1, 2018, balances due on undelivered preneed funeral trust contracts have been reclassified to reduce Deferred preneed funeral revenue on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, as noted in our table of Deferred Revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information related to our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. The earnings from our preneed funeral trust investments, as well as trust management fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisory firm (“CSV RIA”) are recorded as Other revenue, as noted in our table of disaggregated revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. As of December 31, 2018, CSV RIA provided these services to one institution, which has custody of 75% of our trust assets, for a fee based on the market value of trust assets. Under state trust laws, we are allowed to charge the trust a fee for advising on the investment of the trust assets and these fees are recognized as income in the period in which services are provided. When preneed funeral contracts are funded through third-party insurance policies, we earn a commission on the sale of the policies. Insurance commissions are subject to refund (charge-back) if the preneed policy is cancelled within a year or if there is an imminent death of beneficiary before the first year anniversary of the policy. We record these insurance commissions as Other revenue, as noted in our table of disaggregated revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein, when the commission is no longer subject to refund, which is typically one year after the policy is issued. All selling costs incurred pursuant to the sale of the insurance funded preneed contracts are expensed as incurred. Preneed funeral contracts to be funded at maturity by third-party insurance policies are not recorded as assets or liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding estimated revenue associated with preneed funeral contracts funded by third-party insurance policies. Generally, at the time of the sale of either the preneed insurance or preneed trust contract, the intent is that the beneficiary has made a commitment to assign the proceeds to us for the fulfillment of the service and merchandise obligations on the preneed contract at the time of need. However, this commitment is revocable and the proceeds from the policy are portable, so the customer can choose to use an alternative provider at the time of need. Revenue Recognition - Cemetery Operations Our cemetery operations generate revenue primarily through sales of cemetery interment rights (primarily grave sites, lawn crypts, mausoleum spaces and niches), related cemetery merchandise (such as outer burial containers, memorial markers and floral placements) and services (interments, inurnments and installation of cemetery merchandise). We provide cemetery services and products on both an atneed and preneed basis. Cemetery arrangements sold at the time of death are referred to as atneed cemetery contracts. The performance obligation on these atneed contracts for cemetery property, merchandise and services are distinct. The performance obligations from the time of death to the disposition of the remains, include delivering cemetery property, unearthing the ground, interring remains and installing merchandise on the cemetery grounds. Each item on the contract is recognized as a distinct good or service. The performance obligation is satisfied and revenue is recognized on the purchase date of the interment right, on the date of the cemetery service, and on the date of delivery of the merchandise (set on cemetery grounds). Payment is due at or before time of transfer. Outstanding balances due from customers, if any, on completed atneed contracts are included in Accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The performance obligation is satisfied at the date of the service, the purchase of the interment right or the delivery of the merchandise as control has transferred to the customer and the benefit has concluded in the following manner:
• | we have the right to payment;
• | the customer has title to merchandise;
• | the deceased has used the merchandise or has been a part of the service; and
• | the customer directed the use of the merchandise or the plan of the service.
Cemetery arrangements sold prior to death occurring are referred to as preneed cemetery contracts. For preneed cemetery interment rights, the performance obligation is the sale of the interment right and revenue is recognized at the time the contract is signed. Control of cemetery interment rights is transferred to the customer upon execution of the contract as customers select a specific location and space for their interment right, thus, restricting us from other use or transfer of the contracted cemetery property. The interment right is deeded to the customer when the contract is paid in full. For preneed cemetery merchandise and service, the performance obligation occurs at the time of need (when death occurs) and revenue is recognized on the date of delivery of merchandise or performance of service. We do not deliver merchandise on preneed contracts or provide service prior to the time of death. The performance obligation for preneed cemetery merchandise and service is similar to the elements of the performance obligation of atneed cemetery merchandise and service. Preneed cemetery contracts are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years. In substantially all cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. Earnings on these installment contracts are not recognized until the time the merchandise is transferred or the service is performed and are recorded as Other revenue, as noted in our table of disaggregated revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. The performance of the preneed cemetery contracts is secured by placing the funds collected, less amounts that we may retain under state regulations, in trust for the benefit of the customer, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. This method is intended to fund preneed contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include an element of growth (earnings) designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. The amounts deposited in trusts that we control are included in the non-current asset section of our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The earnings from preneed cemetery contracts placed in trust, as well as the trust management fees charged by our CSV RIA are recorded as Other revenue, as noted in our table of disaggregated revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. Balances due from customers on delivered preneed cemetery contracts are included in Accounts receivable and Preneed receivables on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Beginning January 1, 2018, balances due on undelivered preneed cemetery contracts have been reclassified to reduce Deferred preneed cemetery revenue on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, as noted in our table of Deferred Revenue in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information related to our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. We sell memorialization merchandise and personalized marker merchandise, such as urns and markers that are supplied by a small number of national providers. We order the memorialized merchandise through a third-party on behalf of our customer. The merchandise and its memorialization is provided by the third-party. We deliver the merchandise after the time of death to the customer upon completion of the memorialization or we set the merchandise on our cemetery grounds. Interment right costs, which include real property and other costs related to cemetery development, are expensed using the specific identification method in the period in which the sale of the interment right is recognized as revenue. We recorded amortization expense for cemetery interment rights of $3.9 million, $3.3 million and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our revenue. Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations Some of our contracts with customers include multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, we allocate transaction price to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, which is based on prices charged to customers per our general price list. Packages for service and ancillary items are offered to help the customer make decisions during emotional/stressful times. Package discounts are reflected net in Revenue. We recognize revenue when the merchandise is transferred or the service is performed, in satisfaction of the corresponding performance obligation. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Trust Funds Our preneed and perpetual care trust funds are reported in accordance with the principles of consolidating Variable Interest Entities (“VIE’s”). In the case of preneed trusts, the customers are the legal beneficiaries. In the case of perpetual care trusts, we do not have a right to access the corpus in the perpetual care trusts. We have recognized financial interests of third parties in the trust funds in our financial statements as Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus. The investments of such trust funds are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair market value; therefore, the unrealized gains and losses, as well as accumulated and undistributed income and realized gains and losses are recorded to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our future obligations to deliver merchandise and services are reported at estimated settlement amounts. Preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings, along with preneed contract collections not required to be placed in trust, are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenue and Deferred preneed cemetery revenue until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered. In accordance with respective state laws, we are required to deposit a specified amount into perpetual and memorial care trust funds for each interment right and certain memorials sold. Income from the trust funds is distributed to us and used to provide for the care and maintenance of the cemeteries and mausoleums. Such trust fund income is recognized as revenue when realized by the trust and distributable to us. We are restricted from withdrawing any of the principal balances of these funds. An enterprise is required to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest(s) give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Our analysis continues to support our position as the primary beneficiary in the majority of our funeral and cemetery trust funds. We determine whether or not the assets in the preneed trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis of the investment due to an other-than-temporary impairment is likewise recorded as a reduction to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. There will be no impact on earnings unless and until such time that the investment is withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations at an amount that is less than its original basis. See Notes 7, 9 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional information related to our trust funds. Allowance for bad debts and customer cancellations Our funeral receivables recorded in Accounts Receivable, net primarily consist of amounts due for funeral services already performed which were $8.5 million at both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts on these receivables based on our historical experience and we monitor changes in delinquency rates and provide additional bad debt and cancellation reserves when warranted. Our allowance for funeral receivables was 2.5% and 2.2% at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. In addition, our other funeral receivables not related to funeral services performed were $0.8 million and $0.7 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Our cemetery financed receivables totaled $40.5 million and $37.2 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The unearned finance charges associated with these receivables were $5.7 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. If a preneed contract is canceled prior to delivery, state law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer. Allowances for bad debts and customer cancellations on cemetery financed receivables are recorded at the date that the sale is recognized as revenue and are based on our historical experience. We also monitor changes in delinquency rates and provide additional bad debt and cancellation reserves when warranted. We have a collections policy where past due notifications are sent to the customer beginning at 15 days past due and periodically thereafter until the contract is cancelled or payment is received. We reserve 100% of the receivables on contracts in which the revenue has been recognized and payments are 90 days past due or more, which was approximately 4.9% and 4.6% of the total receivables at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on cemetery financed receivables. Our cemetery receivables recorded in Accounts Receivable, net also include $1.3 million and $1.8 million related to perpetual care income receivables at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our perpetual care trust investments. Accounts receivable was comprised of the following at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):
| December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2018
Funeral receivables, net of allowance for bad debt of $213 and $189, respectively | $ | 9,061 |  |  | $ | 9,002 |
Cemetery receivables, net of allowance for bad debt of $622 and $580, respectively | 10,331 |  |  | 9,688 |
Other receivables | 263 |  |  | 207 |
Accounts receivable, net | $ | 19,655 |  |  | $ | 18,897 |
Non-current preneed receivables represent payments expected to be received beyond one year from the balance sheet date. Preneed receivables were comprised of the following at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 (in thousands):
| December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2018
Funeral receivables, net of allowance for bad debt of $882 | $ | 7,934 |  |  | $ | — |
Cemetery receivables, net of allowance for bad debt of $1,396 and $1,228, respectively | 23,710 |  |  | 18,441 |
Preneed receivables, net | $ | 31,644 |  |  | $ | 18,441 |
Bad debt expense totaled $2.1 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Capitalized Commissions on Preneed Contracts Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which impacted our accounting for incremental selling costs, primarily commission costs, related to preneed cemetery merchandise and services and preneed funeral trust contracts. Upon adoption of Topic 606, we capitalize sales commissions and other direct selling costs related to preneed cemetery merchandise and services and preneed funeral trust contracts as these costs are incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. We recorded a cumulative net adjustment of $2.1 million to Retained earnings on our opening Consolidated Balance Sheet on January 1, 2018. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding our opening balance sheet adjustment. Our capitalized commissions on preneed contracts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average maturity period for our preneed cemetery merchandise and services contracts and preneed funeral trust contracts, of eight and ten years, respectively. Amortization expense totaled $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. There were no impairment losses recognized for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information related to our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding our capitalized commissions on preneed contracts. On September 30, 2018, our management agreement with a Florida municipality expired and as a result, we ceased to operate three of our cemetery businesses. We recorded a loss of approximately $125,000 in Other, net, for the write-off of capitalized commissions related to these three cemetery businesses. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding the expired management agreement for these three cemetery businesses. The selling costs related to the sales of cemetery interment rights, which include real property and other costs related to cemetery development activities, continue to be expensed using the specific identification method in the period in which the sale of the cemetery interment right is recognized as revenue. The selling costs related to preneed funeral insurance contracts continue to be expensed in the period incurred as these contracts are not included on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) are stated at cost. The costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while renewals and major replacements that extend the useful economic life of the asset are capitalized. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) is computed based on the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:
| Years
Buildings and improvements | 15 to 40
Furniture and fixtures | 5 to 10
Machinery and equipment | 3 to 15
Automobiles | 5 to 7 0
Property, plant and equipment was comprised of the following at December 31, 2017 and 2018 (in thousands):
| December 31, 2017 |  | December 31, 2018
Land | $ | 74,981 |  |  | $ | 81,012 |
Buildings and improvements | 211,934 |  |  | 223,646 |
Furniture, equipment and automobiles | 76,155 |  |  | 81,125 |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost | 363,070 |  |  | 385,783 |
Less: accumulated depreciation | (115,776 | ) |  | (124,945 | )
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 247,294 |  |  | $ | 260,838 |
Depreciation expense was $11.5 million, $12.6 million and $13.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. We acquired $17.5 million of property, plant and equipment in connection with the four funeral home businesses we acquired during 2018, as further discussed in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. During 2017, we acquired real estate for $1.3 million for funeral home expansion projects. In addition, we acquired $12.2 million of property, plant and equipment in connection with the seven funeral home businesses we acquired during 2017. Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment subject to depreciation and amortization, are reviewed for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with the Property, Plant and Equipment topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360. This guidance requires that long-lived assets to be held and used are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value. We assess long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than the fair value. We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment when a funeral home or cemetery business has negative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for four consecutive years and if there has been a decline in EBITDA in that same period. We review our long-lived assets deemed held-for-sale to the point of recoverability. Assets to be disposed of and assets not expected to provide any future service potential are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell. If we determine that the carrying value is not recoverable from the proceeds of the sale, we record an impairment at that time. During 2018, we recorded an impairment of $0.2 million related to the real property of a funeral home business held for sale, as the carrying value exceeded fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, no impairments were identified on our long-lived assets. Business Combinations Tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value and goodwill is recognized for any difference between the price of the acquisition and fair value. We recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at the fair value as of that date. Acquisition related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and are expensed as incurred. We customarily estimate related transaction costs known at closing. To the extent that information not available to us at the closing date subsequently becomes available during the allocation period, we may adjust goodwill, intangible assets, assets or liabilities associated with the acquisition. During 2018, we acquired four funeral home businesses. In July 2018, we acquired one funeral home business in Fredericksburg, Virginia and one funeral home business in Stafford, Virginia. In August 2018, we acquired one funeral home business in Cookeville, Tennessee and one funeral home business in Knightdale, North Carolina. During 2017, we acquired seven funeral home businesses. We acquired one funeral home business in Longmont, Colorado and one funeral home business in Loveland, Colorado in November 2017 and five funeral home businesses on Long Island, New York in December 2017. The pro forma impact of the acquisitions on prior periods is not presented as the impact is not material to our reported results. The results of the acquired businesses are included in our results of operations from the date of acquisition. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for further information concerning these acquisitions. Goodwill The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of funeral home businesses acquired is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill has primarily been recorded in connection with the acquisition of funeral home businesses. Goodwill has an indefinite life and is not subject to amortization. As such, we test goodwill for impairment on an annual basis. Our intent is to perform a quantitative impairment test at least once every three years unless certain indicators or events suggest otherwise and perform a qualitative assessment during the remaining two years. Our quantitative goodwill impairment test involves estimates and management judgment. In the quantitative analysis, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the goodwill of that reporting unit is not considered impaired. We determine fair value for each reporting unit using both an income approach, weighted 90%, and a market approach, weighted 10%. Our methodology for determining an income-based fair value is based on discounting projected future cash flows. The projected future cash flows include assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual future cash flows discounted at our weighted average cost of capital based on market participant assumptions. Our methodology for determining a market approach fair value utilizes the guideline public company method, in which we rely on market multiples of comparable companies operating in the same industry as the individual reporting units. In accordance with the guidance, if the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount an impairment charge is recorded in an amount equal to the difference. For our 2018 annual impairment test, we performed a qualitative assessment, using information as of August 31, 2018. Under current guidance, we are permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. We determined that there were no factors that would indicate the need to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test and concluded that it is more-likely-than not that the fair value of our reporting units is greater than their carrying value and thus there was no impairment to goodwill. For our 2017 annual impairment test, we performed a qualitative assessment and concluded that the fair value of our reporting units was greater than their carrying value and thus there was no impairment to goodwill. In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a reporting unit may be greater than fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant adverse changes in the business climate which may be indicated by a decline in our market capitalization or decline in operating results. During 2018, we recorded an impairment of $0.8 million related to a funeral home business that we intend to cease operating in 2019, as the carrying value exceeded fair value. No impairments were recorded to our goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017. No such events or changes occurred between the testing date and year end to trigger a subsequent impairment review. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional information related to our goodwill. Intangible Assets Our intangible assets include tradenames resulting from acquisitions and are included in Intangible and other non-current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our tradenames are considered to have an indefinite life and are not subject to amortization. As such, we test our intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis. Our intent is to perform a quantitative impairment test at least once every three years unless certain indicators or events suggest otherwise and perform a qualitative assessment during the remaining two years. Our quantitative intangible asset impairment test involves estimates and management judgment. Our quantitative analysis is performed using the relief from royalty method, which measures the tradenames by determining the value of the royalties that we are relieved from paying due to our ownership of the asset. We determine the fair value of the asset by discounting the cash flows that represent a savings in lieu of paying a royalty fee for use of the tradename. 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 and the determination and application of an appropriate royalty rate and discount rate. To estimate the royalty rates for the individual tradename, we mainly rely on the profit split method, but also consider the comparable third-party license agreements and the return on asset method. A scorecard is used to assess the relative strength of the individual tradename to further adjust the royalty rates selected under the profit-split method for qualitative factors. In accordance with the guidance, if the fair value of the tradename is less than its carrying amount an impairment charge is recorded in an amount equal to the difference. For our 2018 annual impairment test, we performed a qualitative assessment, using information as of August 31, 2018. Under current guidance, we are permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than not that the fair value of the tradename is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. We determined that there were no factors that would indicate the need to perform a quantitative impairment test and concluded that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our intangible assets is greater than its carrying value and thus there was no impairment to our intangible assets. For our 2017 annual impairment test, we performed a qualitative assessment and concluded that the fair value of our intangible assets was greater than its carrying value and thus there was no impairment to our intangible assets. 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 of the intangible asset 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. During 2016, we recorded an impairment to tradenames of $145,000 related to a funeral home business held for sale as the carrying value exceeded fair value. No other impairments were recorded to our intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our intangible assets. Divested Operations During 2018, our management agreement with a Florida municipality expired and as a result, we ceased to operate three of our cemetery businesses. During 2017, we sold a funeral home business in Kentucky for $0.6 million and during 2016, we sold a funeral home business in Tennessee for $1.35 million. The operating results of these divested businesses are reflected in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We continually review locations to optimize the sustainable earning power and return on our invested capital. These reviews could entail selling certain non-strategic businesses. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional information concerning our divested businesses. Fair Value Measurements We measure the available-for-sale securities held by our funeral merchandise and service, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the ASC. This guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The guidance establishes 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: • Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; • Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; and • Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. We disclose the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date. The fair value disclosures of transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and the gross presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation of the three-tier fair value hierarchy are also presented in Notes 7 and 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. We currently do not have any assets that have fair values determined by Level 3 inputs and no liabilities measured at fair value. We have not elected to measure any additional financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. To determine the fair value of assets and liabilities in an environment where the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, the exit price is used as the fair value measurement. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we did not incur significant decreases in the volume or level of activity of any asset or liability. We consider an impairment of debt and equity securities other-than-temporary unless (a) we have the ability and intent to hold an investment and (b) evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable before we are more likely than not required to sell the investment. If an impairment is indicated, then an adjustment is made to reduce the carrying amount to fair value which is recorded as a reduction to either Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust, Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust or Care trusts’ corpus on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We did not record any impairments during the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. In the ordinary course of business, we are typically exposed to a variety of market risks. Currently, these are primarily related to changes in fair market values related to outstanding debts and changes in the values of securities associated with the preneed and perpetual care trusts. Management is actively involved in monitoring exposure to market risk and developing and utilizing risk management techniques when appropriate and when available for a reasonable price. See Notes 7, 11 and 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for additional required disclosures concerning the fair value measurement of our financial assets and liabilities. Income Taxes We and our subsidiaries file a consolidated U. S. federal income tax return, separate income tax returns in 16 states in which we operate and combined or unitary income tax returns in 13 states in which we operate. We record deferred taxes for temporary differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. We classify our deferred tax liabilities and assets as non-current on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We record a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets for which realization is uncertain. Management reviews the valuation allowance at the end of each quarter and makes adjustments if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will be realized. We analyze tax benefits for uncertain tax positions and how they are to be recognized, measured, and derecognized in the financial statements; provide certain disclosures of uncertain tax matters; and specify how reserves for uncertain tax positions should be classified on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. On May 10, 2017, we filed amended federal returns for the tax years ending December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, which generated significant refunds. As a result, on July 18, 2017, we received notification that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) selected our tax years ended December 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 for a limited scope examination to verify the refunds due. The examinations are in progress, however, the timing of the conclusion of the audit is uncertain. On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Tax Act”). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code. Effective as of January 1, 2018, the Tax Act established new tax laws, including but not limited to (1) a reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21%; (2) a limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of adjusted earnings; (3) a limitation of the deduction for net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of net operating loss carrybacks; (4) limitations of certain executive compensation deductions; and (5) limitations or repeals of many business deductions and credits. The analysis required by Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118 to determine the impact of the Tax Act was complete as of December 31, 2017. Return to provision adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018 resulted in additional favorable impact from the rate reduction as there were changes to the deferred balances recorded. On December 21, 2018, we filed 3 Form 3115s, Application for Change in Accounting Method, and associated statements with the requesting consent to change the method of accounting for deferred revenue for our cemetery property and cemetery merchandise and service operations for the taxable year beginning January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2018. The application requesting a change in the method of accounting for recognizing advance payments received under preneed contracts for cemetery services and merchandise is to comply with Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) Sections 61, 451, and 471. The change in method of accounting for constructed and unconstructed cemetery property is to comply with I.R.C Sections 61, 451, 1001, 1012 and 460. The method changes filed are non-automatic and require IRS approval. The impact of the change in the method of accounting for deferred revenue will be recorded in the interim period in which the method changes are approved. The method changes are expected to be approved, but the timing of the approval is uncertain. Additionally, once approved the method changes will result in significant favorable deductions and will have a favorable impact on cash taxes paid during 2019. We do not have any unrecognized tax benefits recorded as of December 31, 2018 and we do not anticipate a material change in our unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information concerning our income taxes. Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation We have stock-based employee and director compensation plans under which we grant stock, restricted stock, stock options and performance awards. We also have an employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”). We recognize compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the stock-based awards expected to vest or to be purchased over the requisite service period. Fair value is determined on the date of the grant. The fair value of restricted stock is determined using the stock price on the grant date. The fair value of options or awards containing options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the performance awards related to market performance is determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation pricing model. The fair value of the performance awards related to internal performance metrics is determined using the stock price on the grant date. The fair value of the ESPP is determined based on the discount element offered to employees and the embedded option element, which is determined using an option calculation model. We recognize all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (including tax benefits of dividends on share-based payment awards) as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. We treat the tax effects of exercised or vested awards as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, the excess tax deficiency related to share-based payments was approximately $0.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively, recorded within Tax adjustment related to certain discrete items on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Excess tax benefits or deficiencies related to share-based payments are included in operating cash flows. Amounts withheld from restricted stock vestings and stock option exercises for the purpose of paying employee related taxes are presented as financing activities on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we withheld shares to pay employee taxes in the amount of $0.6 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million. Prior to January 1, 2017, these amounts were presented as operating activities on our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our stock-based compensation plans. Computation of Earnings Per Common Share Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common equivalent shares consist of stock options and our Convertible Notes (as defined in Note 14). Share-based awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are recognized as participating securities and included in the computation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Our grants of restricted stock awards to our employees and directors are considered participating securities, and we have prepared our earnings per share calculations attributable to common stockholders to exclude outstanding unvested restricted stock awards, using the two-class method, in both the basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding calculation. The fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the corresponding calculation of fully diluted earnings per share, included 0.5 million, 0.9 million and 0.3 million shares that would have been issued upon the conversion of our Convertible Notes as a result of the application of the if-converted method prescribed by the FASB ASC 260. See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for the computation of per share earnings for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Correction of Immaterial Error During the year ended December 31, 2017, we corrected an immaterial error related to 2013. The adjustment related to the correction of the deferred tax liability for the difference in book and tax basis of certain assets. The error had the impact of understating the deferred tax liability and overstating net income in 2013. Management evaluated the effect of the adjustment on previously issued interim and annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with the SEC's SAB No. 99 and SAB 108 and concluded that it was immaterial to the interim and annual periods. As a result, in accordance with SAB No. 108, we corrected our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2015. The effect of this adjustment on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2017 was as follows (dollars in thousands):
|  | December 31, 2017
|  | % Change
Increase in Deferred tax liability | $ | 2,255 |  | 7.8 | %
Increase in Total liabilities | $ | 2,255 |  | 0.3 | %
Decrease in Retained earnings | $ | 2,255 |  | 3.7 | %
Decrease in Total stockholders' equity | $ | 2,255 |  | 1.1 | %
This adjustment had no impact on our Consolidated Statements of Operations or Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. Related Party Transactions Management evaluated reportable events and transactions that occurred between us and related persons during the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our related party transactions. Subsequent Events We have evaluated events and transactions during the period subsequent to December 31, 2018 through the date the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements covered by this report.

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