Service Corporation International Raises Quarterly Dividend

Service Corporation International increased its quarterly dividend to $0.36 a share from $0.34, a 5.88% rise, with the shares trading ex-dividend on June 15, 2026. The new quarterly rate implies an annual dividend of $1.44 a share and a forward annual yield of 1.95% based on the locked share price of $73.96.

The Houston-based company is North America's largest provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, according to its investor materials. SCI said it serves families through a portfolio that includes funeral homes, cemeteries and the Dignity Memorial brand, with operations across the U.S., Canada, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Company investor overview

Operating backdrop

The dividend increase followed SCI's first-quarter results, in which management cited growth in revenue, cemetery preneed sales production and funeral preneed sales production, while noting that funeral service volumes were lower against a strong prior-year comparison. The company also reaffirmed its 2026 guidance in that release. SCI first-quarter 2026 results

SCI's board approved the dividend increase in May. In the announcement, the company said future dividends remain subject to the board's review of financial performance each quarter. That language is standard for dividend declarations, but it is relevant for income investors because it underscores that the new rate is not a contractual obligation. SCI dividend announcement

The increase marks SCI's 15th consecutive year of dividend growth, according to the locked dividend record. The company previously cut its dividend in 2005. Its SmarterDividends safety score is 84 out of 100, with an A safety grade.

What it means for income investors

For shareholders focused on income, the move raises SCI's annualized cash payout to $1.44 a share while maintaining a modest 1.95% forward yield. The increase also continues a multi-year pattern of dividend growth, supported by a business that management describes as scale-driven and cash-generative, though still exposed to changes in funeral volumes, consumer preferences and capital-allocation decisions.