Death Care & Funeral Services

Cemetery plot prices rose 65% between 2018 and 2024, far outpacing the 25% rise in consumer inflation over the same period, and some buyers are now trying to flip the plots for profit. Bayer Cemetery Brokers highlights that appreciation while cautioning that plots are a niche market that can be hard to sell without waiting for the right buyer. Maureen Walton, founder and CEO of the Cemetery Exchange listing service, said a classic flip is not realistic because plots can take years to sell, noting she has valid listings that have been for sale for years. She added that cemetery property does increase in value every year, but sales must adhere to state legislation and individual cemetery bylaws, which vary widely: some cemeteries insist on first right of refusal, some impose maintenance or transfer fees, and many forbid secondary listing prices from surpassing their own retail price at the time of sale. Premium plots can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, and private cemeteries and crematories make up a $4-billion industry, according to the article.

Bloomberg reports that Taiwan's population may decline to about 12.15 million by 2075, a drop of roughly 48% from 2026 levels, amid a continued decrease in births and young population, while the number of elderly rises significantly, posing long-term challenges to the labor market, economy, and defense capabilities. Estimates from Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC), based on household registration data, indicate that the working-age population will shrink by nearly two-thirds over the next 50 years. By 2075, the population aged 0-14 will be only 585,000, the working-age population (15-64) will be about 5.13 million, and those aged 65 and above will reach 6.43 million, meaning the elderly will outnumber the working-age population and account for more than half of the total population. These figures reflect risks after the population peaked at 23.6 million in 2019, and could also affect Taiwan's security, as the military still relies partly on conscription amid threats from China.

Service International reported second-quarter revenue of $1.10 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.08 billion and growing 3.6% year on year. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.90, slightly above the $0.89 consensus. The company attributed the performance to an 8% increase in comparable preneed cemetery sales production and a 3.3% rise in average revenue per core funeral service. Management reiterated its full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $4.20 at the midpoint and expects margin expansion and double-digit earnings growth in the second half of 2026. CEO Thomas Ryan highlighted strong underlying sales velocity and demographic tailwinds as positioning the company for sustained growth.

Distribution data for welfare pension benefits reveals that recipients receiving less than 100,000 yen per month account for 19.0% of the total, slightly exceeding the 18.8% who receive 200,000 yen or more. The average benefit is in the 150,000 yen range, but over 80% of recipients get less than 200,000 yen monthly, highlighting significant disparities among individuals. Among elderly people aged 65 and over, those with dementia and mild cognitive impairment combined reach approximately 10.02 million, meaning roughly one in four shows signs of cognitive decline. Against the backdrop of longer lifespans and dementia risk, interest in end-of-life planning is growing, yet ownership of an ending note among those in their 70s and older stands at just 24.2%, and the rate of actually filling one out tends to be lower in older age groups.