How Private Equity Is Rolling Up Funeral Homes
The Buyout Show with Fexingo · 2026-06-02 · 11 min
Episode notes
Episode 26 of The Buyout Show with Fexingo: Private Equity, Roll-Ups, and Business Acquisitions. Lucas and Luna examine how private equity firms have consolidated the funeral home industry over the past decade. They break down the acquisition strategy of Service Corporation International (SCI), the publicly traded behemoth that now owns nearly 2,000 funeral homes and 500 cemeteries. Then they turn to the roll-up wave driven by mid-market PE funds like Stone Peak Partners and Alpine Investors, which are buying independent funeral homes in fragmented local markets. Lucas explains the unit economics: a typical funeral home generates $1 - 2 million in revenue with 20 - 25% EBITDA margins, making it a stable cash-flow business suited for leverage. Luna challenges the model, asking whether consolidation undermines the personal service families expect. The hosts also discuss regulatory tailwinds - the FTC's Funeral Rule creates barriers for new entrants - and demographic trends: the US death rate is projected to rise 20% by 2040 as baby boomers age.
More from The Buyout Show with Fexingo
All episodes →- Why Private Equity Is Buying Up Wedding Venues67 / 100
- How Private Equity Is Buying Up Dermatology Practices59 / 100
- How Private Equity Is Buying Up Laundromats62 / 100
- How Private Equity Is Buying Up Marijuana Dispensaries
- How Private Equity Is Buying Up Security Guard Companies