SEC Filing - Carriage Services, Inc.

View:

Download DOC

Download XLS

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 5, 2003

Carriage Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in is charter)

Delaware	1-11961	76-0423828
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1900 St. James Place, 4^th Floor Houston, Texas 77056
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(713) 332-8400

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Item		Description

99.1		Press Release dated December 3, 2003.
99.2		Company and Investment Profile dated December 2003 to accompany investor meetings in New York City and Boston during December 4 and 5, 2003.
99.3		Slide Presentation to be presented at investor meetings in New York City and Boston on December 4, 2003 and December 5, 2003, respectively.

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

On December 3, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing that it will make a presentation to certain investors on December 4, 2003 and December 5, 2003 in New York City and Boston, reaffirming its previous earnings guidance for the remainder of 2003, and describing supplemental disclosures in the form of its Company and Investment Profile and related slide presentation. Both the slide presentation and the Company and Investment Profile are available at the Company’s website www.carriageservices.com.

The information in this report and the accompanying exhibits are being furnished in accordance with Regulation FD and not “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, the information in this report and its exhibits is not incorporated by reference into any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will not be so incorporated by reference into any future registration statement unless specifically identified as being incorporated by reference.

The Company and Investment Profile contains non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company provides quantitative reconciliations as well as qualitative information within the Company and Investment Profile and on the Company’s website www.carriageservices.com.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Carriage Services, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.


Date: December 5, 2003	By:	/s/Joseph Saporito
		Joseph Saporito
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit		Description

99.1		Press Release dated December 3, 2003.
99.2		Company and Investment Profile dated December 2003 to accompany investor meetings in New York City and Boston during December 4 and 5, 2003.
99.3		Slide Presentation to be presented at investor meetings in New York City and Boston on December 4, 2003 and December 5, 2003, respectively.

Exhibit 99.1


		*PRESS RELEASE*

	Contacts:	Mel Payne, Chairman & CEO
		Joe Saporito, CFO
		Carriage Services, Inc.
		713-332-8400

		Ken Dennard / Lisa Elliott
		DRG&E
		713-529-6600

CARRIAGE SERVICES UPDATES

COMPANY & INVESTMENT PROFILE

AND INVESTOR PRESENTATION

DECEMBER 3, 2003 – HOUSTON – Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) today announced that it has updated its “Company & Investment Profile”, which can be found on Carriage’s website at www.carriageservices.com. Carriage’s updated “Company & Investment Profile” includes updated historical financial information, a discussion on continued debt reduction, its current “Long Term Base Case Scenario,” and “Base Case Enterprise Valuation LBO Structure” analysis and discussions of Carriage’s business, strategies, and goals. Additionally, Carriage has produced an updated slide presentation that will be presented to potential investors on December 4 and 5, 2003 in New York City and Boston. The updated “Company & Investment Profile” and the slide presentation are being filed on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These documents are being published and updated by Carriage in continuation of its stated goal to provide more disclosure and transparency to the investment community regarding Carriage’s operations, goals, industry dynamics and conditions. Given challenging capital market conditions and limited analyst coverage of Carriage Services, it is Carriage’s intent to take a more proactive role in communicating with investors.

The first two pages of Carriage’s updated “Company & Investment Profile” are included at the end of this release. Investors and interested parties are encouraged to visit the website, http://www.carriageservices.com to read or download the Company and Investment Profile and the Investor Slide Presentation.

Carriage Services is the fourth largest publicly traded deathcare company. As of December 3, 2003, Carriage operates 139 funeral homes and 30 cemeteries in 29 states.

Certain statements made herein or elsewhere by, or on behalf of, the company that are not historical facts are intended to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on assumptions that the company believes are reasonable; however, many important factors, as discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements” in the company’s Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, could cause the company’s results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the company. A copy of the company’s Form 10-K, and other Carriage Services information and news releases, are available at www.carriageservices.com.

- First two pages of Company & Investment Profile follow -


Company & Investment Profile				December 2003


NYSE: CSV
1900 St. James Place • 4^th Floor • Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713-332-8400 • Fax: 713-332-8401 • www.carriageservices.com

Key Investment Points

• Carriage’s successful “Fresh Start Program” is largely complete, but various Fresh Start initiatives are expected to continue to improve operating results gradually over time.

• After a period of rapid growth through acquisitions, Carriage Services has improved its financial position. Future results will be driven by its culture of service and leadership excellence toward the goal of building a lasting enterprise.

• CSV’s ability to generate free cash flow and reduce debt offers the unique investment characteristics of an LBO structure. Under multiple scenarios, presented herein, CSV could offer an 10% to 26% five-year IRR based upon current valuation using assumptions believed to be reasonable by management.

• The Long-Term Base Case scenario presented herein is based only on organic growth assumptions and does not consider any incremental growth via selective acquisitions, market share gains, etc.

Share Statistics

Price (November 28, 2003)	$3.29
52 Wk. High/Low	$4.65/$2.99
Shares Outstanding (In Mill.)	17.6
Equity Market Capitalization (In Mill.)	$57.7
Enterprise Value	$287.8
Enterprise Value / EBITDA*	7.1
Price / 2003(E) EPS Multiple	8.7
Book Value Per Share	$5.94
Total Debt / EBITDA*	3.4
Debt / Capitalization	41.8	%

LONG-TERM BASE CASE ESTIMATES

5-Yr. Compound Annual Revenue Growth	1.5	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual EBITDA Growth	0.8	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual EPS Growth	4.6	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Free Cash Flow Growth	12.6	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow Growth	21.3	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Reduction in Debt	-20.1	%

Balance sheet data as of September 30, 2003

*Trailing four quarters.

MISSION STATEMENT: We are committed to being the most professional, ethical, and highest quality funeral and cemetery service organization in our industry.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES: Honesty, integrity and quality in all that we do. Hard work, pride of accomplishment and shared success through employee ownership. Belief in the power of people through individual initiative and teamwork. Outstanding service and profitability go hand-in-hand. Growth of the Company is driven by decentralization and partnership.

SUMMARY

Founded in 1991 with an IPO in 1996, Carriage Services is a leading provider of Death Care services and products in the United States and is the fourth largest publicly traded Death Care company. Carriage Services’ shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CSV. As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 139 funeral homes and 30 cemeteries in 29 states. Carriage’s business can be characterized as one of relative stability, reflected by predictable revenue and cash flow, with incremental growth opportunities via selective acquisitions.

With its success in the implementation and execution of Carriage’s “Fresh Start Program”, the Company has stabilized and improved its operations and financial position. Management is focused on continually improving the customer funeral experience, upgrading operational leadership, increasing market share, operating margins, free cash flow, and reducing debt. Carriage believes the improvement in its operations and capital structure positions the Company well for the future.

While Carriage Services has succeeded in improving operations and the quality and depth of its management, increasing free cash flow and substantially decreasing debt levels, the Company believes the current equity valuation does not accurately reflect these achievements and offers a unique investment opportunity. As discussed later in this report, Carriage believes its current capital structure coupled with its strong cash flow profile, will enable the Company to continue to meaningfully pay down debt, offering investors the unique investment characteristics of an LBO (leveraged buy out) structure, without the often high promotional fees because CSV shares are publicly traded. Assuming stable to modest growth in revenue and EBITDA, modest growth in free cash flow, selective asset dispositions, and continued reduction in debt, Carriage believes such a scenario could offer investors an 10% to 26% five year IRR (internal rate of return), assuming a narrow range of enterprise value-to-EBITDA multiples over the same period.

Carriage Services

NYSE: CSV Forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as further described at the end of this Company & Investment Profile. Please refer to the Appendix on page 25 that discusses and reconciles non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures

Company & Investment Profile

December 2003

Noteworthy New or Updated Information in This Company & Investment Profile Versus the Previous Edition:

•	Updated “Historical Earnings & Operating Data” table

•	Updated and revised “Base Case Enterprise Valuation “LBO” Structure”

•	Updated “Carriage Services Financial Outlook & Recent Results”

•	Updated U.S. map of Carriage’s funeral home and cemetery locations

•	Updated Income Statement

•	Updated Balance Sheet

•	Updated Cash Flow Statement

Exhibit 99.2


Company & Investment Profile				December 2003


NYSE: CSV

1900 St. James Place • 4^th Floor • Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713-332-8400 • Fax: 713-332-8401 • www.carriageservices.com

Key Investment Points

• Carriage’s successful “Fresh Start Program” is largely complete, but various Fresh Start initiatives are expected to continue to improve operating results gradually over time.

• The Long-Term Base Case scenario presented herein is based only on organic growth assumptions and does not consider any incremental growth via selective acquisitions, market share gains, etc.

Share Statistics

Price (November 28, 2003)	$3.29
52 Wk. High/Low	$4.65/$2.99
Shares Outstanding (In Mill.)	17.6
Equity Market Capitalization (In Mill.)	$57.7
Enterprise Value	$287.8
Enterprise Value / EBITDA*	7.1
Price / 2003(E) EPS Multiple	8.7
Book Value Per Share	$5.94
Total Debt / EBITDA*	3.4
Debt / Capitalization	41.8	%

LONG-TERM BASE CASE ESTIMATES

5-Yr. Compound Annual Revenue Growth	1.5	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual EBITDA Growth	0.8	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual EPS Growth	4.6	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Free Cash Flow Growth	12.6	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow Growth	21.3	%
5-Yr. Compound Annual Reduction in Debt	-20.1	%

Balance sheet data as of September 30, 2003

*Trailing four quarters.

MISSION STATEMENT: We are committed to being the most professional, ethical, and highest quality funeral and cemetery service organization in our industry.

SUMMARY

Founded in 1991 with an IPO in 1996, Carriage Services is a leading provider of Death Care services and products in the United States and is the fourth largest publicly traded Death Care company. Carriage Services’ shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CSV. As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 139 funeral homes and 30 cemeteries in 29 states. Carriage’s business can be characterized as one of relative stability, reflected by predictable revenue and cash flow, with incremental growth opportunities via selective acquisitions.

Carriage Services

Noteworthy New or Updated Information in This Company & Investment Profile Versus the Previous Edition:

•	Updated “Historical Earnings & Operating Data” table

•	Updated and revised “Base Case Enterprise Valuation “LBO” Structure”

•	Updated “Carriage Services Financial Outlook & Recent Results”

•	Updated U.S. map of Carriage’s funeral home and cemetery locations

•	Updated Income Statement

•	Updated Balance Sheet

•	Updated Cash Flow Statement

* This document is being published by Carriage Services in continuation of the Company’s stated goal to provide more disclosure and transparency to the investment community regarding Carriage’s operations, goals, industry dynamics and conditions. Given structural and regulatory changes impacting the brokerage industry, challenging capital market conditions, and reduced sell side analyst coverage of Carriage Services, it is the Company’s intent to take greater responsibility and a more proactive role in communicating with investors.

SUCCESSFUL FRESH START PROGRAM

In response to its leveraged balance sheet resulting from its past active acquisition program, deteriorating operating results, and a challenging operating environment, Carriage implemented its multi-faceted Fresh Start Program in the fourth quarter of 2000. The five Fresh Start goals Carriage set out to achieve were:

1. Restore credibility to its operating and consolidation model;

2. Increase and better align its earnings and free cash flow;

3. Restore market value credibility to its balance sheet;

4. Reduce debt; and

5. Re-access the capital markets.

The program began with a review of the funeral home and cemetery portfolios, operating strategies, organizational structure, and financial covenants under Carriage’s credit agreements. The key elements required to achieve the five Fresh Start goals are as follows:

• Downsize its corporate organization

• Strengthen its corporate and operating leadership

• Change its preneed funeral marketing strategy

• Stratify its funeral home portfolio

• Improve or dispose of under performing businesses

• Adjust the carrying value of remaining assets

• Modify debt covenants

Carriage is pleased to report that it has met four of its five Fresh Start goals. However, with its common shares currently valued at 55% of book value, Carriage will continue to focus on the goal of restoring market value credibility to its balance sheet. Carriage is committed to continue operating a lean corporate organization, strengthening its corporate and local business leadership, and improving or selling underperforming businesses. Carriage’s progress in achieving each of the five Fresh Start goals, together with their continued relevance to future results, is as follows:

1. Restore credibility to its operating and consolidation model – Carriage is committed to becoming the best, not the biggest, company in its industry. This commitment is driven by a strong culture of service and leadership excellence whose goal is to build a lasting enterprise. As a result, Carriage has raised performance standards and increased accountability for all employees throughout the organization. In Carriage’s view, the benefit of integrating acquired businesses is to introduce its innovative service and sales strategies to provide the highest quality funeral experience to client families and to introduce its operating model to improve long-term performance. Carriage continues to invest heavily in employee training in order to enable its field operations to better serve families, especially training on personalization of the funeral ritual to create a unique and emotional experience. The result of successful execution of its service and sales strategies will be to increase customer satisfaction, revenue per experience, and market share. Carriage has experienced some deterioration in market share in a small minority of its businesses and is diligently working to remedy market share losses. Nevertheless, Carriage’s portfolio of businesses is stable, and future performance is relatively visible and predictable.

2. Increase and better align earnings and free cash flow – Since implementing Fresh Start, Carriage has implemented more disciplined controls over its capital expenditures and shifted its preneed funeral marketing strategy from a

national to a local focus. These two factors have been the key drivers to better align earnings and free cash flow. In conjunction with the operating model described above, Carriage believes it will continue to improve and maintain the alignment of earnings and free cash flow. In 2002 Carriage reported net income of $7.7 million (before special items) and free cash flow of $12.9 million, greatly improved versus 2000 net income of $1 million (before special charges and other items) and free cash flow of $6.4 million. The free cash flow for 2001 was positively impacted by tax refunds totaling $4.5 million and out of period trust fund withdrawals totaling $4.1 million. In 2003 Carriage expects full year EPS before special charges to be between $0.35 and $0.40 and free cash flow from operations to be between $8 million and $11 million. Free cash flow for years beginning in 2004 includes the assumption that the Company will have utilized its tax loss carryforwards and will begin paying Federal income taxes.

3. Restore market value credibility to its balance sheet – The large non-cash charges Carriage incurred in 2000 to initiate its Fresh Start Program substantially reduced the Company’s book value per share, which was $5.94 as of September 30, 2003. As Carriage executes its operating model and successfully improves long-term profitability, Carriage should continue to increase book value per share. Based on its Base Case scenario and implied share prices presented herein, Carriage believes it will achieve alignment of its book value and market value per share during the next three- to five-years.

4. Re-access the capital markets – In August 2003 Carriage replaced its $75 million bank revolving credit facility with a new $40 million unsecured revolving credit facility that matures in March 2006 with Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The new credit facility and expected asset dispositions should provide sufficient borrowings to meet the Company’s current and future working capital needs as well as to retire the $22 million balance of its Series A Senior Notes in July 2004, thereby eliminating any near-term refinancing concerns. The remaining $74 million balance of the Series B and Series C senior notes matures July 2006 and July 2008 in the amounts of $52 million and $22 million, respectively, and carries an approximate weighted average rate of 8%. As a result, the Company expects that additional debt financing or equity will be necessary in future years. The availability and terms of such capital will depend on prevailing market conditions and the then existing financial conditions of the Company.

The fact that Carriage was able to place its bank facility in what is a very challenging bank market is significant. It is also significant that Carriage was able to obtain an unsecured facility. Carriage is the only public company in the death care industry with an unsecured revolving bank credit facility. This is a testament to the Company’s success in executing on its Fresh Start program and its consistent track record of consistently paying down debt. More

importantly, by having an unsecured credit facility, it allows Carriage to retain full control of its capital structure, which will allow its favorable terms to remain intact and provides additional financial flexibility to optimize the Company’s balance sheet in future years.

Interest on the facility is payable at the initial floating rate of LIBOR plus 300 basis points and subsequently may decline with estimated reductions in Carriage’s debt to EBITDA ratio. The new facility reduces by $7.5 million in March 2005 and by an additional $7.5 million in September 2005. In addition, the commitment reduces by up to $5 million for the bank’s pro-rata share of proceeds from disposition of assets.

5. Reduce debt – In complying with the conditions of the new credit facility, Carriage began on September 1, 2003 deferring interest payments on its subordinated debentures held by the Company’s affiliated trust. Thus, cash distributions on TIDES convertible trust preferred securities will be deferred for at least the term of the new credit facility. These deferrals should ensure sufficient borrowing capacity and financial flexibility under the credit facility through March 2006, notwithstanding the commitment reductions in 2005.

As a result of deferring the TIDES distribution payments, Carriage has accelerated its senior debt repayment forecasts through 2007. Carriage now forecasts that it will pay down senior debt at a 20.1% CARR (compound annual reduction rate) through 2007 versus its previous forecast prior to the deferral of the TIDES distribution payments of an 11.9% CARR.

Due to the conditions of the new credit facility, beginning September 1, 2003, Carriage will defer the TIDES distribution payments for the term of the new credit facility, and may defer TIDES distribution payments for up to twenty quarters. During the period in which TIDES distribution payments are deferred, distributions will continue to accumulate at the 7% annual rate. Also, the deferred distributions will themselves accumulate distributions at the annual rate of 7%. Assuming Carriage were to defer TIDES distribution payments for the full twenty quarter period, the Company estimates that it would have accrued approximately $40 million of deferred TIDES distribution payments that would be payable on September 1, 2008. During the period in which the distributions are deferred, Carriage is prohibited from paying dividends on its common stock or repurchasing its common stock, with limited exceptions.

Carriage Services, Inc.

Historical Earnings & Operating Data

(In Thousands $, Except Per Share & Margin Analysis Data)

	2001			Mar-02					Jun-02					Sep-02					Dec-02					2002					Mar-03					Jun-03					Sep-03
Revenues:
Funeral	124,284			32,707					28,832					27,521					30,239					119,299					30,354					28,702					26,883
Cemetery	38,209			8,215					9,018					8,601					9,043					34,877					8,352					9,165					8,818
Total Revenues	162,493			40,922					37,850					36,122					39,282					154,176					38,706					37,867					35,701
Gross Profit:
Funeral	31,471			11,683					7,288					7,170					8,233					34,373					8,632					7,112					6,006
Cemetery	8,824			1,701					2,400					2,070					2,543					8,715					2,468					2,556					2,094
Total Gross Profit	40,295			13,384					9,688					9,240					10,776					43,088					11,100					9,668					8,100
Selling, General & Admin. Expense	8,698			2,506					2,329					3,619					2,387					10,841					2,612					2,476					2,620
Special & Other Charges	0			0					0					0					335					335					588					(896			)		(226			)
Operating Income	31,597			10,878					7,359					5,621					8,054					31,912					7,900					8,088					5,706
Interest Expense, Net	(13,579		)	(3,124			)		(3,246			)		(3,101			)		(3,582			)		(13,053			)		(2,936			)		(2,741			)		(2,669			)
Financing Costs of Preferred Securities	(6,765		)	(1,674			)		(1,674			)		(1,675			)		(1,674			)		(6,697			)		(1,674			)		(1,674			)		(1,684			)
Income Before Income Taxes	11,253			6,080					2,439					845					2,798					12,162					3,290					3,673					1,353
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	2,251			(10,480			)		962					325					1,077					(8,116			)		1,234					1,377					507
Net Income	9,002			16,560					1,477					520					1,721					20,278					2,056					2,296					846
Special Charges & Other Items	—			(12,800			)		0					0					206					(12,594			)		368					(560			)		(141			)
Net Income Before Special Charges & Other Items	9,002			3,760					1,477					520					1,927					7,684					2,424					1,736					705

Basic EPS	$	0.54		$	0.98				$	0.09				$	0.03				$	0.10				$	1.20				$	0.12				$	0.13				$	0.05
Diluted EPS	$	0.51		$	0.95				$	0.08				$	0.03				$	0.10				$	1.16				$	0.12				$	0.13				$	0.05
Diluted EPS Excluding Special Charges & Other Items	$	0.51		$	0.22				$	0.08				$	0.03				$	0.11				$	0.44				$	0.14				$	0.10				$	0.04
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	16,696			16,894					16,942					16,978					17,075					16,973					17,320					17,411					17,496
Diluted	17,492			17,429					17,458					17,367					17,450					17,433					17,714					17,788					17,832

Margin Analysis
Revenues:
Funeral	76.5		%	79.9		%		76.2			%		76.2			%		77.0			%		77.4			%		78.4			%		75.8			%		75.3			%
Cemetery	23.5		%	20.1		%		23.8			%		23.8			%		23.0			%		22.6			%		21.6			%		24.2			%		24.7			%
Total Revenues	100.0		%	100.0		%		100.0			%		100.0			%		100.0			%		100.0			%		100.0			%		100.0			%		100.0			%

Gross Profit:
Funeral	25.3		%	35.7		%		25.3			%		26.1			%		27.2			%		28.8			%		28.4			%		24.8			%		22.3			%
Cemetery	23.1		%	20.7		%		26.6			%		24.1			%		28.1			%		25.0			%		29.5			%		27.9			%		23.7			%
Total Gross Profit	24.8		%	32.7		%		25.6			%		25.6			%		27.4			%		27.9			%		28.7			%		25.5			%		22.7			%
Selling, General & Admin. Expense	5.4		%	6.1		%		6.2			%		10.0			%		6.1			%		7.0			%		6.7			%		6.5			%		7.3			%
Special & Other Charges	0.0		%	0.0		%		0.0			%		0.0			%		0.9			%		0.2			%		1.5			%		-2.4			%		-0.6			%
Operating Income	19.4		%	26.6		%		19.4			%		15.6			%		20.5			%		20.7			%		20.4			%		21.4			%		16.0			%
Interest Expense, Net	-8.4		%	-7.6		%		-8.6			%		-8.6			%		-9.1			%		-8.5			%		-7.6			%		-7.2			%		-7.5			%
Financing Costs of Preferred Securities	-4.2		%	-4.1		%		-4.4			%		-4.6			%		-4.3			%		-4.3			%		-4.3			%		-4.4			%		-4.7			%
Income Before Income Taxes	6.9		%	14.9		%		6.4			%		2.3			%		7.1			%		7.9			%		8.5			%		9.7			%		3.8			%
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	1.4		%	-25.6		%		2.5			%		0.9			%		2.7			%		-5.3			%		3.2			%		3.6			%		1.4			%
Net Income	5.5		%	40.5		%		3.9			%		1.4			%		4.4			%		13.2			%		5.3			%		6.1			%		2.4			%
Special Charges & Other Items	0.0		%	-31.3		%		0.0			%		0.0			%		0.5			%		-8.2			%		1.0			%		-1.5			%		-0.4			%
Net Income Before Special Charges & Other Items	5.5		%	9.2		%		3.9			%		1.4			%		4.9			%		5.0			%		6.3			%		4.6			%		2.0			%

Year-Over-Year Percentage Change

Funeral Revenues	-2.3		%	-6.2		%		-7.4			%		-2.6			%		0.8			%		-4.0			%		-7.2			%		-0.5			%		-2.3			%
Cemetery Revenues	8.1		%	-8.5		%		-8.7			%		-8.6			%		-9.1			%		-8.7			%		1.7			%		1.6			%		2.5			%
Total Revenues	-0.1		%	-6.7		%		-7.7			%		-4.1			%		-1.6			%		-5.1			%		-5.4			%		0.0			%		-1.2			%
Selling, General & Admin. Expense	-15.2		%	22.2		%		6.9			%		46.3			%		19.6			%		24.6			%		4.2			%		6.3			%		-27.6			%
Operating Income	-139.3		%	7.8		%		-3.0			%		-2.5			%		-1.3			%		1.0			%		-27.4			%		9.9			%		1.5			%
Income Before Income Taxes	-111.1		%	28.1		%		-8.2			%		24.5			%		-11.8			%		8.1			%		-45.9			%		50.6			%		60.1			%
Net Income Before Special Charges & Other Items	826.1		%	-0.5		%		-30.1			%		-3.7			%		-24.0			%		-14.6			%		-35.5			%		17.5			%		35.6			%
Diluted EPS Excluding Special Charges & Other Items	750.0		%	0.0		%		-33.3			%		0.0			%		-21.4			%		-13.7			%		-36.6			%		25.0			%		32.0			%

CSV: A UNIQUE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Carriage Services has stabilized, improved operational and financial performance, and reduced debt. With the implementation and demonstrated success of its Fresh Start Program, Carriage Services has turned the corner and is repositioning for future growth. Carriage’s improved operations has enabled the Company to generate meaningful amounts of free cash flow, which, coupled with dispositions, and tax savings, has allowed it to substantially pay down debt without using external financing sources. Based on Carriage’s current equity valuation and, relative to its peers, Carriage does not believe the equity market has truly recognized its accomplishments, nor the opportunities Carriage has for the future.

Carriage believes its current capital structure, coupled with the ability to generate free cash flow supplemented with cash from dispositions, enables it to meaningfully pay down debt, offering investors the unique investment characteristics of a LBO structure, without the often high promotional fees because CSV shares are publicly traded. We examine several possible Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple scenarios that yield an implied five-year IRR (internal rate of return) range of 10% to 26%. We provide these three scenarios to give investors the opportunity to consider a range of possible outcomes. Scenario #1 assumes that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA Multiple declines by one multiple point over the next five years. Scenario #2 assumes that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple remains flat over the next five years and Scenario #3 assumes that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple gradually increases by one multiple point over the next five years.

Carriage stresses that this scenario analysis is only one possible outcome within a range of possible outcomes. While Carriage believes it is using reasonable assumptions to model operating results, cash flow, and the possible effect on Carriage’s per share price, there can be no assurance that actual results and Carriage’s share price would be consistent with these scenarios. Subsequent management decisions and other factors (including those discussed under “Cautionary Statements”) may materially alter those assumptions and the effect on actual results. The Long-Term Base Case Scenario is adjusted to consider the affect to EBITDA and estimated debt reductions for expected divestitures and is based on no growth in same store funeral contract volumes between 2003 and 2007, and modest increases in average revenue per funeral contract of 1.5% per year, which assumes an increasing proportion of cremations. Further, this scenario does not reflect Carriage’s financial flexibility, which allows for alternative uses for free cash flow, such as acquisitions or selective expansion of its existing portfolio of businesses.

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(Revised as of August 5, 2003)

(In Millions $, Except Per Share Data)

Actual
12/31/02

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

5-Yr.
CAGR

Revenue

154.2

151.3

154.9

158.7

162.5

166.5

1.5

Income Before Taxes & Special Items

12.5

10.2

11.8

13.1

14.6

16.2

5.3

Interest

19.8

18.2

16.6

16.3

15.9

15.3

-5.0

Depreciation & Amortization

10.5

11.6

12.0

12.4

12.7

13.1

4.5

EBITDA (Excluding Special Items)

42.8

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

0.8

EPS, Diluted

0.44

(1)

0.38

(2)

0.41

0.45

0.50

0.55

4.6

Diluted Shares Outstanding

17.4

17.9

18.1

18.2

0.9

Cash Flow from Operations Before TIDES Deferral

18.9

12.8

15.4

17.0

18.9

20.3

1.4

Cash Flow from Deferral of TIDES

0.0

3.5

6.8

7.3

7.8

8.5

Cashflow from Operations & TIDES Deferral

18.9

16.3

22.2

24.3

26.7

28.8

8.8

Less Capital Expenditures

6.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

-1.7

Free Cash Flow

12.9

10.3

15.7

18.3

21.2

23.3

12.6

Plus/Minus Net Cash Taxes

(1.6

)

0.2

4.0

4.7

5.5

6.4

Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow

11.3

10.5

19.7

23.0

26.7

29.7

21.3

Divestitures & Other

(4.5

)

4.0

7.2

0.2

Cumulative Deferral of TIDES

0.0

3.5

10.8

18.6

27.0

36.0

Total Debt

149.1

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

-20.1

Total Debt / EBITDA

3.5

3.4

2.8

2.2

1.7

1.1

-20.8

(1) Excludes special items equal to $0.72 per share.

(2) Excludes the effect of $0.02 benefit recorded in 2003 as special charges and other items.

NM = Not meaningful

In this scenario, we assume that revenues grow at a 1.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years and assume that EBITDA grows at a 0.8% CAGR over the same period. The Company estimates it could grow free cash flow at a 12.6% CAGR, which could allow it to reduce debt from $149.1 million at the end of 2002 to $48.5 million at the end of 2007, a 20.1% five-year compound annual reduction in debt. The Company estimates that over one-half of the 4.6% CAGR in EPS would result from interest savings related to debt reduction. The key elements driving the substantial debt reduction over the five-year period are gradual field level operating margin improvement, selective dispositions of underperforming assets and cash tax savings in 2003 and portions of 2004. Due to the utilization of the Company’s net tax loss carry forward, Carriage does not expect to pay taxes until 2004. Notwithstanding the assumptions regarding cash taxes, assumed operating leverage and debt reduction could generate attractive IRR results throughout the five-year period.

BASE CASE ENTERPRISE VALUATION “LBO” STRUCTURE

We use the financial assumptions in the Long-Term Base Case Scenario as the foundation for the Base Case Enterprise Valuation analysis scenario. We assume that CSV shares trade for $3.29 per share with a total equity market value of roughly $58.7 million, which, when combined with its debt and the par value of the preferred stock plus accrued distributions, yields an enterprise value of approximately $288.7 million.

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #1: 1 Point Multiple Decrease

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

48.5

58.8

70.6

84.1

98.5

Total

288.7

277.1

271.8

272.9

273.4

273.3

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #1: 1 Point Multiple Decrease

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

6.9

6.7

6.5

6.3

6.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

2.71

3.29

3.91

4.63

5.41

Annual % Increase

-18

5 - Year Compound IRR

10 %

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Scenario #1: One Point Multiple Decrease - We assume that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple declines by one multiple point over the next five years. Over that same period of time, Carriage’s free cash flow generation and business dispositions in 2003 allows it to substantially reduce its debt levels, which, in turn, benefits CSV equity investors. Based on the assumption of a declining Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple but a rising implied share price based on a per share debt reduction, the per share price increases from $3.29 currently to an implied share price of $5.41 at the end of 2007, a five-year IRR in CSV share price of approximately 10%. Over this same time frame, Carriage’s absolute Enterprise Value-to- EBITDA multiple would decline by a full multiple point from 7.1X currently to 6.1X at the end of 2007.

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #2: Flat Multiple

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

56.5

75.0

95.7

118.7

143.1

Total

288.7

285.1

288.0

298.0

308.0

317.9

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #2: Flat Multiple

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

3.16

4.19

5.30

6.54

7.86

Annual % Increase

-4

5 - Year Compound IRR

19 %

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Scenario #2: Flat Multiple – We assume that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple remains flat at 7.1X over the next five years. Though we assume the multiple remains flat, Carriage’s estimated 0.8% CAGR in EBITDA and an estimated 20.1% CAGR in debt reduction due to approximately 12.6% anticipated compounded annual growth in free cash flow over the next five years implies an increase in share price from $3.29 currently to $7.86, a 19% five-year IRR.

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #3: 1 Point Multiple Increase

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

64.5

91.2

120.8

153.2

187.7

Total

288.7

293.1

304.2

323.1

342.5

362.5

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #3: 1 Point Multiple Increase

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

7.3

7.5

7.7

7.9

8.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

3.61

5.09

6.69

8.44

10.31

Annual % Increase

5 - Year Compound IRR

26 %

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Scenario #3: One Point Multiple Increase – We assume that Carriage’s Enterprise Value-to-EBITDA multiple gradually increases over the next five years by one multiple point to 8.1X. This scenario implies an increase in share price from $3.29 currently to $10.31, a 26% five-year IRR.

CARRIAGE SERVICES FINANCIAL OUTLOOK & RECENT RESULTS

Carriage Services reported 3Q03 financial results that were within or slightly better than the Company’s estimates previously released to the public. The Company enjoyed a 0.5% increase in it same store funeral revenues, solid performance from its cemetery operations, and continued to decrease its debt levels in 3Q03. However, Carriage believes its funeral operations have the potential to generate better financial results, which will continue to be the Company’s primary focus.

Results for 3Q03 versus guidance were as follows:

• Total revenue of $35.7 million versus guidance of $34 to $37 million.

• EBITDA of $8.5 million versus guidance of $7 to $8 million. EBITDA is comprised of pre-tax earnings before special items of $1.1 million plus interest expense and depreciation and amortization expenses of $4.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

• Diluted EPS of $0.04 before special items versus previous guidance of $0.02 to $0.03 per share.

• Special items recorded in 3Q03 consisted of gains on the sale of business assets and a charge to write off loan costs on the prior bank credit facility equal to $0.01 of net income per diluted share.

In 3Q03, Carriage generated $1.2 million of free cash flow, consisting of cash flow provided by operations before interest payments of $7.0 million, less interest payments of $4.4 million, less capital expenditures of $1.4 million. Despite the continuation of soft death rates, market share and general economic challenges, Carriage’s free cash flow generation, cash on hand and proceeds from sales of businesses and other properties allowed the Company to reduce debt in the third quarter by $1.2 million to $139.7 million. Carriage’s year-end 2003 debt targets have been revised upward by $4 million for dispositions that are no longer expected to occur in 2003.

Carriage’s 2003 Financial Outlook takes into account the lower number of funeral contracts performed during the first half of 2003 relative to the Company’s expectations.

Carriage Services Financial Outlook

$ Estimates in Millions Except Per Share Data

	4Q03	Full Year 2003
Revenue	$37 - $42	$149 - $154

EBITDA	$8 - $10	$38 - $40

EPS (Before special charges)	$0.08 - $0.13	$0.35 - $0.40

FCF from Operations	Not Estimated	$8 - $11

Debt	$134 - $136	$134 - $136

Funeral Operations – Key Financial & Operating Data Comparison vs. 3Q02

• Funeral revenues were $26.9 million versus $27.5 million

• Same store funeral revenue increased 0.5% to $26.5 million from $26.3 million

• Same store funeral contracts decreased 0.6% to 5,588 from 5,623

• Same store average revenue per contract increased 1.1% to $4,736 from $4,685

• The average price of burial and other contracts increased 2.0%

• The average price of Carriage’s cremation services decreased 0.9%

• Carriage’s cremation rate was 30.2% in 3Q03, up versus 28.2% in 3Q02

Of note for ongoing financial measurement purposes, historically Carriage has disclosed same-store comparisons using calls, which are contracts valued in excess of $1,500. To give a more complete representation of the Company’s funeral revenues, Carriage will now present same store comparisons using all contracts.

Carriage, along with many other companies in the deathcare industry, is experiencing higher insurance costs and property taxes, as well as higher bad debts due to economic softness. These higher costs coupled with lower revenues experienced in 3Q03 negatively impacted funeral gross profit during the quarter by approximately $1.2 million versus 3Q02.

With Carriage’s continued focus on improving revenue growth and profitability in its funeral business, in 3Q03 the Company realigned management responsibilities in its funeral organization. Mel Payne, Carriage’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has assumed leadership of funeral operations and Jay Dodds will be focusing his efforts on Carriage’s Western Region. Jim Bernard has taken the additional role of leading the Company’s preneed funeral activities. In addition, Carriage is reviewing its funeral organization and operations with the goal of making changes to generate market share gains and improve financial performance in the future.

Cemetery Operations – Key Financial & Operating Data Comparison vs. 3Q02

• Cemetery revenues increased 2.5% to $8.8 million from $8.6 million

• Same store cemetery revenue increased 2.5%

For the third consecutive quarter, Carriage’s cemetery gross margin of 23.7% exceeded funeral gross margins. Total cemetery revenues were positively impacted by $0.5 million from the completion of mausoleums in which sales had previously been deferred. Financial revenues (trust earnings and finance charges on the installment contracts) and deliveries of preneed merchandise and services each declined $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, versus the third quarter of last year. Cemetery costs and expenses were $0.2 million higher than the third quarter of 2002, approximately equal to the cost allocated to the mausoleum spaces sold and recognized upon the completion of construction.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Founded in 1991 with an IPO in 1996, Carriage Services is a leading provider of Death Care services and products in the United States and is the fourth largest publicly traded Death Care Company. As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 139 funeral homes and 30 cemeteries in 29 states. Carriage provides a complete range of funeral and cremation services including planning and coordinating personalized funerals, conducting memorial services, performing cemetery interment services, and managing and maintaining cemetery properties. The Company also sells products and merchandise including caskets, urns, burial vaults, garments, cemetery interment rights, and monuments and markers. Carriage’s business can be characterized as one of relative stability, recurring revenue and cash flow, with incremental growth opportunities via selective acquisitions.

Since the formation of Carriage Services in 1991, the Company has focused on distinguishing itself from its peers by operating a people development company that emphasizes:

1. providing the highest level of personalized service to client families;

2. comprehensive employee training;

3. accountability to customers and each other; and

4. incentive compensation that shares the benefits of profitability with responsible employees.

The Death Care industry experienced a period of rapid growth through acquisition from 1996 through 1999, which took the industry’s eye off the operating ball, Carriage included. At the crescendo of 1999, balance sheets were over leveraged, acquisition multiples revealed they were too high, and industry conditions became challenging. In response, Carriage and its public peers significantly curtailed their acquisition activity, focused on operations to improve cash flow, and began culling through their property portfolios to find non-core and/or under performing assets that could be sold to generate cash to reduce debt.

Thus, 2000 was a transitional year for Carriage Services as it developed and began implementing its two-year multi-element Fresh Start Program in the fourth quarter of 2000 to address its poor operating performance and a challenging

operating environment. Due largely to the successful implementation and execution of Fresh Start, Carriage Services has recovered from a highly leveraged balance sheet and sub-par operating performance, resulting from the rapid consolidation period the Death Care industry experienced in 1996 through 1999.

Beginning with the implementation of the Fresh Start program and through October 29, 2003, the Company has sold 36 funeral homes, 12 cemeteries and 14 parcels of excess real estate for approximately $20.9 million of net proceeds. While these transactions taken together represent a decline of approximately 24% of the number of business locations, total revenues have only declined by approximately 5% and total gross profit has increased by 34%, when comparing 2000 operating results to 2002 operating results.

Carriage Services

Funeral Home & Cemetery Count

	Year Ending December 31,			9 Mths. 2003
	2000	2001	2002	9 Mths. 2003

Beginning Funeral Homes	182	172	148	144
Acquisitions or Openings	1	2	2	0
Divestitures, Mergers or Closures	11	26	6	5
Ending Funeral Homes	172	148	144	139

Beginning Cemeteries	41	38	30	30
Acquisitions	1	0	0	0
Divestitures	4	8	0	0
Ending Cemeteries	38	30	30	30

In addition to making operational and financial improvements as part of Fresh Start, Carriage reduced its corporate overhead and increased the quality of its leadership. Carriage has turned to new leadership at substantially all levels of the Company to focus on operations and to reposition Carriage for future growth. Carriage will continue to improve its organizational leadership and quality of personnel going forward.

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

Carriage’s local funeral home operations, cemetery operations, and preneed programs are managed by individuals with extensive death care experience. The local operators continue to have responsibility for day-to-day operations, but are required to follow centralized service and financial standards. This strategy allows each local business to maintain its unique style of operation and to capitalize on its reputation and heritage while Carriage maintains centralized supervisory controls and provides specialized services at the corporate level.

Carriage is committed to a strong information systems program and has all of its funeral homes connected to information systems to monitor and assess critical operating and financial data in order to analyze the performance of individual homes on a timely basis. Management is able to access customer transaction data and other operating information from its Houston support center to ensure the quality of operating performance and to implement any necessary corrective actions.

Funeral Home Operations

As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 139 funeral homes in 29 states. Funeral home revenues accounted for approximately 77% and 78% of total revenues for the nine months ending September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Carriage’s funeral home operations are managed by a team of experienced death care industry professionals as well as selected region-level personnel with substantial experience in other service industries. These individuals were recruited from outside the industry bringing with them proven leadership and financial skills together with best operating practices that are relevant to the death care industry and have proven successful in other service industries.

Carriage’s funeral homes offer a complete suite of services to meet families’ funeral needs, including consultation, removal and preparation of remains, the sale of caskets and related funeral merchandise, the use of funeral homes for visitation and religious services, and transportation services. Most of Carriage’s funeral homes have a non-denominational chapel on premises, which permits family visitation and religious services to take place on location, reducing inconvenience to the family.

Cemetery Operations

As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 30 cemeteries in 12 states. Cemetery revenue accounted for approximately 23% and 22% of total revenues for the nine months ending September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Carriage’s cemetery products and services include interment services, the rights to interment cemetery sites (including grave sites, mausoleum crypts and niches) and related cemetery merchandise such as memorials and vaults. Cemetery operations generate revenues through sales of interment rights, memorials and installations, fees for interment and cremation services, finance charges from sales contracts, and investment income from preneed cemetery merchandise and perpetual care trusts.

Carriage Owns & Operates 139 Funeral Homes & 30 Cemeteries in 29 States

Preneed Programs

In addition to the sales of funeral merchandise and services, cemetery interment rights and cemetery merchandise, and services at the time of need, Carriage also markets funeral and cemetery services and products on a preneed basis. Preneed funeral and cemetery contracts enable families to establish, in advance, the type of service to be performed, the products to be used and the costs for such products and services, in accordance with prices prevailing at the time the contract is signed, rather than when the products and services are delivered. Preneed contracts permit families to eliminate the emotional strain of making death care plans at the time of need and enable Carriage to establish a portion of its future market share. Proceeds of preneed funeral contracts are not recognized as revenue until the time the funeral service is performed.

Preneed funeral contracts are usually paid on an installment basis. The performance of preneed funeral contracts is usually secured by placing the funds collected in trust on behalf of the customer or by the purchase of a life insurance policy, the

proceeds of which will pay for the services at the time of need. Insurance policies, intended to fund preneed funeral contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include built-in escalation clauses designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. During the early part of 2000, Carriage shifted its focus from the sale of trust-funded contracts to the sale of insurance funded contracts. The shift towards insurance products has improved the Company’s cash flow and reduced the costs associated with the administration of trust accounts.

In addition to preneed funeral contracts, we also offer “preplanned” funeral arrangements whereby the client determines in advance substantially all of the details of a funeral service without any financial commitment or other obligation on the part of the client until the actual time of need. Preplanned funeral arrangements permit a family to avoid the emotional strain of making death care plans at the time of need and enable a funeral home to establish relationships with a client that may eventually lead to an at-need sale.

Preneed cemetery sales are usually financed through interest bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years. Interest rates generally range from 9%-14%. Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are recorded as revenue when 10% of the contract price related to the real estate has been collected. Merchandise and services revenue is recorded when delivery has occurred. Costs related to cemetery preneed contracts and delivery of products and services is recorded concurrent with related revenue. Carriage always receives an initial payment at the time the contract is signed.

OPERATING STRATEGY

While Carriage’s strategies have changed since the Company has turned from a company focused on acquisitions to a company focused on operations, its mission to become the best funeral and cemetery organization in the industry has not. Carriage’s operating strategies focus on increasing the cash flow and profitability of its properties significantly above the level that could have been achieved had their properties been operating as a stand alone, independent business. The key elements of Carriage’s operating strategies include:

Personalized Service – Carriage believes that providing personalized service results in increased customer satisfaction, increased market share, more motivated employees, a higher average sales price per service and consistently higher levels of profitability. The Company has placed a great deal of emphasis upon recruiting new leaders and communicating to its employees the linkage between personalized service, customer satisfaction, market share increases and profitability throughout the organization.

Employee Training – Carriage has made a significant commitment of financial and human resources to a company-wide training effort. This training is designed to improve the leadership, management and communication skills among employees and to improve the execution of Carriage’s “Cycle of Service” that includes providing personalized service that clients will value. In its training, Carriage emphasizes listening and communication skills in working towards the goal of uniquely memorializing the life of an individual. This long-term investment in its employees, we believe, will lead to increased market share, higher cash flow, and profitability.

Enhanced Systems – As mentioned,Carriage uses a computer system linked to all of its funeral homes that monitor and access critical operating and financial data in order to analyze the performance of individual locations on a timely basis and institute corrective action if necessary. Carriage uses the Internet as a medium to internally disseminate certain information to regional management and locations. The Company is investing part of its cash flow to implement a new cemetery system in 2004, which should improve its efficiency and effectiveness in the future.

High Standards of Performance – Carriage continuously establishes targets to emphasize and enhance customer service, operational, and financial performance. These standards are designed to identify management’s expectations for high achievement in these three key performance areas and are communicated to employees through Carriage’s extensive training programs and monitored by executive leadership. Carriage believes its investment in recruiting top quality regional and location leaders and managers will result in a higher performing and more profitable funeral portfolio in future years. The Company also expects local and regional cemetery leadership to achieve greater portfolio sales and profits.

Quality Review Management Systems – Carriage has developed quality based management systems that operate within its decentralized management structure. The systems involve quantifiable customer survey input in addition to operational and financial measures of performance. These systems are being implemented at the locations under the direction of Carriage’s regional leadership.

Incentive Compensation – Carriage has developed a compensation structure that is designed to create and maintain an ownership mentality to align overall compensation to the Company’s performance objectives. Local management is awarded meaningful profit sharing cash bonuses or other rewards for achieving specified service, operational, and financial performance objectives. Carriage also has stock based programs for corporate personnel, which award stock or options to certain employees based upon their performance. As a result, most management personnel, whether field or corporate, and key employees have the opportunity to increase their compensation and personal net worth through performance aligned with increasing shareholder value.

Cost Savings & Operating Efficiencies – Carriage’s larger size, versus local operators, allows favorable pricing on terms to be achieved from vendors through volume discounts on significant expenditures, such as caskets, urns, vaults, monuments, and markers. Further, certain financial, accounting, legal, administrative, and employee benefit functions are centralized to allow for more efficient and cost effective support operations.

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

The national death rate in the United States has grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 1% from 1980 through 2000, with annual variation of 1%-2%. However death rates were down approximately 2.4% in 2001 and 1.6% in 2002, the first back-to-back decline since the mid 1970’s. Year to date in 2003, death rates have continued to lag and it is unclear when death rates will return to a normalized level.

National government statistics are predicting an annual compounded rate of growth in the number of deaths of .75% through 2010, after which the rate of growth is expected to gradually increase due to the aging population. While the number of deaths typically varies from year to year, industry studies indicate that major medical advances in treating heart, cancer and other major diseases that cause death are resulting in an increase in the average age of the population. This trend is calling into question various death rate forecasts calling for an increase in the number of deaths each year.

The Death Care industry tends to experience some seasonal biases in the winter months due to increases in cold weather induced deaths, or occasionally in extreme heat conditions in the summer. Despite a period of unusual back to back decreases in death rates, the Death Care business can generally be characterized as one of relative stability, reliability, and a very low failure rate. Carriage views the long-term stability and reliability of the Death Care business, through good times and bad, as an attractive investment attribute, especially given today’s uncertain economic and capital markets environment.

Despite a period of rapid consolidation of smaller, private funeral and cemetery businesses by the public Death Care companies in 1996 through 1999, the industry remains fragmented. Carriage estimates that there are approximately 22,000 funeral homes and 10,500 cemeteries in the United States, with private businesses comprising roughly 80% of the total. Carriage Services and the three other largest publicly traded domestic Death Care companies represented approximately 20% of the 2002 domestic Death Care industry revenues. Though Carriage and the rest of its public peers have significantly reduced or eliminated an active acquisition campaign, there remains the opportunity for consolidation of smaller, privately held businesses to supplement internal growth.

The aging of the large number of Baby Boomers over the next ten to twenty years could raise the national mortality rate slightly above its historic average, generating enhanced growth opportunities for the Death Care industry. However, a rising trend in cremations poses some risk for the Death Care industry to fully realize the benefit from the shift in the population to the +65 years of age category. It is estimated that cremations accounted for 10% of the U.S. burial market in 1980 and has grown to 28% in 2002. The cremation trend is expected to increase to 40% of the U.S. burial market in 2010. While cremation services and products are higher margin than traditional burial proceedings, they are typically less in absolute dollar terms. To mitigate this and to even capitalize on the growing cremation trend, Carriage has developed innovative, high quality funeral and memorializing services and additional products to increase its cremation revenue per funeral.

While it is by no means impossible to enter the Death Care industry, there are barriers to entry that have kept the number of funeral and cemetery businesses in the United States fairly constant. Since approximately 80% of the funeral and cemetery business remain privately held, these businesses are typically passed on and operated by the same family for generations. In most cases these businesses have developed a local heritage and tradition that act as a barrier to insurgents in a given market. These established local businesses often have a backlog of preneed, prefunded funerals or presold cemetery and mausoleum spaces, making it difficult for new entrants to gain entry into the marketplace. Additional barriers to entry include the difficulty of local zoning restrictions, increasing regulatory burdens, and scarcity of cemetery land in certain urban areas.

MANAGEMENT BIOS

Melvin C. Payne, a management founder of Carriage, has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since December 1996. Prior to then, he had been the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Carriage since its inception in 1991. Mr. Payne resumed the additional position of President in December 2000. Mr. Payne serves on the Board of Directors of Sovereign Business Forms, Inc., a private company in the business forms manufacturing industry.

Joseph Saporito has been Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Carriage since September 2002. Mr. Saporito, a certified public accountant, has responsibility for the financial and administrative functions of Carriage. Prior to joining Carriage, he served as Division Head of the Commercial Audit Division of the Houston office of Arthur Andersen LLP, where he was a partner for 15 years.

Jay D. Dodds has been the Senior Vice President of Funeral Operations for Carriage since October 2000. Mr. Dodds joined Carriage in 1994 as an operations Vice President. He has over 20 years of professional funeral home and cemetery experience. Prior to joining Carriage, he was affiliated with Stewart Enterprises in its Southwest region, operating funeral homes and cemeteries for 13 years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President. Mr. Dodds is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and serves on its Advocacy Committee.

James J. Benard has been Senior Vice President of Sales and Cemetery Operations for Carriage since November 2001. Mr. Benard joined Carriage in 1998 as a Regional Vice President of Sales. He has over 22 years of professional funeral home and cemetery experience. Prior to joining Carriage, he was affiliated with Service Corporation International in various roles for ten years. Mr. Benard is a member of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association.

George Klug has been Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since May 2002. He joined Carriage in July 2001 to align the technology functions with the company’s business plan. Before joining Carriage, Mr. Klug served from 1997 to 2000 as Vice President of Information Technology at Allright Corporation, an owner operator of parking facilities both national and international. Prior to Allright, Mr. Klug served as Vice President of Information Technology for various retail companies including Oshmans, Sportstown, and Zaks. He also has a background in operations and accounting and has been in management positions for 30 years.

Mark Groeneman has been Senior Vice President of Human Resources since July 2001. He joined Carriage in January 2000 to formalize and develop Carriage’s human resources functions. Before joining Carriage, Mr. Groeneman served from 1998 to 2000 as Vice President of Human Resources at Allright Corporation, an owner and operator of parking facilities across the country. Prior to Allright, Mr. Groeneman served as Vice President - Human Resources from 1994 to 1998 at Oshman’s Sporting Goods, a nation-wide major retailer of sporting goods and apparel. Mr. Groeneman has over 22 years of human resources related experience in the retail, service and manufacturing industries.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Carriage’s Board of Directors consists of six members, of which four are independent. This board composition complies with Board provisions under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Joe R. Davis became a director of Carriage Services in May 2003. He has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Consolidated Graphics Inc. (“CGX”) since he founded it in 1985. Mr. Davis serves on the Executive Committee of CGX’s Board of Directors.

Vincent D. Foster became a director of Carriage in November 1999. Mr. Foster is a Senior Managing Director of Main Street Mezzanine Fund, LLC, a licensed small business investment corporation, and served as Senior Managing Director of Main Street Equity Ventures II, L.P. (and its predecessor firm), a private equity firm, from 1997 through 2002. Mr. Foster is a director of Quanta Services, Inc., and served as its nonexecutive Chairman of the Board of Directors from February 1998 through May 2002. Mr. Foster is also a director of U.S. Concrete, Inc. and serves as its nonexecutive Chairman of the Board. From September 1988 through October 1997, Mr. Foster was a partner of Andersen Worldwide and Arthur Andersen LLP, where he served as the director of the corporate finance practice and the mergers and acquisitions practice in the southwestern United States.

Greg M. Brudnicki became a director of Carriage in November 1997 when Forest Lawn/Evergreen Management Corp. merged with a subsidiary of Carriage. Mr. Brudnicki served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Forest Lawn until the merger, when he became the Co-Manager of the Forest Lawn cemeteries and funeral homes operated by Carriage. Mr. Brudnicki served as Senior Vice President of Cemetery Operations from November 2000 until November 2001, whereupon Mr. Brudnicki resumed his previous role with our operations in Northwest Florida. Mr. Brudnicki serves as a director of Peoples 1st Community Bank, and as Chairman of the Florida Board of Funeral and Cemetery Services.

Stuart W. Stedman has been a director of Carriage since it went public in August 1996. For the past 18 years, Mr. Stedman has been President of Wesley West Interests, Inc., a management company responsible for various family holdings, including marketable securities, oil, gas and coal properties, ranch lands and urban real estate. Mr. Stedman also serves as a Manager and a member of the compensation committee of Strand Energy, L.L.C., a private exploration and production company.

Ronald A. Erickson has been a director of Carriage since it went public in August 1996. Mr. Erickson is Chief Executive Officer of Holiday Companies, Minneapolis, Minnesota, a family business consisting primarily of convenience stores and sporting goods stores. Mr. Erickson is also a director (and member of the board’s compensation committee) of Andersen Corporation, a privately held manufacturer of windows and patio doors.

Audit Committee – Is comprised of Erickson, Foster, and Stedman, all independent board members.

Corporate Governance Committee – Is comprised of Erickson, Foster, and Stedman, all independent board members.

Compensation Committee – Is comprised of Foster, Stedman and Davis, all of whom are independent board members. The compensation committee is the body that reviews and approves the compensation of the senior officers of the Company.

RECAP

Founded in 1991 with an IPO in 1996, Carriage Services is a leading provider of Death Care services and products in the United States and is the fourth largest publicly traded Death Care company. Carriage Services’ shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CSV. As of October 29, 2003, Carriage operated 139 funeral homes and 30 cemeteries in 29 states. Carriage’s business can be characterized as one of relative stability, reflected by predictable revenue and cash flow, with incremental growth opportunities via selective acquisitions.

Carriage Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(Unaudited & In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,						For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2002			2003			2002			2003
Revenues, Net
Funeral	$	27,521		$	26,883		$	89,060		$	85,939
Cemetery	8,601			8,818			25,834			26,335
	36,122			35,701			114,894			112,274
Costs & Expenses
Funeral	20,351			20,877			62,919			64,189
Cemetery	6,531			6,724			19,663			19,217
	26,882			27,601			82,582			83,406
Gross Profit
Funeral	7,170			6,006			26,141			21,750
Cemetery	2,070			2,094			6,171			7,118
Gross Profit	9,240			8,100			32,312			28,868
Gross Profit Margin	25.6		%	22.7		%	28.1		%	25.7		%

General & Admin. Expenses	3,619			2,620			8,475			7,708
Special Charges & Other	—			(226		)	—			(534		)
Operating Income	5,621			5,706			23,837			21,694

Interest Expense, Net	3,101			2,669			9,450			8,346
Financing Costs of Preferred Securities	1,675			1,684			5,023			5,032
Total Interest & Financing Costs	4,776			4,353			14,473			13,378

Income Before Taxes	845			1,353			9,364			8,316
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	325			507			(9,193		)	3,118
Net Income for Common Stockholders	$	520		$	846		$	18,557		$	5,198

Basic EPS	$	0.03		$	0.05		$	1.10		$	0.30

Diluted EPS	$	0.03		$	0.05		$	1.06		$	0.29

Weighted Avg. Basic Shares Outstanding:	16,978			17,496			16,940			17,409
Weighted Avg. Diluted Shares Outstanding:	17,367			17,832			17,439			17,752

Carriage Services, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)

				Unaudited
	December 31, 2002			September 30, 2003
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash & Cash Equivalents	$	2,702		$	2,191
Accounts Receivable –
Trade, Net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	14,640			12,734
Other	746			512
	15,386			13,246

Inventories & Other Current Assets	8,777			9,054
Total Current Assets	26,865			24,491

Property, Plant & Equip. at Cost, Net of Accum. Dep.	113,967			112,377
Cemetery Property at Cost	64,570			64,287
Goodwill	158,696			159,668
Deferred Charges & Other Non-Current Assets	60,344			55,561
Preneed Funeral Contracts	235,347			233,603
Preneed Cemetery Merchandise & Service Trust Funds	43,965			45,946
Total Assets	$	703,754		$	695,933

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities	$	26,097		$	20,294
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt & Obligations Under Capital
Leases	2,348			24,403
Total Current Liabilities	28,445			44,697

Deferred Cemetery Revenue & Preneed Liabilities	96,812			97,815
Deferred Preneed Funeral Contracts Revenue	243,067			241,265
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion	141,207			109,827
Obligations Under Capital Leases, Net of Current Portion	5,539			5,512
Distributions Payable on Convertible Preferred Securities	—			2,197
Total Liabilities	515,070			501,313

Minority Interest in Consolidated Subsidiary	400			—
Carriage Services Capital Trust Redeemable Conv. Pref.	90,193			90,294
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common Stock	171			175
Contributed Capital	185,100			186,625
Retained Deficit	(86,915		)	(81,717		)
Deferred Compensation	—			(757		)
Unrealized Loss on Interest Rate Swaps, Net of Tax Benefits	(265		)	—
Total Stockholders’ Equity	98,091			104,326

Total Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity	$	703,754		$	695,933

Carriage Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Unaudited & In Thousands)

	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2002			2003
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Income	$	18,557		$	5,198
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities:
Depreciation	4,851			5,162
Amortization	3,002			3,203
Provision for Losses on Accounts Receivable	1,696			1,056
Net Gain on Sale of Business Assets	—			(1,113		)
Stock Related Compensation	—			245
Deferred Income Taxes (Benefit)	(8,079		)	3,118
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt	—			147
Other	168			(145		)
Changes in Assets & Liabilities, Net of Effect from Acquisitions & Dispositions:
Decrease in Accounts Receivable	3,113			1,046
(Increase) Decrease in Inventories & Other Current Assets	(39		)	100
(Increase) in Deferred Charges & Other	(33		)	(515		)
(Increase) in Preened Funeral & Cemetery Costs	(2,773		)	(2,994		)
(Increase) in Preneed Cemetery Trust Funds	(1,958		)	(3,402		)
(Decrease) in Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities	(6,042		)	(3,881		)
Increase in Deferred Revenue & Preneed Liabilities	1,848			1,382
Increase in Distributions Payable on Convertible Preferred Securities	—			1,650
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	14,311			10,257

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Net Proceeds from Sales of Businesses & Other Assets	81			2,197
Sale of Minority Interest In Subsidiary	200			—
Acquisitions & Cost Adjustments Related to Acquisitions	(2,160		)	1,500
Capital Expenditures	(4,886		)	(5,081		)
Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities	(6,765		)	(1,384		)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds (Payments) Under Bank Line of Credit	3,000			(2,500		)
Payments on Long-Term Debt & Obligations Under Capital Leases	(4,735		)	(6,727		)
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	438			461
Payment of Contingent Stock Price Guarantees	(5,289		)	—
Payment of Deferred Debt Charges & Other	—			(618		)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(6,586		)	(9,384		)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents	960			(511		)
Cash & Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,744			2,702
Cash & Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	3,704		$	2,191

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash Paid for Interest & Financing Costs	$	16,284		$	13,628
Cash Paid for Income Taxes	$	229		$	54

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this Company & Investment Profile contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include any projections of earnings, revenues, asset sales, cash flow, debt levels or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operation; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may”, “will”, “estimate”, “intend”, “believe”, “expect”, “project”, “forecast”, “plan”, “anticipate” and other similar words. . Readers should carefully review the Cautionary Statements described in this and other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by Carriage in the future.

Cautionary Statements

The Company cautions readers that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the Company’s actual consolidated results and could cause the Company’s actual consolidated results in the future to differ materially from the goals and expectations expressed herein and in any other forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

Risks related to our business

(1) Earnings from and principal of trust funds and insurance contracts could be reduced by changes in stock and bond prices and interest and dividend rates.

(2) Increased costs may have a negative impact on earnings and cash flows.

(3) Our ability to achieve our debt reduction targets and to service our debt in the future depends upon our ability to generate sufficient cash, which depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

(4) We may experience declines in preneed sales due to numerous factors including changes made to contract terms and sales force compensation, or a weakening economy. Declines in preneed sales would reduce our backlog and revenue and could reduce our future market share.

(5) Increased preneed sales may have a negative impact on cash flow.

(6) Price competition could reduce market share or cause us to reduce prices to retain or recapture market share, either of which could reduce revenues and margins.

(7) Increased advertising or better marketing by competitors, or increased activity by competitors offering products or services over the Internet, could cause us to lose market share and revenues or cause us to incur increased costs in order to retain or recapture our market share.

(8) Increases in interest rates would increase interest costs on our variable-rate long-term debt and could have a material adverse effect on our net income and earnings per share.

(9) Covenant restrictions under our revolving credit facility and senior notes limit our flexibility in operating our business.

(10) Our projections for 2003 and later years include adjustments to earnings and cash flow for estimated disposition activity. Several important factors, among others, may affect our ability to consummate dispositions, including our ability to identify buyers for the businesses and assets we expect to sell at acceptable prices.

Risks related to the death care industry

(1) Declines in the number of deaths in our markets can cause a decrease in revenues. Changes in the number of deaths are not predictable from market to market or over the short term.

(2) The increasing number of cremations in the United States could cause revenues to decline because we could lose market share to firms specializing in cremations. In addition, basic cremations produce no revenues for cemetery operations and lesser funeral revenues and, in certain cases, lesser profit margins than traditional funerals.

(3) If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer preferences, our market share, revenues and profitability could decrease.

(4) Because the funeral and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses, positive or negative changes in revenue can have a disproportionately large effect on cash flow and profits.

(5) Changes or increases in, or failure to comply with, regulations applicable to our business could increase costs or decrease cash flows.

Appendix: Disclosure of Non-GAAP Performance Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, our management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios, which our management uses in managing our business, may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between results in historical periods and projected results in future periods. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, our reported operating results or cash flow from operations or any other measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our presentation of non-GAAP performance measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures other companies report.

We define Free Cash Flow as cash provided by operations less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. We consider Free Cash Flow to be an important indicator of our ability to pay down our debt. Reconciliations of cash provided by operations to Free Cash Flow are provided for 2002 and estimates for the future periods in the preceding tables. Additionally, we have disclosed Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow which represents Free Cash Flow before taxes paid or refunded because some periods include the benefit of tax loss carry forwards.

A reconciliation of cash provided by operations to Free Cash Flow for the periods 2000 and 2001 are as follows (in 000s):

	2000			2001
Cash Provided by Operations	$	16,926		$	27,749
Capital Expenditures	(10,547		)	(5,046		)
Free Cash Flow	$	6,379		$	22,703

We define EBITDA as our pre-tax earnings (loss) plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization expenses. We have included EBITDA because it is widely used by analysts and investors for valuation purposes and because we use EBITDA to monitor and compare the financial performance of our businesses. EBITDA does not give effect to the cash we must use to service our debt, pay our income taxes or provide for capital expenditures. We have provided the ratio of our debt to EBITDA because the financial institutions that provide our debt monitor our reliance on debt by periodically measuring the ratio of our debt to EBITDA. Reconciliations of pre-tax income to EBITDA are provided for 2002 and estimates for the future periods in the preceding tables.

We define Capitalization as the sum of the carrying values (GAAP) of our debt, preferred securities and stockholders’ equity. We have included Capitalization and the ratio of our total debt to capitalization because we measure our reliance on debt by monitoring the debt to capitalization ratio.

We define Enterprise Value as the sum of the carrying values (GAAP) of our debt and preferred securities and the estimated market value of our common stock. We have included Enterprise Value and the ratio of Enterprise Value to EBITDA because it is widely used by analysts and investors to measure the total capital capacity of companies for valuation purposes. Enterprise Value is not representative of the market or fair value of the Company’s debt and equity. It differs with Capitalization by the difference between the market value of the Company’s common stock and the total of the Company’s stockholders’ equity. Enterprise Value is calculated as of December 31, 2002 and estimates for future dates in the preceding tables.

In cases where we have presented historical earnings (loss), certain of those periods have been adjusted to exclude special charges and other items. Management monitors and compares the operating results on this basis so that these particular items do not affect the comparability of its operating results. Analysts and investors find this to be a meaningful presentation to compare the operating results of our core operations. The adjusted results do not represent a better indicator of earnings (loss). A reconciliation of earnings (loss) in accordance with GAAP to earnings before special charges and other items is as follows (in 000s):

	2000			2002

Net earnings (loss)	$	(131,996	)	$	20,278
Fresh Start restructuring charges, net of tax benefit of $8,275	93,975
Cumulative effect of change in accounting method (SAB 101), net of tax benefit of $20,755	38,993
Recognition of deferred tax valutaion allowances				(12,800		)
Asset writedowns, net of gains, net of tax benefit of $129				206
Net earnings, as adjusted for SAB 101, before special charges and other items	$	972		$	7,684

Exhibit 99.3

Link to searchable text of slide shown above

Searchable text section of graphics shown above

[LOGO]

Carriage Services, Inc.

(NYSE: CSV)

December 2003 Investor Presentation

Forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as further described in the last slide in this presentation.

Company Overview

• Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services in the United States.

• Focus on attractive suburban and rural markets

• Primary competitors are local independents

[LOGO]

Locations

Currently own and operate 139 Funeral
Homes and 30 Cemeteries in 29 States

[GRAPHIC]

Company Overview

• Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services in the United States.

• Focus on attractive suburban and rural markets

• Primary competitors are local independents

• Capital structure and cash flow much improved

• Recently completed a successful turnaround strategy

• Significantly improved EBITDA and free cash flow

• Reduced debt and contingent acquisition obligations from $205M in 2000 to estimated $135M by 2003 year end

Total Debt & Contingent
Acquisition Obligations

Total Debt & Contingent Acquisition Obligations ($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Improved Capital Structure

($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Estimated Debt Maturities

($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Mission Statement

“We are committed to being the most professional, ethical and highest quality funeral and cemetery service organization in our industry.”

Guiding Principles

• Honesty, Integrity and Quality in all that we do

• Hard work, pride of accomplishment and shared success through employee ownership

• Belief in the power of people though individual initiative and teamwork

• Outstanding service and profitability go hand-in-hand

• Growth of the Company is driven by decentralization and partnership

Sales Mix

• Sales from the Funeral Home segment comprise the vast majority of Carriage’s revenue

[CHART]

Carriage Services: Nine Months Ending 9/30/03

Funeral Homes

• Remain some of the most profitable Funeral Homes in the industry

• Carriage’s Funeral Homes have experienced challenges from declining death rate and losses of market share in certain markets

• Highly focused on operations, people, technology improvements and growing market share

Most Profitable Funeral Homes

Funeral Home Revenue and Gross Profit ($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Funeral Homes

• Offer a complete suite of products and services to meet families’ funeral needs.

Funeral Home Service Offerings and Pricing Points

[CHART]

Pre-Need Funeral Programs

• In addition to sales at the time of need, Carriage offers customers the option of purchasing funeral products and services in advance

• Focus of pre-need sales strategy is local market

[CHART]

3Q03 Funeral Revenue Breakdown Pre-Need versus At-Need

• Carriage has shifted the funding of its pre-need sales to insurance policies

• Commission earned on sale

• Returns guaranteed

[CHART]

Pre-Need Sales Allocations -1999

[CHART]

Pre-Need Sales Allocations – 9 Mths. 2003

Cemeteries

• Offers products and services including interment services, the rights to interment cemetery sites (including grave sites, mausoleum crypts and niches) and related cemetery merchandise such as memorials and vaults

• Revenues primarily driven by pre-need product sales

[CHART]

• Cemetery gross margins have improved since management shifted focus to its family service model

Cemetery Revenue and Gross Profit ($ in Millions)

[CHART]

[LOGO]

Industry Overview

Highly Fragmented Ownership

• There are approximately 22,000 funeral homes and 10,000 cemeteries in the United States

• Majority of operators consists of small, family-owned businesses that control one or several funeral homes or cemeteries in a single community

[CHART]

2003E U.S. Death Care Market

Long Term Value Creation

• Death care businesses traditionally transfer to successive family generations

• Local heritage and tradition

• Heritage and tradition afford a local franchise

• Provide the opportunity for growing market share

Death Rate Trends

• Number of deaths in the United States had increased at a compounded rate of approximately 1% for years 1950 to 2000

• 2001 was down 2.4%, and 1.6% in 2002

CDC Death Rate Trends - Adjusted for Non-Reporting Cities

	1Q		2Q		3Q		4Q		Full year
2000 % Change	-2.1	%	1.2	%	10.7	%	6.9	%	3.8	%
2001 % Change	-1.6	%	2.2	%	-6.1	%	-4.0	%	-2.4	%
2002 % Change	-1.5	%	0.0	%	-2.9	%	-2.1	%	-1.6	%
2003 % Change	-2.1	%	-2.4	%	1.8	%

CDC death rates are not necessarily indicative of death rates experienced in CSV’s markets!

• Recent trends have caused some volatility in financial results

• Carriage believes longer term deaths and death rates will increase as baby boom generation ages

Competition - Trends

• Focus on reduced spending and deleveraging are common themes among industry participants over the last three years

Debt Levels (Indexed to 100)

[CHART]

Industry Capex (Indexed to 100)

[CHART]

* 9 Mths. Ended July 31

• Cremations have increased as a percentage of total services

• Urban areas generally have driven the move to cremations

• Carriage maintains the highest percentage of burials among its peers

Industry Cremation vs. Burial Rates (% Total Services)

[CHART]

Sizing the Competition

• All competitors have been adversely affected by the slower than expected death rate trend.

• Carriage’s lean operating structure and focus on best practices have helped weather the storm

• Carriage had the highest gross margin (25.7%) among its peers for the first three quarters of 2003*

[CHART]

* For Stewart, three quarters ending July 31

[LOGO]

Financial Overview

Historical Financial Performance

Historical Financial Performance
(In Thousands $, Except Per Share Data

	2000			2001			2002			9 Mths 2002			9 Mths 2003
Revenues:
Funeral	127,261			124,284			119,299			89,060			85,939
Cemetery	35,345			38,209			34,877			25,834			26,335
Total Revenues	162,606			162,493			154,176			114,894			112,274
% Change	5.0		%	-0.1		%	-5.1		%	-6.3		%	-2.3		%

Same Store Revenue Growth:
Funeral	NA			2.2		%	0.5		%	-0.3		%	-2.3		%
Cemetery	NA			10.9		%	-7.4		%	-7.0		%	1.9		%

Gross Margin %:
Funeral	21.1		%	25.3		%	28.8		%	29.4		%	25.3		%
Cemetery	15.0		%	23.1		%	25.0		%	23.9		%	27.0		%
Total Gross Margin %	19.8		%	24.8		%	27.9		%	28.1		%	25.7		%

EBITDA*	42,008			48,692			42,750			31,635			29,460
% of Revenues	25.8		%	30.0		%	27.7		%	27.5		%	26.7		%

Interest Expense, Debt	14,052			13,579			13,053			9,450			8,346

Net Income*	972			9,002			7,684			5,757			4,864

Diluted EPS**	$	0.06		$	0.51		$	0.44		$	0.33		$	0.27

Total Debt	185,204			156,089			149,094			155,532			139,742

Cash from Operations	16,926			27,749			18,945			14,311			10,257
CapEx	10,547			5,046			6,034			4,886			5,081
Free Cash Flow	6,379			22,703			12,911			9,425			5,176

* See the Investor Relations page of the Company’s web site, www.carriageservices.com, for disclosure of non-GAAP performance measures.

** Excluding special charges or benefits and before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

Projected Revenue & EBITDA

Projected Revenue ($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Projected EBITDA ($ in Millions)

[CHART]

Projection Assumptions

• Based on nominal organic growth expectations:

• Adjusted for divestitures

• No acquisitions

• No growth in same store funeral service volumes between 2003 and 2007

• Modest increases in average revenue per funeral

• Achieve stable and moderate revenue growth from existing portfolio of businesses, through a combination of growth in revenue per experience and market share

• Management of fixed costs and improvement of field based operating margins, EBITDA is projected to increase from $40.0 to $44.6 million by 2007.

• Approximately 80% of Capex is “maintenance”

• The balance relates to development of new cemetery facilities or properties.

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

Long-Term Base Case Scenario
(Revised as of August 5, 2003)
(In Millions $, Except Per Share Data)

Actual
12/31/02

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

5-Yr.
CAGR

Revenue

154.2

151.3

154.9

158.7

162.5

166.5

1.5

Income Before Taxes & Special Items

12.5

10.2

11.8

13.1

14.6

16.2

5.3

Interest

19.8

18.2

16.6

16.3

15.9

15.3

-5.0

Depreciation & Amortization

10.5

11.6

12.0

12.4

12.7

13.1

4.5

EBITDA (Excluding Special Items)

42.8

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

0.8

EPS, Diluted

0.44

(1)

0.38

(2)

0.41

0.45

0.50

0.55

4.6

Diluted Shares Outstanding

17.4

17.9

18.1

18.2

0.9

Cash Flow from Operations Before TIDES Deferral

18.9

12.8

15.4

17.0

18.9

20.3

1.4

Cash Flow from Deferral of TIDES

0.0

3.5

6.8

7.3

7.8

8.5

Cash Flow from Operations & TIDES Deferral

18.9

16.3

22.2

24.3

26.7

28.8

8.8

Less Capital Expenditures

6.0

6.5

6.0

5.5

-1.7

Free Cash Flow

12.9

10.3

15.7

18.3

21.2

23.3

12.6

Plus/Minus Net Cash Taxes

(1.6

)

0.2

4.0

4.7

5.5

6.4

Pre-Tax Free Cash Flow

11.3

10.5

19.7

23.0

26.7

29.7

21.3

Divestitures & Other

(4.5

)

7.5

3.8

0.2

Cumulative Deferral of TIDES

0.0

3.5

10.8

18.6

27.0

36.0

Total Debt

149.1

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

-20.1

Total Debt / EBITDA

3.5

3.4

2.8

2.2

1.7

1.1

-20.8

(1) Excludes special items equal to $0.72 per share.

(2) Excludes the effect of $0.02 benefit recorded in 2003 as special charges and other items.

NM = Not meaningful

Base Case Enterprise Valuation #1

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #1: 1 Point Multiple Decrease

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

48.5

58.8

70.6

84.1

98.5

Total

288.7

277.1

271.8

272.9

273.4

273.3

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #1: 1 Point Multiple Decrease

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

6.9

6.7

6.5

6.3

6.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

2.71

3.29

3.91

4.63

5.41

Annual % Increase

-18

5 - Year Compound IRR

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Base Case Enterprise Valuation #2

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #2: Flat Multiple

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

56.5

75.0

95.7

118.7

143.1

Total

288.7

285.1

288.0

298.0

308.0

317.9

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #2: Flat Multiple

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

3.16

4.19

5.30

6.54

7.86

Annual % Increase

-4

5 - Year Compound IRR

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Base Case Enterprise Valuation #3

Long-Term Base Case Scenario

(In Millions $, Except Multiples & Per Share Data)

SCENARIO #3: 1 Point Multiple Increase

9/30/2003

12/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/05

12/31/06

12/31/07

Implied Enterprise Value (EV):

Total Debt

139.7

134.8

111.9

93.4

72.0

48.5

Preferred Securities

90.3

93.8

101.1

108.9

117.3

126.3

Implied Mkt. Value Equity

58.7

64.5

91.2

120.8

153.2

187.7

Total

288.7

293.1

304.2

323.1

342.5

362.5

EBITDA*

40.5

40.0

40.4

41.8

43.2

44.6

Diluted Shares Out.

17.8

17.9

18.1

18.2

SCENARIO #3: 1 Point Multiple Increase

EV/EBITDA Multiple

7.1

7.3

7.5

7.7

7.9

8.1

Implied Stock Price

3.29

3.61

5.09

6.69

8.44

10.31

Annual % Increase

5 - Year Compound IRR

* Trailing four quarter EBITDA excluding special items as of 9/30/03.

Investment Considerations

• Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services in the United States.

• Focus on attractive suburban and rural markets

• Most profitable funeral homes in the industry

• Capital structure and cash flow much improved

• Recently completed a successful turnaround strategy

• Significantly improved EBITDA and free cash flow

• Reduced debt and contingent acquisition obligations from $205M in 2000 to estimated $135M by 2003 year end

• Compelling valuation scenarios

Forward-Looking Information

In addition to historical information, this presentation contains forward-looking statements made by the management of Carriage Services, Inc. (the “Company” or “Carriage”). Such statements are typically identified by terms expressing future expectations or goals. These forward-looking statements, although made in good faith, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include Carriage’s inability to sell businesses and properties for the estimated proceeds, to achieve the free cash flow from operations in the base case scenario, or to achieve internal growth from our businesses; adverse changes in economic and financial market conditions, increasing interest rates, and restricted credit availability; lower death rates; changing consumer preferences; competition in our markets from new entrants and existing business competitors; Carriage’s inability to maintain operating ratios within the limits set forth within our financing arrangements; and changes in government regulation of the death care industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision of these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the Cautionary Statements described in this and other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by Carriage in the future.

[LOGO]

Thank You