Dignity sees shares soar as death numbers increase in first quarter

Shares in funeral provider Dignity rose on Wednesday after the company previously warned that trading for the year would be ‘volatile’.

The group said that the number of deaths during the first seven weeks of 2018 has risen by seven percent. Deaths in the quarter were up by eight percent this year, with the figure rising from 167,000 to 181,000.

Dignity’s revenue this quarter has gone up by £2m since last year with the number rising from £93m to £95m. The company also reported a much higher than predicted earnings of
£37.5m.

The company said that it expects trading for the whole year to still be volatile after it’s decision to reduce prices on some funerals and hold prices on others.

According to the group it is still likely however that results for the full year will be ahead of the board’s expectations.