Let’s dig into the relative performance of Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q1 specialized consumer services earnings season.

Some consumer discretionary companies don’t fall neatly into a category because their products or services are unique. Although their offerings may be niche, these companies have often found more efficient or technology-enabled ways of doing or selling something that has existed for a while. Technology can be a double-edged sword, though, as it may lower the barriers to entry for new competitors and allow them to do serve customers better.

The 10 specialized consumer services stocks we track reported a slower Q1. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV)

Established in 1991, Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV) is a provider of funeral and cemetery services in the United States.

Carriage Services reported revenues of $107.1 million, up 3.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but full-year revenue guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

Carlos Quezada, Vice Chairman and CEO, stated, “We are proud of our first-quarter results, which reflect the strength of our strategy and execution discipline. Our solid financial performance, highlighted by a 4.6% increase in comparable funeral home revenue was primarily driven by a 2.4% increase in funeral home at-need volume and a 2.2% increase in average revenue per at-need contract, delivering adjusted diluted EPS of $0.96 cents, an increase of $0.21 cents or 28%, demonstrating our focus on the execution of our strategic objectives. Through continued investments in innovation, the expansion of key partnerships, and the empowerment of our people, we are building the Carriage of the future. As we become a premier experience company, we are proving that passion, operational excellence, and financial discipline turns vision into value for our shareholders,” 

Carriage Services pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat but had the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. The stock is up 4.2% since reporting and currently trades at $41.58.

Is now the time to buy Carriage Services? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Frontdoor (NASDAQ: FTDR)

Established in 2018 as a spin-off from ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Frontdoor (NASDAQ: FTDR) is a provider of home warranty and service plans.

Frontdoor reported revenues of $426 million, up 12.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. The business had a very strong quarter with EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Frontdoor achieved the fastest revenue growth and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 32.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $54.62.

Is now the time to buy Frontdoor? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS)

Founded in 1976, 1-800-FLOWERS (NASDAQ: FLWS) is an online retailer of flowers, gifts, and gourmet foods, serving customers globally.

1-800-FLOWERS reported revenues of $331.5 million, down 12.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

1-800-FLOWERS delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 10.5% since the results and currently trades at $5.19.

Read our full analysis of 1-800-FLOWERS’s results here.

Mister Car Wash (NASDAQ: MCW)

Formerly known as Hotshine Holdings, Mister Car Wash (NYSE: MCW) offers car washes across the United States through its conveyorized service.

Mister Car Wash reported revenues of $261.7 million, up 9.4% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged a solid beat of analysts’ same-store sales estimates but full-year revenue guidance meeting analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 15.7% since reporting and currently trades at $7.94.

Read our full, actionable report on Mister Car Wash here, it’s free.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB)

Founded in 1955 by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard A. Bloch, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) is a tax preparation company offering professional tax assistance and financial solutions to individuals and small businesses.

H&R Block reported revenues of $2.28 billion, up 4.2% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. Zooming out, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ Tax Preparation revenue estimates.

The stock is down 6.7% since reporting and currently trades at $57.50.

Read our full, actionable report on H&R Block here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

Join Paid Stock Investor Research

Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.