Matthews International Corporation (MATW) Share Price

Read more here https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/publicitate/cum-alegi-cele-mai-bune-echipamente-pentru-antrenamentele-de-acasa-690139.html

I agree with the points raised in this thread about MATW's role during the pandemic and its potential impact on the company's future.

Absolutely, the ongoing health crisis has indeed underscored the crucial role of companies like MATW in ensuring public safety and security. Amidst the concerning rise in infections, MATW's services and solutions are pivotal, contributing significantly to the nation's response and management of these challenges.

As Warren Buffett astutely pointed out, the stock market often reflects the movement of wealth from those seeking quick gains to those who take a more patient, long-term approach to investing. In the case of MATW, their commitment to ensuring safety and security aligns with the principle of long-term value creation. This dedication to their mission provides a sense of job security and stability, factors that resonate particularly well in uncertain times.

The current situation underscores the resilience and importance of companies like MATW, highlighting their role not only in safeguarding public health but also potentially offering stability and reliability in an ever-evolving landscape.

$MATW: Helluva BullFlag breakout.... makes sense


Look at that now at $33


Totally moved higher off that flag on the 100day............ perfectly makes sense technically


GO $MATW

With the newest infections nationwide MATW has some job security for the next few years at least.

Hundreds volunteer to help New York's overwhelmed funeral homes
Funeral homes and hospital morgues in ‘state of emergency’
More than 5,000 confirmed to have died in New York City
Coronavirus – live US updates
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See all our coronavirus coverage
Enjoli Liston in New York and agencies

@enjoli_
Fri 10 Apr 2020 16.07 EDTFirst published on Fri 10 Apr 2020 14.25 EDT
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People outside a funeral home in Brooklyn, New York, on 2 April.
People outside a funeral home in Brooklyn, New York, on 2 April. Photograph: John Minchillo/AP
Hundreds of volunteers have come forward to help funeral homes and hospital mortuaries in New York City that have been overwhelmed by the number of deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.

One funeral director had described the situation as a “state of emergency,” with some forced to ask families to try to keep their loved ones’ bodies in hospitals for as long as possible to allow funeral services to cope. Some cemeteries and crematoriums have reported being booked up for weeks.

According to Johns Hopkins, 5,150 people had died in hospital in New York City after contracting coronavirus as of Friday, though the death toll is believed to be higher. The New York Times reported that New York fire department data showed 1,125 people were pronounced dead in their homes or on the street in the first five days of April, more than eight times the 131 deaths recorded during the same period in 2019.


A tale of two New Yorks: pandemic lays bare a city's shocking inequities
Read more
“The last couple of weeks have been totally out of control,” Matthew Pinto, director of the Provenzano Lanza funeral home in Manhattan, told the New York Post. “On a normal day, our funeral home will do between one and two calls. Now we’re doing eight or nine. Honestly, we’re not equipped for it.”

Funeral directors have been running out of storage for remains, with some trying to rent refrigerated vehicles to expand their facilities. Hospitals in New York have already been using refrigerated trucks to store the dead, and the city set up 45 mobile morgues earlier this month.

Joe Neufeld, director of the Gerard J Neufeld funeral home in Queens, told the paper he went from holding about 14 funerals a week to more than 50. He said he was was no longer able to offer full services because his viewing room was filled with people’s remains.

“We had no choice,” he said. “I’ve had families call me telling me they can’t find anyone to take their loved one.”


At the Daniel J Schaefer funeral home in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, Pat Marmo recently told the Associated Press his company was equipped to handle 40 to 60 cases at a time, but was taking care of 185 a day.

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“Every person there, they’re not a body,” he said as he walked among 20 or so deceased people in the home. “They’re a father, they’re a mother, they’re a grandmother. They’re not bodies. They’re people.

“This is a state of emergency,” he said. “We need help.”

Marmo said he had been begging families to insist hospitals hold their dead loved ones as long as possible to help funeral services to cope, and because cemeteries and crematoriums were booked up weeks in advance

Drone footage showed how dozens of New Yorkers who have died without next of kin are being buried in pits in the potter’s field on Hart Island, where millions of the city’s poorest residents have been laid to rest.


Coronavirus: the week explained - sign up for our email newsletter
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New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, this week signed an executive order allowing out-of-state funeral directors to come into the state to help relieve pressure on funeral services. The move came after the National Funeral Directors Association wrote an open letter letter to the governor, saying hundreds of people were willing to help.

Announcing the move, Cuomo said: “If you ever told me that as governor I would have to take these actions, I couldn’t even contemplate where we are now.”

The NFDA said it had been approached by more than 500 volunteers looking to help funeral homes and hospitals. It said it had this week sent the names of 115 students and apprentices to the New York City office of emergency management, who could help ensure the deceased were “treated respectfully” in hospitals, and “documentation is complete while awaiting transfer to a local funeral home”.

It said it had also sent on names of licensed funeral directors to the New York State Funeral Directors Association, and would continue to try and recruit more volunteers.

Funeral directors have said in addition to the surge in deaths, the physical distancing measures in place to help stop the spread of the coronavirus have transformed the grieving process.

Those who die in hospital or other care facilities are not allowed to have visitors by their bedsides, and gatherings for funerals are limited to immediate family, if that.

Jackie McQuade, a funeral director at Schuyler Hill funeral home in the Bronx, told the AP that at one cemetery she worked with, only she and a priest were allowed at the site of a burial. She photographed the casket being lowered, hoping it could bring some closure to the family.

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“We would be going crazy if it were one of our loved ones,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

America faces an epic choice...
... in the coming year, and the results will define the country for a generation. These are perilous times. Over the last three years, much of what the Guardian holds dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. This administration has cleared out science and scientists across all departments. America's reputation as a competent global leader is in peril. Truth is being chased away. But with your help we can continue to put it center stage.

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Our journalism relies on our readers’ generosity – your financial support has meant we can keep investigating, disentangling and interrogating. It has protected our independence, which has never been so critical. We are so grateful.



$MATW

Undervalued at this level. A value play here.

Fundamental analysis show MATW is 15% overvalued prior to earnings:

Analysis

~ Monday! $MATW ~ Q2 Earnings alerted as posted, pending or coming soon! In Charts and Links Below!

~ $MATW ~ Earnings expected on Monday *
Want more like this? Search Keyword: MACMONEY >>> http://tinyurl.com/MACMONEY <<<
One or more of many earnings sites has alerted this security has or will be posting earnings on or around the day of this message.








http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=MATW&p=D&b=3&g=0&id=p88783918276&a=237480049




http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=MATW&p=W&b=3&g=0&id=p54550695994



~ Google Finance: http://www.google.com/finance?q=MATW
~ Google Fin Options: hhttp://www.google.com/finance/option_chain?q=MATW#
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Stats: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=MATW+Key+Statistics
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Profile: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=MATW
Finviz: http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=MATW
~ Marketwatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/MATW/insideractions


<<<<<< http://www.earningswhispers.com/stocks.asp?symbol=MATW >>>>>>



http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/post_prvt.aspx?user=251916

*If the earnings date is in error please ignore error. I do my best.

Any update on the MATW and ETNL agreement? Looking forward to seeing if it is underway, or still in progress?

Feb was the agreement. There was a Vatican Casket displayed at Omaha the Catholic cemetery convention, however it was just a promo, now it is time for the Vatican to approve, then allow MATW to manufacture and market the item.
Also in the 2-25 update were the Star Trek Urn, it made its debut on October 1, 2010, so the LOU is underway, now we just wait on the casket to be completed and marketed. I am hoping that in qtr 1 of 2011 we will see some welcomed revenues for Matw and Etnl.

how long has etnl been waiting for this stuff?

Here is some of the agreement with MATW and ETNL
This could be great for both companies once the products roll out.

SECTION 1 – REGISTRANT’S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
ITEM 1.01 Entry into a Material Agreement.
On February 16, 2010, Eternal Image, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a binding letter of understanding (the “LOU”) with Matthews International Corporation (“Matthews”). Matthews’ acceptance was delivered to the Company on February 17, 2010. The LOU grants to Matthews the exclusive right to design, manufacture, and distribute certain caskets, urns, and monuments for the Company’s Vatican Observatory™ line; and urns for Eternal Image’s Star Trek line™ (“Branded Products”). Matthews is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of memorialization products and brand solutions whose securities are traded on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol “MATW”.
The LOU is binding on the parties, but contemplates them entering into a more definitive contract in the future. It has an extendable initial term of two years, and the mechanics of its arrangement are that Matthews will initially manufacture and sell to the Company the Branded Products and repurchase them (on a quarterly basis) for sale and distribution (throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico) through Matthews’ network of associated funeral homes and cemeteries. The specific number of product units that Matthews will manufacture and sell to the Company during a contract year is as follows:

a.
250 Star Trek Urns (which Product and design have been previously approved);
b.
720 Vatican Observatory Urns;
c.
200 Vatican Observatory bronze memorial pieces; and
d.
2,000 Vatican Observatory caskets.
The specific number of products that Matthews will repurchase from the Company during a contract year per quarter is:

a.
62 Star Trek Urns (plus an additional 2 units in the fourth quarter);
b.
180 Vatican Observatory Urns;
c.
50 Vatican Observatory bronze memorial pieces; and
d.
500 Vatican Observatory caskets.
The pricing for Products sold pursuant to the LOU shall be negotiated in good faith by and between the parties at such time as they are respectively designed and approved.
The executed Letter of Understanding is attached hereto as exhibits 10.1 and incorporated by reference.
SECTION 9 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS and EXHIBITS
ITEM 9.01(d) EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description
10.1 Letter of Understanding between Eternal Image, Inc. and Matthews International Corporation

SIGNATURES

RJ READING HERE;

Hoping January shows the release of the Vatican casket. Also with this new licenses that ETNL is about to release will that be another agreement with MATW, and more revenues for both companies?

I am looking all over for photos of the casket in Omaha at the Catholic Cemetery conference but can not find it anywhere. I know for sure it was NOT at NFDA in New Orleans. I hope by October 2011 there are several new products for MATW and ETNL.

yup

I am looking forward to seeing MATW qtr numbers just to see if the Star Trek urns are adding more to the bottom line. I would love to know of the hundreds of pre-orders that were talked about, if they actually sold several of them? I want some actual numbers but we are going to have to wait and read the filings it appears.

Here is a post that shows the photo of the Star Trek urn and it is information that Matthews has given to funeral homes about the Star Trek Urn.

http://www.eternalimage.net/Pictures/Star_Trek_Urn_3D.TheVoyageContinues_FINAL.jpg

This company with the new Star Trek urn will continue to add market share. The future is bright for MATW and those companies that work close with them. I am ready for them to debut the Vatican Casket.

PS...what were you talking about an update on the loan next week, while discussing EI? I have not heard anything to that hopefully your prediction will come about. Did you hear that, or is it simply a WAG? Just curious and enjoy your weekend.

Looks like a pretty good opportunity. I need to do some more research before I get in.

yes I've read their PR's, mostly about executive level changes, not too much else on the wire and done just like an executive.

short to the point and simple

a clean desk just like mine

exec

look at the one in april... it is interesting what filings and pr's matthews puts out. always short and to the point. the 2 latest acquisitions have significant sales in 2009 and matthews paid a price approximately equal to the 2009 sales amounts for each. also, interesting complementary sales regions that each company brings to matthews which can only make matthews an even bigger player...

Matthews International Corporation Acquires Freeman Metals Group
Date : 10/19/2010 @ 4:56PM
Matthews International Corporation (Nasdaq:MATW) today announced its acquisition of Freeman Metal Products, Inc. and related entities, including F&F Metal Products, Inc., Esser Casket Co., and Southern Heritage Casket Co. (collectively "Freeman"). Freeman, which has manufacturing operations in North Carolina, Texas and Alabama, is also a distributor of caskets primarily in the Southeast and South central regions of the United States. Terms of the transaction were not immediately disclosed. Freeman reported sales of approximately $21 million in calendar 2009.

Matthews International Corporation Acquires Reynoldsville Casket Company
Date : 04/12/2010 @ 8:49AM...Matthews International Corporation (Nasdaq: MATW) today announced its acquisition of Reynoldsville Casket Company ("Reynoldsville"). Reynoldsville, which is headquartered in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania, is a manufacturer and distributor of caskets primarily in the Northeast region of the United States. Terms of the transaction were not immediately disclosed. Reynoldsville reported sales of approximately $13 million in calendar 2009.

wow..lol they acutally put out a PR!! nice

Matthews International Corporation Acquires Freeman Metals Group
Matthews International (MM) (NASDAQ:MATW)
Intraday Stock Chart
Today : Tuesday 19 October 2010

Matthews International Corporation (Nasdaq:MATW) today announced its acquisition of Freeman Metal Products, Inc. and related entities, including F&F Metal Products, Inc., Esser Casket Co., and Southern Heritage Casket Co. (collectively "Freeman"). Freeman, which has manufacturing operations in North Carolina, Texas and Alabama, is also a distributor of caskets primarily in the Southeast and South central regions of the United States. Terms of the transaction were not immediately disclosed. Freeman reported sales of approximately $21 million in calendar 2009.

Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews, stated: "Freeman is an outstanding organization and their customer focus is well-respected in the casket industry. We are excited to welcome them to our Funeral Home Products team and look forward to working with their customers and the Freeman family of distributors. This acquisition is expected to provide synergies in the manufacturing and distribution of our products and to expand Matthews' market presence particularly in the Southeast and South central regions of the United States."

Matthews International Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a designer, manufacturer and marketer principally of memorialization products and brand solutions. Memorialization products consist primarily of bronze memorials and other memorialization products, caskets and cremation equipment for the cemetery and funeral home industries. Brand solutions include graphics imaging products and services, marking products, and merchandising solutions. The Company's products and services include cast bronze memorials and other memorialization products; caskets; cast and etched architectural products; granite memorials; cremation equipment and cremation-related products; mausoleums; brand management; printing plates and cylinders, pre-press services and imaging services for the primary packaging and corrugated industries; marking and coding equipment and consumables, and industrial automation products for identifying, tracking and conveying various consumer and industrial products, components and packaging containers; and merchandising display systems and marketing and design services.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from management's expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in economic conditions, competitive environment, death rate, foreign currency exchange rates, and technological factors beyond the Company's control.

CONTACT: Matthews International Corporation
Steven F. Nicola, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
& Treasurer
412-442-8262

Hoping to see the new Vatican Observatory casket at NFDA is MATW has one present? Should be interesting to see the actual unit if they have the details worked out?

The revenues are what everyone wants to see. You could be right, I am just glad that both companies have to file. I know I am looking forward to seeing MATW's benefit along with the benefit for the ETNL shareholders. It is going to be interesting. You could be right about break-even, but what would that do for ETNL? Also how much is ETNL going to allow MATW to profit off of their licenses? This is never a dull subject, I guess we will know in the 3rd and 4th quarter as to the details and the Profit Margin. Because that is why shareholders invest, to see their profit and portfolios grow. Time will tell, we should know something in November or December as to the details of the Third Quarter then about February or March 2011, we should see the details of the Fourth Quarter for both companies. For me, I am in no hurry at all, but am looking forward to seeing how BOTH companies profit off of the sale of the products. Then will MATW jump on this next Licenses to be announced? Or stick with Vatican and Star Trek?

They can then do some pump PR's to drive the pps up so they can get a little more out of the 35 million shares they have left to sell...Sell into the pump and you should make a little money on your past "nibbles"...lol

Thank you hogs, THAT SAYS IT ALL IMO.


Speaking of hogs, we have a mess of wild hogs that got out of Corbin's Park in NH, raising hell with lawns and fields.


NH

Thanks for posting...Some good news for a change with this company.

My opinion of the Matthews deal:

If everything in the LOU sells, EI gets enough revenue to cover the licenses fees. Only if Matthews sells more will EI show a profit (not a net profit, they have to many expenses, but a profit over the licenses fee).

They can then do some pump PR's to drive the pps up so they can get a little more out of the 35 million shares they have left to sell...Sell into the pump and you should make a little money on your past "nibbles"...lol

MATW Star Trek Urn Update: NFDA 2010 Innovation Award Submissions

From the NFDA Site:
http://www.nfdabizexchange.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=441&Itemid=122

If you scroll down you will see Matthews Entered the Star Trek Urn, I like seeing EI's product listed WITH MATW, that should help make EI and MATW seem more of partners in manufacturing the Star Trek along with the other products. Slowly but surely it is all coming together.

DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS
http://www.nfdabizexchange.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=456:innovation-2010-matthews-international-corporation-official-star-trek-cremation-urn&catid=55&Itemid=122
'Originality and Uniqueness' Entry (250 words or less) :

Matthews International Corporation, through a partnership with Eternal Image, is pleased to offer this official Star Trek cremation urn. This marks the first time that Star Trek has ever licensed its name and design palette for use in the funeral industry. Furthermore, this urn features an image of the Starship Enterprise and star field background that is completely unique to this product—it has never been in print prior to this product. Matthews and Eternal Image have empowered the consumer to purchase an urn that is a reflection of a lifelong passion: a love for Star Trek.

Description of Products 'Quality and Design' (250 words or less) :

This 190 cubic inch capacity urn is built with an urn body made from a composite blend of natural minerals, an etched stainless steel face plate and name scroll and an image of the Starship Enterprise printed on anodized aluminum. It features a cut-out of the famous Star Trek Delta symbol through which you can see the famed Starship Enterprise flying through space. Above this graphic is where the nameplate is affixed, and below it is printed the name of this particular model: TO BOLDLY GO. We also offer a model called THE VOYAGE CONTINUES.

Description of Products 'Practicality & Sustainability' (250 words or less) :

Entertainment brands come and go, but few have had the staying power and worldwide appeal of Star Trek considering it first debuted on TV in 1966. The brand continues to attract younger followers through its newly launched series of motion pictures. Pre-orders for this product have already exceeded 200 and have come from as far away as the Philippines. As long as there are Trekkies, there will be demand for an urn such as this.

Description of Products 'Benefit & Value' (250 words or less) :

The benefits of this urn extend beyond just the fine quality in which they are built (discussed above). People have passion—it runs through all we do. Matthews International and Eternal Image are giving people the option of honoring that lifelong passion in the preplanning of their funeral or in the death of a loved one. This Star Trek urn enables a grieving family to purchase a product that is a fitting tribute to someone who was a fan of this franchise in life.

New Twitter alert: eternalimageinc Prototype for newly designed Star Trek urn approved! This product a joint-venture between EI & Matthews Intl. Launch date set for 09/2010

2nd Tweet: Our new Star Trek urn has been entered in the NFDA Innovation Award contest. Winner of 'most innovative' to be announced @ show in October

That is great. I am certain it is not because of ETNL.

NH

I called it days ago:

Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) has a potential upside of 35.1% based on a current price of $30.53 and an average consensus analyst price target of $41.25.

Hillenbrand Inc.'s Batesville unit, the largest U.S. maker of coffins, filed a U.S. trade complaint to stop imports of what it deems knockoff caskets from Mexico.

The complaint, filed yesterday with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, said Ataudes Aguilares of Guadalajara, Mexico, is bringing caskets into the U.S. that infringe patents related to coffins with attached memorabilia compartments and a mechanism allowing funeral-home directors to swap out ornamental corner pieces.

Batesville said it has four manufacturing plants in the U.S. with about 3,300 workers. Sales of the patented caskets are expected to exceed $130 million this year, according to the complaint. Overall sales were $577.1 million last year, or 89 percent of Hillenbrand's revenue, Bloomberg data show.

The unit wants the trade commission to prevent closely held Ataudes Aguilares from selling its products in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

"Ataudes Aguilares did not develop these caskets on its own," Batesville said in the complaint. "Instead, in order to compete against Batesville in selling improved caskets, Ataudes Aguilares entered into contracts to import for sale in the United States caskets manufactured by Ataudes Aguilares, but copied from Batesville patent protected caskets."

The memorabilia compartment is a drawer in which family members put mementos rather than in a box placed haphazardly in the coffin, Batesville said. In September, the unit sued the funeral homes in Puerto Rico that received the Ataudes Aguilares caskets. Part of the case was dismissed last month, according to court documents.

An official with Ataudes Aguilares couldn't immediately be reached for comment. A lawyer for the funeral homes didn't return telephone calls seeking comment.

Cremations, Too

The Batesville unit also provides cremation urns and other services to funeral homes. The company said its plants are in its hometown, Batesville, Indiana; Panola, Mississippi; Manchester, Tennessee and Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The trade commission is a quasi-independent agency that investigates unfair trade practices, including patent infringement, and has the power to prevent products from entering the U.S. It typically completes its investigations within about 15 months of agreeing to consider a complaint.

The case is In the Matter of Certain Caskets, Complaint No. 2738, U.S. International Trade Commission (Washington).



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/06/09/bloomberg1376-L3T3P50YHQ0X-5.DTL#ixzz0qTP2uro2

Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) traded in a range yesterday that spanned from a low of $29.89 to a high of $30.75. Yesterday, the shares fell 1.15%, which took the trading range below the 3-day low of $30.00 on volume of 123,000 shares.
Shares of Matthews International are currently trading below their 50-day moving average (MA) of $34.25 and below their 200-day MA of $34.94. Look for these MAs to provide resistance for a short-term rebound in the shares.
SmarTrend is bearish on shares of Matthews International and our subscribers were alerted to Sell on May 06, 2010 at $33.02. The stock has fallen 8.8% since the alert was issued.
SmarTrend has the shares in a Downtrend and expects the share price to rebound toward the $30.10 resistance level. Afterwards, we expect it to move downward with its peers in the SmarTrend Personal & Consumer Services industry.

guess they are not ready to cover....

Check HI margins...profit built in...not saying EI will be close to 40% but IMO there is some there...weeeeeeeeeee

AND????????????

NH

Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) has gross margin of 38.7%, a sales growth of 1.8%, and trailing 12 months sales of $786.1 million.

FROM the MATW website...we know with the new Urns and Caskets, I look for the MATW website to be updated from the following, to introduce the Vatican and the Star Trek lineup:

The Casket segment is a leading manufacturer and distributor of caskets
in North America, producing a wide variety of wood and metal caskets.
It is also a leader in providing assortment planning and merchandising
and display products for funeral service businesses. These products assist
funeral service professionals in providing value and satisfaction to their
client families.

The Cremation segment is the leading designer and manufacturer of
cremation equipment and cremation-related products in North America.
Cremation equipment and products are sold primarily to funeral homes,
cemeteries, crematories, animal disposers and veterinarians within North
America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The segment also manufactures
environmentally-friendly caskets, which are manufactured from wood
fibers and corrugated materials covered with cloth, or paper veneer, which
gives the appearance of wood.

Vatican line due up here in this upcoming 3rd quarter. I am looking forward to the MATW conf call after this, just so they can update us on this new casket line. Also does MATW deal with candle production at all? I know they have several different divisions with bronze and markers, what about religious candles. Thanks if you have any info. How many Vatican caskets you expect them to sell? Also do we know is the Star Trek urn is being sold yet via MATW? We know it is a new product, I would love to see an update.

With the latest meetings last week, and the new partnership that EI and MATW are sharing with the Vatican line. I would like to think that IF MATW were interested, EI would deal with MATW rather than Waterloo. One thing is certain Waterloo has UNDERperformed, on the MLB licenses for sure. I would like to see Waterloo kick it up, or MATW just take over. I have confidence in the #2 casket producer and once again another casket that Batesville can NOT sell.

EI would have to take it away from Waterloo...They are the ND for that license at this time, like Cherokee is for PM and MATW will be for VOF...

What would MATW have to do to get the MLB casket line from Waterloo? We know that EI met with Waterloo about this line. I wonder if MATW could obtain this licenses? What is keeping it in the hands of Waterloo? How would Batesville like MATW introducing the ONLY MLB caskets? Just thinking out loud here?

This upcoming 3rd quarter should be fun...just in time for the NFDA party in New Orleans. IMO MATW and ETNL are both going to have a great line of products to share with all the funeral professionals in attendance.

Page 42 of the 10K filing on April 16:
http://www.otcbb.com/asp/Info_Center.asp

ETNL and MATW working together:

On February 25, 2010 the Company announced in an 8K filing its new manufacturing and distribution partnership with Matthews International (NASDAQ: MATW). The term of this agreement is 2-years and requires Matthews International to purchase a minimum number of products from Eternal Image for sale in their network of Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. The territory of this agreement is North America.

Per the agreement, Matthews International is required to purchase a minimum: 250 Star Trek Urns (which Product and design have been previously approved); 720 Vatican Observatory Urns; 200 Vatican Observatory bronze memorial pieces; and 2,000 Vatican Observatory caskets during each calendar year. The design of the Vatican products has not been approved yet. The sale of these products will not commence until all product designs have been approved for manufacturing by Eternal Image. Currently, we estimate the rollout of these new products to be in the third quarter of 2010.

I know I am looking forward to the new Vatican Line casket here that MATW is going to be dealing with. That should really increase some revenues. New products, and a very exciting one for sure. Now what are the details, as far as COGS and profit margin? How much are they going to pay ETNL for the licenses? Going to be interesting to find out the details. This per the filing should be out in the 3rd quarter, we are just about to start that in just a few short weeks. I know I am ready to see the details of this new agreement.

Below are the top five companies in the Specialized Consumer Services industry as measured by lowest relative performance. Some analysts believe that stocks with lower relative performance are a better bargain.

Hillenbrand (NYSE:HI) ranks second with a loss of 0.95%
Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) ranks third with a loss of 0.27%
Service International (NYSE:SCI) follows with a gain of 0.46%

The Yahoo MATW board is talking tons about the Vatican casket, and the potential. That way if you thought this was the only place to get a little info, the more you know. The better the investor you will become. Best of luck to all in ALL your investments.

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/Stocks_%28A_to_Z%29/Stocks_M/threadview?m=tm&bn=11163&tid=1162&mid=1162&tof=39&frt=2

Sorry to start a newer thread on this but the other was covering old discussion so I decided to start a new one. The funeral industry has been divied up for decades. Everyone has their own turf. This much I understand...A can't sell their casket in B because B already has a similar product and therefore the FHs that B maintains buys from B..A has to sell to A's FHs...

I got that, despite the federal rules allowing cross selling if the client desires...not an issue...

Vatican offers a Casket....Lets see a Batesville FH deny one to a customer....Most HI funeral homes will WANT to have one just in case IMO...They don't want to lose clients because they do not have a particular casket like this...Being licensed, HI CAN NOT produce anything like it either I believe. MATW wins even without the direct sell...

So, HI has 1-2k people/yr that will go elsewhere for this casket, let say...just my guess...I doubt that happens...HI will buy some instead is my thinking...MATW sees this potential and is in a huge position going forward...

Just gotta wait for MATW to get it up to speed and then watch the marketing kick in..1-2 years down the road MATW could be #1 easy...I think MATW salespeople will have no issues placing these...Its my hope, they stand the funeral industry on its head...

The Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of memorialization products and brand solutions (Nasdaq: MATW), reported net income of $15.9 million, or 53 cents per share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $12.7 million, or 42 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. Analysts average estimate pegged the company reporting 50 cents a share, according to a survey by Zack’s Investment Research.

The company also declared a dividend of 7 cents per share on common stock for the quarter ended March 31.

Matthews International Corporation (Nasdaq: MATW) today announced plans to release second quarter fiscal 2010 results on Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Matthews International Corporation has scheduled a conference call for Friday, April 23, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Participating in the call will be Joseph C. Bartolacci – President and CEO, and Steven F. Nicola - Chief Financial Officer.

To participate in the call, dial 1-612-332-0228 at least ten minutes before the conference call begins and ask for the Matthews International Corporation conference call.

Matthews International Corporation Acquires Reynoldsville Casket Company

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Matthews-International-prnews-1542450698.html?x=0&.v=1