[BG Capital Group]
July 24, 2001 Volume 1 Issue 6
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Dear Investor:
The Stewart Report, A Prestigious West Coast
Newsletter, Initiates Coverage Of The Neptune Society
And Issues A 'Strong Buy' Press Release
The Stewart Report is a special situations financial
newsletter that has been the focus of feature stories
in Barron's, Money magazine, The New York Times,
Investor's Business Daily, Entrepreneur magazine and
Fortune.
"We are excited to have garnered the attention of The
Stewart Report."
Marco Markin
CEO & President of the Neptune Society
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMPANY CONTACT:
Gary R. Loffredo, Director
(800) 535-7935
Neptune Society Leads As Death-Care Stocks Buck Market
Trend
DANA POINT, Calif., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In recent
weeks, one of the market's most progressive sectors has
been the death-care industry with national mortuary
chains such as Service Corp International, Carriage
Services and Stewart Enterprises, Inc. having risen to
within a few points of their 52-week highs.
However, it's The Neptune Society (OTC Bulletin Board:
NTUN), the nation's only cremation specialist and the
only death-care provider with a brand name familiar to
consumers nationwide that seems to be at the forefront
of the latest move, allowing it to buck today's
downdrafts in both the Dow Jones Industrial and Nasdaq
Composite averages. Neptune's price resiliency and
strong volume have been attributed by some observers to
The Stewart Report, a West Coast research letter that
initiated coverage on the stock this week. Moreover,
Stewart believes expanding awareness of Neptune's
intention to list on a senior exchange will carry the
stock higher still.
The Stewart Report's analysis of The Neptune Society
highlights its niche opportunity in the marketing of
pre-need cremation services, payments for which have
generated a rapidly growing company trust fund that
presently totals more than $40 million. Analyst J.
David Stewart says the trust fund which has already
endowed the Neptune network with a 13-year backlog of
business in the midst of its best operating year ever,
will likely grow to $99 million by year-end 2005.
Stewart also sees a string of steadily improving
operational years, thanks to a diverse set of
socio-economic factors presently coming into play.
These include the aging baby boomer population, the
expanding geographical range of American families, new
consumer attitudes towards land usage as it relates to
traditional casket funerals, and an increasing cost
consciousness in death-care planning.
Safe Harbor
This press release may contain 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.
Readers/Investors are cautioned that the
forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain,
including statements related to the Company's business
strategy, success of its acquisitions, its ability to
implement its current business and growth strategies,
the ability to implement acquisitions and start up
offices into its existing operations, its ability to
obtain sufficient financing to fund its proposed
growth, the Company's ability to develop its brand name
and effectively market its services and the Company's
expectations for future success. Actual performance
and results of operations may differ materially from
those projected or suggested. The forward-looking
statements contained herein represent the Company's
judgment as of the date of this release, and the
Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance
on such statements. These forward-looking statements
should not be reprinted, reiterated nor considered an
inducement for investment.
About The Neptune Society
Headquartered in Burbank, CA., The Neptune Society Inc.
is one of North America's largest cremation
specialists, and is the only publicly traded company
dealing solely in cremation services. The Neptune
Society, operating for nearly three decades with
locations in California, Florida, New York, Washington,
Iowa, Oregon and Arizona has provided thousands of
cremation services and currently has close to 60,000
active contracts and nearly $40 million in trust in its
unique Pre-Need program. The Neptune Society's goal is
to provide a simple, dignified and economic alternative
to the traditional funeral burial service system.
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Highlights Of The Stewart Report
*** Key Investment Considerations ***
The Neptune Society® is positioned for the market
maturation of the "Baby Boomers" and the "Graying of
America."
A compelling value proposition for cremation is its
simple; the average funeral runs from $10-15,000 and
the average cremation runs $1-3,000. That's a $9-12,000
spread.
The $15 billion death-care industry has recently
survived a five-year shake-out by attrition,
acquisition, or merger that has left the U.S. with only
four publicly traded chains and 22,000 independent
mortuary operators. The Neptune Society is the only
public "pure play" in the cremation segment of the
death-care services industry and the company benefits
from extensive goodwill from its reputation and high
visibility brand name built during its 27-year
history.
The Neptune Society received a 'Strong Buy'
recommendation from J. David Stewart of The Stewart
Report with the stock under $8 and a 6-12 month target
price of $17.50.
The Neptune Society has 18 locations in 7 states with
strategic growth initiatives to add to those numbers in
2001 as they expand to meet demographic concentrations.
The company also has a dedicated "call center" with 20
telemarketers in Tempe, AZ.
The Neptune Trust Fund to facilitate 60,000 'Pre-Need'
contracts sold and not fulfilled approximately $40
million strong. It is estimated the Trust will reach
$99 million by 2005.
"The Neptune Society offers the industry's best price
leverage due to its petite market cap of less than $50
million."
To date, 2001 is breaking all company records with
estimated gross sales for the year at $18 million, new
'Pre-Need' contract sales estimated at 10,000, and
'At-Need' sales and administrative fees coming from an
estimated 7,000 fulfillments.
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Recent Events
Of The Neptune Society
Cremation service revenues were $2,242,000 for the
three months that ended March 31, 2001 compared to
$1,328,000 in 2000, nearly double the same period last
year.
The Neptune Society provided 6,639 cremations in 2000
and has already provided 5,098 in the first five months
of 2001, that is double the same period last year with
a very conservative projected total for 2001 to be
approximately 7,400.
The Neptune Society's new management team, assembled
since 1999, has substantial industry expertise. The
management has implemented a multi-pronged marketing
strategy focused on selling "Pre-Need" cremation plans.
Including direct sales over their Web site, the
strategy also includes direct mail of approximately six
million pieces being sent in 2001 and the support of
five sales managers with approximately 200 independent,
commission-only sales representatives providing
follow-up.
The Neptune Society recently received an 'Aggressive
Buy' recommendation from Banyan Capital Markets with a
target price of $8.00.
The company has a guaranteed 13-year business backlog.
Due to the nature of the company's business, it is
virtually recession-proof.
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For more information, contact:
Gary R. Loffredo (800) 535-7935
Corporate Investor Relations
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The Neptune Society
Corporate Headquarters
3500 W. Olive
Suite # 1430
Burbank, CA 91505
Telephone: 888-637-8863
E-mail: info(a)neptunesociety.com
Visit The Neptune Society on the Web: Click here
We invite you to investigate the Neptune Society,
trading symbol NTUN, by using the following links.
Links to more information:
Recent SEC Filings click here
Click here for Financial Chart
For Trading Technicals click here
For current stock quote click here
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This information is neither a solicitation to buy nor
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subject to significant risks and uncertainties, which
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written consent of Investors Edge (Copyright 2001.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safe Harbor Statement: This press release may contain 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. Readers/Investors are cautioned that the forward-
looking statements are inherently uncertain, including statements
related to the Company's business strategy, success of its acquisitions,
its ability to integrate its current business strategies into its
existing operations and the Company's expectations for future success.
Actual performance and results of operations may differ materially from
those projected or suggested. The forward-looking statements contained
herein represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release,
and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance on such
statements. These forward-looking statements should not be reprinted,
reiterated nor considered an inducement for investment.
Copyright © 2001 Investors Edge
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