National Cremation Society vs Neptune (2026): Same Owner?

If you are gathering cremation quotes and you have collected one from Neptune Society, one from Trident Society and one from National Cremation Society, there is something you should know before you compare them: all three are listed as brands of the same publicly traded company.

That company is Service Corporation International (SCI), and it says so itself. In its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 -- filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2026 -- SCI writes: "We are well known for our Dignity Memorial® brand, North America's first transcontinental brand of deathcare products and services. Our other brands include Dignity Planning™, National Cremation Society®, Advantage® Funeral and Cremation Services, Funeraria del Angel™, Making Everlasting Memories®, Neptune Society™ and Trident Society™."

This is a corporate fact, not an accusation. Operating multiple consumer brands under one parent is ordinary in many industries, and it does not by itself mean anything improper is happening. But it does change how you should read your quotes -- because three prices from three SCI brands are not the same thing as three prices from three independent competitors.

Last verified: August 15, 2026. Ownership below is sourced from SCI's SEC filings. Prices are ranges reported by families and figures published by our directory, not quotes.

The Ownership Facts, Straight From the Filing

Here is what SCI's own FY2025 annual report states, with nothing added:

One clarification on that last row, because it is easy to misread: $5,823 is not a direct cremation price. SCI defines "average revenue per service" as average revenue per funeral service performed across its entire business -- burials and cremations, at-need and preneed, simple and elaborate. It is a company-wide financial metric, not a price list. A direct cremation from any of these brands costs far less than that figure. We include it only because it shows the scale of the company you are dealing with.

You can read the filing yourself at SEC EDGAR. We source ownership claims exclusively from SEC filings rather than from blogs or forum posts, because corporate structures change and filings are the record that gets updated and audited.

What Each Brand Actually Is

The three cremation brands are positioned differently, even though the corporate parent is the same.

Neptune Society is the best known of the three and the oldest, founded in 1973. It focuses on direct cremation and, above all, on prepaid (pre-need) cremation plans. It maintains local offices in many metro areas, so families can arrange in person rather than only by phone. It is also the brand associated with the Neptune Memorial Reef off the Florida coast. Our full write-up is here: Neptune Society review and costs.

Trident Society is a cremation brand operating in California. In its May 1, 2024 press release on the settlement discussed below, the California Attorney General's office described SCI as doing business in California as the Neptune Society and the Trident Society. If you are in California and comparing a Neptune quote against a Trident quote, you are comparing two brands the state's own filing describes as the same company's California operations.

National Cremation Society is SCI's third cremation-focused brand, named in the same 10-K brand list. It markets direct cremation and preneed cremation plans.

We were not able to verify current office rosters for these brands from a primary source, so this guide does not claim any specific location is open, closed, or newly opened. Coverage changes. Confirm your own address directly with the company before you plan around it.

Neptune vs Trident vs National Cremation Society: Price Comparison

Here is the honest state of pricing information for all three:

Prices for all three brands are set locally and are generally not published online. Anyone quoting you a single nationwide "Neptune price" or "National Cremation Society price" is oversimplifying. The reported range for Neptune Society reflects figures families commonly report across markets as of 2026 -- treat it as a ballpark to confirm at quote time, not a rate card.

The practical consequence of common ownership is this: if you call all three and receive three similar numbers, that similarity may reflect a shared pricing approach rather than an independently converging market price. To find out whether your market is actually cheaper, the comparison that carries information is an SCI brand versus an unaffiliated local provider -- not one SCI brand versus another.

For what direct cremation actually runs where you live, see our average cremation cost by state guide and our cremation cost breakdown.

The California Settlement You Should Know About

This is the one documented enforcement matter families ask us about, so here it is with dates and sources attached, and nothing beyond what the public record says.

On December 2, 2019, the California Attorney General, joined by the District Attorneys of Alameda and Marin counties and the City and County of San Francisco, filed an enforcement action against SCI. The complaint alleged violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law in the marketing and sale of preneed cremation packages sold through the Neptune and Trident locations in California.

On May 1, 2024, the Attorney General's office announced a settlement. On May 2, 2024, the Superior Court for the County of Alameda entered the stipulated judgment. The settlement provided $23 million in civil penalties, full restitution to affected consumers, and injunctive relief -- including a requirement that SCI stop selling the bundled "Standard Plan" or similar packages unless all money paid, including money for merchandise, is placed into trust.

Two things must be said clearly. First, these were allegations resolved by a stipulated judgment; the public settlement materials do not record an admission of liability. Second, this was a California action about specific preneed contract practices -- it is not a finding about any other state, any other brand, or the quality of the cremation itself.

Primary sources, both on the Attorney General's own site:

• California AG press release, May 1, 2024
• California AG consumer page: Neptune Society and Trident Society settlement

If you cancelled a Neptune or Trident Standard Plan in California and did not receive a full refund, the Attorney General's consumer page above explains eligibility and points to the settlement administrator. We are not affiliated with the settlement and cannot process claims.

Pros of the SCI Cremation Brands

• Scale and staying power. SCI reported 1,485 funeral service locations and 500 cemeteries at the end of 2025. On a plan you may hold twenty years, durability counts.
• Wide geographic coverage. A footprint across 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, DC and Puerto Rico means portability if you relocate.
• In-person arrangement is available. Unlike purely online services, these brands keep physical offices in many metros, which matters to families who want to sit across from a person.
• Developed prepaid infrastructure. Neptune Society has built much of its business around pre-need planning, with structured plans and price protection.
• Distinctive memorial options. Sea scattering and the Neptune Memorial Reef suit families who want something other than an urn on a shelf.

Cons of the SCI Cremation Brands

• Three brands are not three competitors. If your shortlist is Neptune, Trident and National Cremation Society, it has one company on it.
• No published pricing. None of the three publishes a national price list, so you cannot comparison shop in a browser tab.
• Common ownership is disclosed in SEC filings, not on the storefront. The 10-K brand list is public, but most families never open a 10-K.
• Documented California enforcement history on preneed contracts. See the sourced settlement above, and read any prepaid contract's refund and trust terms closely.
• Typically not the cheapest option. Reported Neptune Society figures sit in the midrange, and independent local providers frequently come in lower.
• Installment prepaid plans cost more overall than a lump sum, because you are financing.

Who the SCI Cremation Brands Are Best For

None of these brands is a bad choice, and this guide does not name a loser. Common ownership is a fact to price in, not a reason to walk away. These brands tend to fit well for:

• People buying a prepaid plan they may hold for decades, who value the balance-sheet stability and transferability of a large national company
• Families who want an in-person office rather than a fully remote, online-only arrangement
• People who move between states or split the year between two homes, where a national footprint is genuinely useful
• Families specifically drawn to sea scattering or memorial reef placement
• Anyone who prefers a recognizable national name and is willing to pay something for that

They tend to fit less well for families whose single priority is the lowest possible direct cremation price, and for people who want transparent published pricing they can compare in a few clicks. In those cases, an online cremation company or an independent local provider is often the better match.

Local Alternatives Worth Comparing

The comparison that actually tells you something is an SCI brand quote against a quote from an unaffiliated provider in your own market. Our directory publishes what direct cremation runs city by city, based on provider pricing we collect:

• Los Angeles, CA -- direct cremation typically $600 - $2,095
• Sacramento, CA -- typically $910 - $2,440
• Tampa, FL -- typically $1,045 - $1,560
• Orlando, FL -- typically $855 - $3,055
• Phoenix, AZ -- typically $695 - $2,245
• Las Vegas, NV -- typically $899 - $2,350

Browse any city in our directory and request a General Price List from two or three local providers. Our questions to ask a cremation provider checklist keeps every conversation on the same terms so you are comparing like for like.

How to Compare Quotes Without Getting Confused

1. Ask every provider, in one sentence: "Who owns this location?" You are entitled to ask, and the answer tells you whether your quotes are independent.
2. Request a written, itemized General Price List. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, providers must give you itemized pricing on request. Never plan around a verbal "starting at" number.
3. Make sure at least one quote is from an unaffiliated local provider. Otherwise you have no independent reference point.
4. For prepaid plans, read the trust and refund terms first, not last. Ask specifically what happens to merchandise payments on cancellation, and get the answer in writing.
5. Confirm the itemized inclusions -- transfer, permits, the cremation, a basic container, and how many certified death certificate copies.

Our guide to cremation prepayment plans walks through the trade-offs of paying ahead in more detail.

Prices in this article are 2026 estimates and typical reported ranges, not quotes. Neptune Society, Trident Society and National Cremation Society set prices locally and generally do not publish them online. Ownership statements are sourced from Service Corporation International's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed February 12, 2026. Enforcement details are sourced from the California Attorney General's published materials and describe allegations resolved by a stipulated judgment, not findings of liability. Always request a written, itemized quote -- a General Price List under the FTC Funeral Rule -- before making any decision or payment.

Helpful Resources

For authoritative, up-to-date information on cremation costs, consumer rights, and planning:

• FTC: Shopping for Funeral Services
• SEC EDGAR: Service Corporation International filings
• Cremation Association of North America (CANA)
• National Funeral Directors Association

Related guides on this site:

• compare cremation costs in your area
• Neptune Society review and costs
• the FTC Funeral Rule explained
• cheapest direct cremation options

Frequently Asked Questions

Is National Cremation Society the same as Neptune Society?

They are separate brands with separate names and separate offices, but they are listed as brands of the same parent company. In its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Service Corporation International names both National Cremation Society and Neptune Society in its list of brands. So they are not the same business under one name, but they are also not independent competitors -- they share a corporate parent. If you want a genuinely independent second quote, get one from an unaffiliated local provider.

Is Trident Society the same company as Neptune Society?

Both Trident Society and Neptune Society appear in Service Corporation International's FY2025 brand list. In its May 1, 2024 press release about the settlement described above, the California Attorney General's office described SCI as doing business in California as the Neptune Society and the Trident Society. In practical terms, a Neptune quote and a Trident quote in California come from the same corporate parent.

Who owns Neptune Society?

Neptune Society is named as a brand of Service Corporation International in SCI's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2026. SCI is a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and reported 1,485 funeral service locations and 500 cemeteries at the end of 2025. We source this from SEC filings rather than secondary coverage because corporate ownership changes and filings are the authoritative record.

What are National Cremation Society prices?

National Cremation Society does not publish a national price list, and its prices are set locally. We do not publish a figure for it because we could not verify one from a primary source, and an invented number would be worse than no number. Request a written, itemized General Price List from the location serving your address. For context on what you should expect to pay, our directory publishes typical direct cremation ranges by city -- in most US metros direct cremation runs roughly $1,000 to $3,000.

Does it matter that these brands share an owner?

It matters for one specific reason: it changes what your quotes mean. Collecting three quotes is a good instinct, but if all three come from brands of the same company, you have not actually tested the market. Common ownership is legal and ordinary, and it brings real benefits like scale and portability. The fix is simple -- make sure at least one of your quotes comes from a provider with no corporate relationship to the others.

Is Dignity Memorial also part of the same company?

Yes. Dignity Memorial is named in the same FY2025 Form 10-K, where SCI describes it as the brand it is best known for and as "North America's first transcontinental brand of deathcare products and services." Dignity Memorial is generally positioned toward full-service funerals and cemetery property rather than low-cost direct cremation. For more on where its pricing lands, see our guide to Dignity Memorial cremation prices.