With the release of summer zombie action flick World War Z we thought it would be fun to look at te performance of some “zombie stocks.” What are zombie stocks? We defined them as being stocks that deal with, in some capacity or another, the business of death.

With fears that the Fed is going to taper off the stimulus, it was overall a grim week for the stock market. But in our digging we found that some of the zombie stocks showed real signs of life.

Hillenbrand Inc. (HI) This holding company controls Batesville,” a leader in the North American death care industry” that manufacturers caskets, cremation caskets, and urns. Hillenbrand rose up and lumbered to a .21 percent gain to close at 23.40.

Carriage Services Inc. (CSV) This “premier provider of services in the funeral and cemetery industry” gained .35 percent to close at $26.88 a share. This stock has really been on a rampage this year, gaining 45.39 percent since January.

Service Corporation International (SCI) “North America’s largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services” couldn’t claw its way out of the red, losing .34 percent to close out at $17.37 a share.

Stonemor Partners LP (STON) This cemetery and funeral home corporation strives “to memorialize each life with dignity.” StoneMor’s stock ate the competition, posting a big gain of 3.63 percent to close out at 25.70.

Stewart Enterprises (STEI) This funeral home firm’s stock was pretty dead. Stewart gained a mere. 11 percent, finishing up at $13.07 a share.

Matthews International Corporation (MATW) The Pittsburgh, PA-based Matthews makes “identification products” (i.e. gravestones and memorials.) Their stock has been animated, gaining  1.44 percent (17.17 percent on the year) to close at $37.39.

Wal-Mart (WMT) This casket retailer that also sells a few other things went up .66 percent to finish at $73.51.