Natural Foods Sector Up On Sprouts' Q2 Results, Improved Outlook

The growing list of specialty natural foods retailers shares saw gains Friday on strong results and an improved outlook from Sprouts Farmers Market SFM

Sprouts posted a 20 percent second-quarter revenue gain and said same-store sales were up 9.5 percent. The company forecast that the growth rate for both figures will be sustained through 2014.

Adjusted income of $0.20 per share beat estimates by $0.02.

Sprouts' shares picked up 3.5 percent Friday, trading at $31.62.

Following suit were Fresh Market TFM, which jumped 1.4 percent to $30.33; Whole Foods Market WFM gained one percent to $37.70 and Fairway Group FWM was up 0.50 percent to $5.68.

Also gaining were United Natural Foods UNFI, up more than one percent to $61.20 and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage NGVC growing nearly one percent to $20.13.