By Emon Reiser

United Natural Foods boosted its full-year outlook after the grocery wholesaler reduced its loss in the fiscal second quarter.

The grocery distributor narrowed its loss to $3 million, or 5 cents a share, for the three months ended Feb. 1, compared with a loss of $15 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter.

Stripping out one-time items, adjusted earnings were 22 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected an adjusted profit of 18 cents a share.

Sales rose 4.9% to $8.2 billion, driven by an increase in wholesale unit volumes, especially in natural-food products. Analysts expected $7.96 billion.

"We are currently working to complete the previously announced product-focused realignment of our wholesale business designed to create more customized service for our customers and suppliers," said Chief Executive Sandy Douglas.

For the fiscal year ending Aug. 2, the company raised its outlook, guiding for sales between $31.3 billion and $31.7 billion from a previous range of $30.6 billion and $31 billion. The company now expects adjusted earnings between 70 cents and 90 cents a share, up from a previous range of 40 cents to 80 cents a share.

"As we look to the second half of the fiscal year, we remain focused on further execution of our plan and identifying new opportunities to bring increasing value, while delivering our updated outlook and continuing to deleverage our balance sheet," Douglas said.

Write to Emon Reiser at emon.reiser@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 11, 2025 07:29 ET (11:29 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.