USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA—NYSE) announced a record profit of $19.5 million, or $1.47 EPS, when it released its third quarter earnings statement after the market closed on Tuesday. Earnings increased by 16.4 percent, compared with $16.8 million during the prior-year period with EPS beating estimates of 10 cents, according to Zacks Investment Research. Earnings per share for the quarter increased by 26.7 percent, compared with $1.16 in the third quarter of 2013.
For the third quarter of 2014, net sales increased by 10.5 percent to $191.9 million, compared with $173.7 million in the prior-year period. This beat estimates by $1.4 million. The increase in net sales was driven by overall associate growth of 18.8 percent, which was generated by the company’s Asia Pacific region.
The increase in earnings per share was attributable to higher net earnings and a lower number of diluted shares outstanding due to the company’s share repurchases during 2014. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding were 13.3 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2014, compared with 14.4 million in the prior-year period.
During the quarter, the company repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares under its authorized repurchase program for a total investment of $76.6 million.
2014 guidance includes consolidated net sales between $780 million and $790 million, versus the previous outlook of between $770 million and $790 million, and earnings per share between $5.85 and $5.95, versus the previous outlook of between $5.50 and $5.65.