Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc.'s ULTA -0.53% fiscal second-quarter earnings soared 83% as the beauty-products retailer posted results well ahead of its own forecast and continued strength in same-store sales.Looking ahead, Ulta forecast current-quarter earnings of 36 cents to 38 cents a share, ahead of the 34-cent average estimate expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. It predicted sales of $400 million to $407 million, also ahead of the Street's $396 million estimate.

Ulta has now recorded a string of solid results propelled by better-than-anticipated same-store sales and store expansion efforts.

The company went public right before the onset of the recession but has nonetheless seen strong performance ever since.

"We remain optimistic about our business as we begin the third quarter and while the economic environment has seen increased volatility, we believe the continued execution of our strategies coupled with the advantages of our business model have us poised to continue to profitably grow market share," Chief Executive Chuck Rubin said Thursday.

For the quarter ended July 30, Ulta posted a profit of $23.9 million, or 38 cents a share, up from a year-earlier profit of $13.1 million, or 22 cents a share.

Net sales jumped 23% to $394.6 million as same-store sales increased 11.3%. The company had forecast earnings of 31 cents to 33 cents on $378 million to $384 million in sales.

Gross margin rose to 34% from 32.3% a year earlier.

The company opened 21 stores during the quarter, ending with 415 stores. Square footage rose 18% from a year earlier.

Shares closed Thursday at $59.76 and were up 0.4% in after-hours trade. Through Thursday's close, the stock is up 76% so far this year.

Diamond Foods Inc.'s DMND +11.86% fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose a better-than-expected 27% as the packaged-food company benefited from stronger sales and a tax benefit.Shares were up 1.9% at $79.69 in after-hours trading. Through the close the stock is up 47% this year.

For the year, the company raised its per-share earnings guidance by a nickel to $3.05 to $3.15 and projected revenue of $1.85 billion and $1.95 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters recently expected earnings of $3.10 a share on revenue of $1.87 billion.

Diamond's pending $1.5 billion acquisition of the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) -- expected to close in December--is set to make the company the largest global snack company behind PepsiCo Inc. (PEP). In the latest quarter Diamond's retail snack sales grew 16% after more than doubling a year earlier with a boost from its earlier acquisition of the Kettle Foods.

Kettle Foods, a potato-chip company, was added with the aim of offsetting seasonality in Diamond's other businesses. In the first quarter to include Kettle Foods for both periods, Kettle sales improved 11% in the U.S. and 10% in the U.K.

For the quarter ended July 31, the maker of Emerald reported a profit of $8.5 million, or 37 cents a share, up from $6.7 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding acquisition-related costs and other items, earnings were up at 52 cents from 34 cents. Net sales increased 32% to $232.8 million.

The company in June projected 40 cents to 44 cents on revenue of $210 million to $220 million, below analysts' views at the time.

Gross margin edged down to 24.5% from 24.8% as nonretail sales surged.