Salt Lake City's Usana Health Sciences said yesterday that it now expects earnings per share for the third quarter to exceed the company's earlier guidance and is expecting sales to be in-line with its prior forecast.

Sales for the quarter ending September 27 will approach $52 million, said the company, but earnings per share are expected to be approximately $0.54, compared to initial guidance in the range of $0.43 to $0.45.

Gilbert A. Fuller, chief financial officer, said: "We continue to see operating margin improvements as we leverage the physical and information technology infrastructure investments made over the last several years."

Earnings per share and sales for the quarter are expected to be up approximately 145 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively, on a year-over-year basis, added Fuller.

Usana makes the Usana Nutritionals supplement range and the Sense skincare products, marketed internationally by a global sales network.