American Outdoor Brands has reported an uplift in sales for the third quarter, which management said was ahead of expectations.

The company’s net sales for the quarter ended January 31 soared 9.5 per cent to $58.5 million, while gross margin grew from 42.7 per cent in the prior year to 44.7 per cent.

The retailer swung to a GAAP net income of $169,000 from a net loss of  $2.9 million last year.

President and CEO Brian Murphy attributed the better-than-expected results to the company’s long-term strategy, which focuses on broadening distribution opportunities, expanding brand awareness, and strengthening margins.

“We delivered growth in both our Outdoor Lifestyle and our Shooting Sports categories, supported by year-over-year increases in nearly all sales channels in the third quarter, including our traditional, e-commerce, and domestic sales channels,” Murphy added.

The company has increased its outlook for the full year, expecting net sales to be in the range of $207 million to $210 million.

American Outdoor Brands’ portfolio includes Bog, Bubba, Caldwell, Imperial, LaserLyte, Schrade and Wheeler, among others.