NBTY, Inc. -- Needs a New Growth Vitamin? (NTY)

NBTY Inc., (NTY) ($21.72), the leading U.S. nutritional supplements marketer, posted a 9.3% increase in January sales, boosted by recent acquisitions and a strong performance from its North American retail stores. According to its preliminary results, sales climbed to $165 million from $151 million in January 2005.

Sales at the company's North American retail stores, including its Vitamin World stores, jumped 29 percent to $22 million from $17 million the year before. Sales at the company's Direct Response and Puritan's Pride division rose 21 percent to $23 million from $19 million.

On January 27, 2006, NBTY also reported better-than expected 1Q:06 share-net earnings.