Sprouts Farmers Market sales rise 5% in Q3, but comparable store sales fall

what happened

Sprouts Farmers Market, according to a TradingView report, posted net sales of $2.3 billion in the third quarter of 2026, which ended September 27. That was 5% higher than a year earlier. Comparable store sales slipped 0.9%, and diluted earnings per share came in at $1.21, versus $1.22 in the same quarter of 2025.

The company opened 15 stores during the quarter and had 504 locations in 25 states at quarter-end. It finished with $229 million in cash and an undrawn $600 million revolving credit facility. It bought back 1.1 million shares for $89 million, excluding excise tax. CEO Jack Sinclair blamed a challenging consumer environment and the cyclospora disruption for the weaker quarter, and said the company will increase investment in affordability.

For the fourth quarter, Sprouts expects comparable store sales to fall 2.0% to 4.0%, with diluted EPS of $0.47 to $0.51. For full-year 2026, it projects net sales growth of about 4.3%, comparable store sales of about minus 1.7%, EBIT of about $605 million and diluted EPS of about $4.80. The year includes a 53rd week in the fourth quarter.

why it matters

For markets, the key figure is the comparable store sales decline, along with a soft outlook for the rest of the year. It points to pressure on demand at the healthy-food grocery segment, and investors will watch whether the company can bring shoppers back into its stores.

market impact

Grocery retail: weak comparable sales and outlook weigh on SFM shares

• ▼Sprouts Farmers Market shares (SFM) pressure down — falling comparable sales and a weak Q4 outlook lower earnings expectations

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