Out of the Gate: Alberto-Culver Rises

Shares advanced $3.07, or 13.1 percent, to $26.60 in morning trading.

Alberto-Culver said Monday it posted a fiscal first-quarter profit, versus a year-ago loss that was weighed down by big restructuring charges. Sales rose 14 percent during the quarter and topped Wall Street expectations.

Citigroup analyst Wendy Nicholson kept her "Buy" rating on the stock and said sales growth topped her expectation for a 7.6 percent increase.

Shares have risen sharply recently because of strong sales and earnings growth, a strong track record of beating Wall Street expectations and high earnings quality, she said.

Nicholson also expects a current restructuring to help cut costs. Alberto-Culver spun off its beauty supplies division, Sally Beauty Holdings Inc., last year as a separate public company and restructured its remaining operations.