SunOpta (NASDAQ: STKL) shares surged 8.17% in after-hours trading on Wednesday following the release of its first-quarter earnings report, which significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The plant-based food and beverage company demonstrated strong financial performance, beating both earnings and revenue estimates.

The company reported quarterly earnings of $0.04 per share, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $0.01 by an impressive 300%. This represents a 100% increase compared to earnings of $0.02 per share in the same period last year. On the revenue front, SunOpta posted quarterly sales of $201.60 million, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $194.55 million by 3.62%. The reported revenue marks a 10.26% increase from $182.85 million in the same quarter of the previous year.

These robust financial results underscore SunOpta's continued growth and operational efficiency in the competitive plant-based food sector. The significant earnings beat and solid revenue growth suggest that the company's strategic initiatives and product offerings are resonating well with consumers, potentially positioning SunOpta for further expansion in the rapidly evolving health food market.