Albertsons Cos. raised its adjusted earnings outlook for the full year, a positive sign for the grocer seeking to pave a new path after its proposed deal with Kroger Co. fell apart. The nation’s second-largest supermarket operator now expects adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.25 to $2.31, up from as much as $2.30 previously.

Shares of grocery retailer Albertsons (ACI) rose Wednesday morning after the company reported better third-quarter earnings than analysts had expected, while sales fell just short of estimates. Albertsons recorded $400.

We are a stronger company today than pre-merger,” Chief Financial Officer Shannon McCollam said on a call with analysts.

Albertsons lowered the upper end of its annual sales forecast after missing third-quarter revenue expectations on Wednesday, as intense competition from bigger retailers such as Walmart and Kroger offering heavy discounts hurt demand.