shares of supermarket chain sprouts farmers market inc were trading lower on the nasdaq thursday a day after the company released firstquarter financial results and said it expected its previously provided outlook would be at the low end of the range at 1119 am et the companys stock had fallen 2432 to trade at 2372 per share volume at the time topped 61 million shares above the stocks 65day average volume of some 17 million sprouts said it was expecting its total sales growth comparable store sales growth and earnings per share to be at the low end of its previously provided outlook the company also said it was expecting secondquarter comparable stores sales growth to be relatively flat and expected earnings per share in the period between 49 cents and 53 cents per share chip molloy the companys chief financial officer said sprouts was pleased with its firstquarter performance but added inflation is not slowing and customers are continuing to put a few less items in their baskets he also said despite transaction comp continuing to be positive given the level of uncertainty in the marketplace we believe it is prudent to assume a more conservative approach to our outlook for the first quarter sprouts reported eps of 79 cents on sales of 164 billion in the yearago period the company reported eps of 70 cents on sales of 158 billion on thursday b of a securities cut its price target on sprouts stock to 25 per share from 40 and stephens  co cut its price target to 28 per share from 30 as reported by benzinga