NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Household goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. posted a 40-percent jump in its second-quarter profit, beating Wall Street expectations, amid low mortgage rates and consumers' growing and sustained focus on the home after Sept. 11.

For the quarter ended Aug. 31, Bed Bath & Beyond reported net earnings of $75.5 million, or 25 cents per share, compared with $54 million, or 18 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.

Wall Street analysts had expected the company to report an average net of 23 cents per share, according to earnings tracking firm First Call.

Net sales rose 27 percent, to $903 million from $713.6 million a year earlier. The company said sales at stores open at least a year, or "same-store" sales, jumped 8 percent.

In addition, Bed Bath & Beyond said full-year earnings will slightly exceed Wall Street forecasts, stating it now sees earnings per share of 95 cents for the year, up from its previous target of 93 cents. The company had earned 74 cents per share a year earlier.

The Union, N.J.-based retail operator had 433 stores in 44 states and Puerto Rico at the end of the second quarter, including 24 new stores opened during the period. The company said it has already opened 10 new stores so far this month.

Shares of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY: Research, Estimates) surged to $34.20 in after-hours trading from their close of $33.68 on Nasdaq. The stock posted a 4.2 percent gain during regular trading.  

-- from staff and wire reports