What happened Shares of PetMed Express Inc. (NASDAQ: PETS) soared today after the country's largest pet pharmacy reported strong fiscal first-quarter results. As of 12:32 a.m. EDT, the stock was up 19.3%. So what PetMed Express surged past analysts' forecasts once again as revenue increased 10% to $79.7 million, topping the consensus estimate of $77.3 million. A shift to higher-margin products helped generate a 350-basis-point increase in gross margin to 34.5%, which in turn powered a 41% jump in earnings per share to $0.45, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38. Image Source: Getty Images The company also added 169,000 new customers in the quarter, which ended June 30, an 8% acceleration from its growth the year before, and saw average order value increase from $82 to $87. CEO Menderes Akdag called the increases in new orders and reorders "encouraging," adding that the company "continues to focus on increasing sales and improving our service levels." Now what Management did not provide guidance for the current quarter, nor for the rest of the fiscal year, but its second strong earnings beat in a row was an encouraging sign for near-term growth, especially with the surge in gross margin, which should carry through to the rest of the fiscal year. The pet care industry has exploded over the past generation, and should continue to grow at a robust rate, outpacing the overall economy. Shares of PetMed Express have nearly doubled this year, and with the switch to a new generation of drugs and the overall industry growth, the stock should continue to outperform. 10 stocks we like better than PetMed ExpressWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and PetMed Express wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of July 6, 2017Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.