What happened Lawn and garden product specialist Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: SMG) beat the market last month by gaining 14% compared to a 1% uptick in the S&P 500, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The rally added to significant gains for shareholders, who are up over 70% so far in 2019. Image source: Getty Images. So what July's stock price bump came in the month's final few days as investors reacted to a surprisingly strong second-quarter earnings report. Scotts Miracle-Gro said on July 31 that sales gains cracked into the double-digits with help from booming demand in its hydroponic Hawthorne franchise. The company also reached a profit-sharing deal with Monsanto on the Roundup weed control brand. Now what Scotts Miracle-Gro lifted its sales and earnings outlooks to account for the improved expansion pace in 2019's first half. Revenue is now expected to rise by between 16% and 17%, including an almost 7% boost in the core business and a near doubling of Hawthorne sales. The predicted 2019 earnings range moved up from between $4.20 and $4.40 per share to between $4.35 and $4.50 per share. Gross profit margin is trending slightly lower, and that trend is worth watching over the next few months for signs that the company's aggressive promotions continue to deliver healthy market share gains. 10 stocks we like better than Scotts Miracle-GroWhen 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 quadrupled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Scotts Miracle-Gro wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 1, 2019 Demitrios Kalogeropoulos has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source