UPDATE 2-New Jersey Resources posts narrower-than-expected loss

(Recasts; adds details, analyst comments, share movement)

July 30 (Reuters) - Natural gas distributer New Jersey Resources Corp (NJR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a narrower adjusted third-quarter loss, helped by higher sales in its wholesale segment, and reiterated its full-year profit outlook, sending its shares to a new year high.

The decreased loss in the quarter was due primarily to increased demand for natural gas from electric generation customers during the early part of June 2008 when temperatures were above normal ranges, the company said in statement.

Weather during the three-month period ended June 30 was 15 percent warmer than normal, it added.

Operating revenue from the company's NJR Energy Services unit, which provides wholesale natural gas to industrial consumers and accounted for more than 80 percent of total revenue, rose more than 68 percent to $801.6 million during the third-quarter.

NARROWER LOSS

Excluding items, the company reported a third-quarter net loss of $4.1 million, or 10 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $4.9 million, or 12 cents a share, a year ago.

This was narrower-than average analysts expectation of a 12 cents loss, according to Reuters Estimates.

Operating revenue rose 51 percent to $1 billion. This was above the expectation of one analyst who had forecast third-quarter revenue of $653.8 million.