NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Usana Health Sciences shares soared Friday after the nutritional and skin care products company said the Securities and Exchange Commission had closed its inquiry into the company's marketing model.

Shares jumped $8.93, or 25.1 percent, to $44.50 in midday trading.

In addition to closing its inquiry, Usana said the SEC didn't take any action against the company. The investigation began after a San Diego-based investigator, Barry Minkow, accused Usana of fraud and said its direct-marketing business model was a pyramid scheme.

Goldman Sachs analyst Simeon Gutman said the closure of the SEC inquiry "should further put to rest any remaining concerns about the integrity of Usana's business model."

Usana sells its products to a network of at-home distributors who recruit new employees into the network and then receive commissions on the recruits' purchases.

The allegations were only one factor depressing the company's stock price, which dropped 29 percent in 2007. During the year, Usana also was faced with a lawsuit filed by independent distributors claiming they lost thousands of dollars after buying business kits and products they said could not be sold at elevated prices. That lawsuit is still outstanding.