UPDATE 1-Northrop Grumman profit up a bit, sees year in line

(Adds outlook, details)

NEW YORK Jan 24 (Reuters) - Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N) said on Thursday fourth-quarter profit rose slightly, helped by strong sales at its information technology, electronics and shipbuilding units.

The No. 3 Pentagon supplier, behind Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Boeing Co (BA.N) forecast full-year profit in line with Wall Street estimates, as U.S. defense spending remains strong.

Los Angeles-based Northrop reported quarterly net profit of $454 million, or $1.31 per share, compared with $453 million, or $1.28 per share, in the year-ago quarter.

Earnings from continuing operations were $1.32 per share, matching Wall Street forecasts, according to Reuters Estimates.

Sales were higher across Northrop's information, aerospace, electronics and shipbuilding units, up 10 percent to $8.8 billion, ahead of analysts' average forecast of $8.4 billion.

The increase in profit was slight due to a $111 million one-time gain in the year-ago quarter from selling shares of car parts maker TRW Automotive Holdings Corp (TRW.N), which Northrop spun off several years ago.

For the whole year, Northrop forecast earnings from continuing operations of $5.50 to $5.75 per share, in line with Wall Street's average estimate of $5.62 per share. (Reporting by Bill Rigby, editing by Dave Zimmerman)