Netflix posts higher quarterly profit

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Online DVD rental company Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) posted a higher quarterly profit on Thursday and raised its full-year forecast, citing continued strong subscriber growth.

Netflix said net profit for the third quarter rose to $30.1 million, or 52 cents per share, from $20.4 million, or 33 cents per share, a year earlier.

Netflix shares fell in after-hours trading to $47.05 each, after closing up about 3.7 percent at $49.63 a share on Nasdaq.

"The numbers were a little better than expected, but the stock is probably down on profit taking after running up earlier in anticipation," said Edward Woo, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities.

Net subscribers rose by 510,000 in the quarter compared with an increase of 261,000 for the same period of 2008 and an increase of 289,000 for the second quarter of 2009.

For the full year, it expects 12 million to 12.3 million subscribers, up from its previous forecast of 11.6 million to 12 million, and revenues of $1.666 billion to $1.672 billion, up from $1.65 billion to $1.67 billion previously forecast.

(Reporting by Susan Zeidler; editing by Andre Grenon)