Sharp returns to Q3 profit, keeps annual outlook

TOKYO Feb 3 (Reuters) - Japan's Sharp Corp (6753.T) swung to a quarterly profit helped by solid sales of flat TVs, and the consumer electronics maker stuck to its annual profit outlook, in line with market expectations.

Operating profit at the world's No.4 LCD TV maker behind Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS), Sony Corp (6758.T) and LG Electronics Inc (066570.KS) was 21 billion yen ($232 million) in October-December, up from a 15.86 billion yen loss in the same period a year earlier.

Sharp, also a major supplier of LCD panels to other TV manufacturers, has benefited from strong Chinese demand for flat-screen TVs, which shored up panel prices and kept panel supply tight.

For the full year to March the maker of Aquos brand LCD TVs kept unchanged its operating profit forecast of 50 billion yen, a reversal of last year's 55.48 billion yen loss and roughly on a par with a consensus for a 51.4 billion yen profit in a poll of 20 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares in Sharp gained 76 percent over the year to Tuesday, outperforming the Tokyo stock market's electrical machinery index .IELEC.T, which rose 54 percent. ($1=90.51 Yen) (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Valerie Lee and Michael Watson)