UPDATE 1-Sensient Q4 profit narrowly beats estimates

* Sees FY 2010 EPS $1.98 to $2.05

* Q4 adj. EPS $0.47 vs est $0.45

* Revenue rises 6 percent

Feb 5 (Reuters) - Specialty chemicals company Sensient Technologies Corp (SXT.N) posted a quarterly profit that edged past market estimates and projected a 2010 earnings range, the top end of which was in line with market estimates.

The company expects earnings to range between $1.98 and $2.05 per share for the year.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported net profit of $16.3 million, or 33 cents a share, compared with a profit of $20.6 million, or 43 cents a share, a year ago.

Excluding settlement charges of 14 cents related to environmental claims against a company Sensient acquired more than 20 years ago, earnings came at 47 cents a share.

On that basis, analysts had expected the company to earn 45 cents a share.

Quarterly consolidated revenue rose 6 percent to $311.5 million, against market estimates of $309.5 million.

The company, which has operations in more than 30 countries, said revenue from its key flavors and fragrances business saw a rise of 2.3 percent while the color business was up 11.4 percent.

Shares of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company closed at $25.80 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva)