UPDATE 1-Lennox posts higher Q4 profit

* Q4 EPS $0.51 vs $0.17 a year ago

* Q4 rev $762 mln vs est $742.9 mln

* Backs 2011 adj EPS from cont ops view $2.80-$3.10

Feb 3 (Reuters) - Heating and cooling systems maker Lennox International Inc (LII.N) posted a higher quarterly profit, helped by growth at its residential segment, and backed its 2011 outlook.

The company posted fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations of $27.8 million, or 51 cents a share, compared with $9.9 million, or 17 cents a share a year ago.

Excluding items, it 55 cents a share from continuing operations.

Revenue rose 4 percent to $762 million. Residential heating and cooling revenue increased 9 percent.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of 52 cents a share, before special items, on revenue of $742.86 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares of the Richardson, Texas-based company closed at $49.97 on Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange. They have gained 15 percent since the company raised its 2011 outlook on Oct. 26. (Reporting by Divya Sharma in Bangalore)