UPDATE 2-Helen of Troy Q1 profit tops Street, shares rise

* Q1 EPS $0.47 vs est $0.35 * Q1 rev $143.9 mln vs est $146.1 mln

* Shares rise 10 pct

(Adds details from conference call)

July 9 (Reuters) - Personal-care products maker Helen of Troy Ltd (HELE.O) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as strong sales from its housewares segment and lower expenses tempered the impact of a difficult retail environment, sending its shares up 10 percent.

A marginal fall in first-quarter sales was also offset by increasing sales from its hair-care business acquisitions, Ogilivie and Infusium 23, the company said in a conference call.

The company, whose rivals include Conair Corp and Lifetime Brands Inc (LCUT.O), acquired Infusium 23 in March from rival Procter & Gamble Co (PG.N).

Sales in Europe and South America were down on foreign currency fluctuations and weak economic conditions, but U.S sales strengthened, it said.

Sales from the housewares segment that consists of the OXO International brands, rose 11 percent to $42.7 million, driven by new products and line extensions.

However, sales from the personal care segment, which includes grooming, skin and hair products under the Revlon and Vidal Sassoon brands among others, fell about 5 percent to $101.2 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses fell 14 percent to $39.3 million due to lower bad debt expenses and foreign currency remeasurement gains, the company said.

STRONG Q1 PROFIT

For the first quarter ended May 31, the company earned $14.5 million, or 47 cents per share, versus $5.6 million, or 18 cents per share, a year ago.

Sales declined 1 percent to $143.9 million.

Analysts on average were expecting the company to earn 35 cents per share, before special items, on revenue of $146.1 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

Shares of the El Paso, Texas-based company were trading up 9 percent at $19.73 Thursday afternoon on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Viraj Nair; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal, Unnikrishnan Nair)