UPDATE 3-Estee Lauder profit tops view; forecast strong

(Adds CEO comments; growth, products details)

By Aarthi Sivaraman

NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Cosmetics maker Estee Lauder Cos Inc (EL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday and forecast current-quarter earnings well above Wall Street estimates, sending its shares up more than 4 percent.

For the current quarter, which includes the all-important holiday shopping season, the company said it expects earnings of $1.10 to $1.17 a share from continuing operations, and sales growth of 10 percent to 12 percent.

Analysts expect Estee, known for its namesake brand as well as the Aveda, MAC and Bobbi Brown lines, to earn $1.05 per share.

"The real test is to see if Estee delivers in (the current quarter), its biggest quarter of the year because of the holidays," Bear Stearns analyst Justin Hott wrote in a note.

Estee Lauder Chief Executive William Lauder said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the holiday season, citing a National Retail Federation survey that found consumer spending will rise, but only at about half the pace it did a year ago.

But, he added, high-end luxury retailers would continue to do well.

Estee said it still expects full-year earnings of $2.28 to $2.40 per share on sales growth of 7 percent to 9 percent. Analysts expect $2.35 per share.