UPDATE 3-Holcim Q3 profit beats poll, eyes N.American growth

* Q3 profit flat at 673 mln Sfr, beats 497 mln Sfr forecast

* Sees N.American growth from H2, 2010, cautious on Europe

* Set to exceed cost-saving target for 2009

* Shares up 5.6 pct

(Adds CFO, analyst comment, updates shares)

By Katie Reid

ZURICH, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Cement maker Holcim (HOLN.VX) said stimulus programmes were set to return North America to growth in the second half of 2010 as it posted forecast-beating quarterly figures.

The world's second largest cement maker, which warned European markets would stay tough, easily beat expectations with a third-quarter net profit of 673 million Swiss francs ($667 million), unchanged from the year-ago period. It also said it was on track to exceed its 600 million franc cost-cutting target for 2009.

At 1145 GMT, shares in the group were trading 5.6 percent higher at 73.55 francs, while the Dow Jones Stoxx European construction index .SXOP was 1.5 percent higher and rival Lafarge (LAFP.PA) was up 2.8 percent.