UPDATE 1-Weight Watchers posts higher 4th-qtr profit

(Adds details, estimate, outlook)

NEW YORK, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Weight Watchers International Inc. (WTW.N) reported higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, but shares fell in after-hours trading after it forecast 2007 profit below expectations. The operator of weight loss centers said fourth-quarter net income rose to $44.3 million, or 45 cents per diluted share, from $38.9 million, or 38 cents, a year earlier.

Weight Watchers, which also operates a weight management program over the Internet, said revenue rose 13.7 percent to $285.5 million from $251.2 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Analysts, on average, were expecting a quarterly profit of 39 cents on revenue of about $275.56 million.

Excluding one-time items, Weight Watchers earned 39 cents a share.

Looking ahead, Weight Watchers said it expects 2007 earnings to range between $2.33 and $2.47 per share. Analysts expected $2.49 a share.

Weight Watchers shares fell 2.5 percent in after-hours trading from the close of $53.68 on the New York Stock Exchange.

((Reporting by Justin Grant, editing by J.S. Benkoe; Reuters Messaging: Justin.Grant.reuters.com.reuters.net; 646-223-6194)) Keywords: WEIGHTWATCHERS RESULTS/

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