SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Nordstrom Inc (JWN.N) reported a higher quarterly profit on Thursday 12 November, helped by better sales and higher merchandise margins, but the results fell slightly short of Wall Street view and its shares fell 5 percent after the close.

Photo: shop.nordstrom.com

The upscale department store posted a net profit of $83 million, or 38 cents per share in the third quarter ended Oct. 31, up from $71 million, or 33 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 3.5 percent to $1.87 billion.

Analysts, on average, had been expecting a profit of 39 cents per share and sales of $1.78 billion during the quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Looking ahead, the retailer expects earnings between $1.83 to $1.88 for the 2009 fiscal year, an increase from an earlier view of $1.50 to $1.65.

Shares fell to $32.80 in extended trading after closing at $34.51 on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Alexandria Sage; editing by Andre Grenon)