<div><p>(Reuters) - Williams-Sonoma Inc <WSM.N> reported a 7.4 percent rise in holiday revenue, prompting the home goods retailer to forecast fourth-quarter results above market estimates.</p><p>The operator of the Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma chains has been helped by its decision to offer more lower-priced home decor items and improved holiday merchandise, driving in more shoppers.</p><p>For the holiday period ended December 27, sales increased 7.4 to $783 million.</p><p>The company expects fourth-quarter sales of $1.06 billion to $1.08 billion, with profit between 65 cents and 70 cents a share.</p><p>On an adjusted basis, the company expects earnings of 69 cents a share to 74 cents a share.</p><p>Analysts, on average, were expecting earnings of 50 cents a share, on revenue of $1.03 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.</p><p>Shares of the company were up 1 percent at $23.05 Thursday. They had closed at $22.75 Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange</p><p>(Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Jarshad Kakkrakandy)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=66891337&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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