March 26 (Reuters) - Specialty retailer Wet Seal Inc (WTSLA.O) posted a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, helped by lower expenses, and it forecast first-quarter results largely in line with market estimates.

Wet Seal swimwear Spring-Summer 2009

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, the company, which runs the Arden B. chain in addition to its namesake stores, earned $4.3 million, or 4 cents a share, down from $12.2 million, or 13 cents, a year earlier.

Same-store sales at Wet Seal fell 8.6 percent while that at its Arden B chain dropped 32.1 percent.

Selling, general and administrative expenses slumped 17 percent to $38.4 million.

The company, which expects store count to remain flat or decline slightly, sees same-store sales falling 3 percent to 8 percent in the first quarter.

It also forecast net capital expenditures to be $24 million to $25 million in fiscal 2009.

Shares of Foothill Ranch, California-based Wet Seal were trading at $3.30 after the bell. They closed at $3.51 Thursday on Nasdaq.

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