TOKYO, April 10 Reuters The Japanese operator of global clothing heavyweight Uniqlo is expected to post a stronger quarterly profit on Thursday as its overseas units make up for slowing growth at home.

Fast Retailing39;s operating profit in the three months through February likely rose 11 from a year earlier to 114.3 billion yen 753.4 million, based on the average of five analyst estimates compiled by LSEG.

The increase builds the first quarter, when Fast Retailing posted a 25 jump in earnings on the back of strong results in China, its biggest foreign market.

The company conservatively left its forward guidance unchanged after those results, so secondquarter results may top consensus figures, according to LightStream Research analyst Oshadhi Kumarasiri.

This optimism is fuelled by several factors, including the ongoing recovery of the Uniqlo business in China and South Korea, robust samestore sales performance across the Asia, India, and Oceania regions, and the impressive sales volume of apparel observed in the US in December 2023, he wrote in a report on the Smartkarma platform.

The company founded and run by Tadashi Yanai has posted record results in the past two years and is projecting profits to climb again this year as it continues to aggressively grow overseas.

Yanai, Japan39;s richest man, is scheduled to speak at Fast Retailing39;s earnings briefing on Thursday.

With its 922 stores in mainland China, Fast Retailing is a bellwether for global retailers…