J Crew Group Inc said on Tuesday that quarterly net profit surged above Wall Street estimates due to strong autumn sales at the upscale apparel retail and expanded profit margins from depressed year-ago levels.

The company's shares rose 5 percent in after-hours trading.

Third-quarter net income rose 131 percent to $43.9 million, or 67 cents per share from $19 million, or 30 cents per share, a year earlier.

Analysts, on average, had been expecting earnings of 58 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose 14 percent to $414.1 million while same-store sales -- a key gauge of retail performance that measures sales at stores open at least a year -- jumped 8 percent.

Sales at the company have been robust during the fall season as shoppers with some disposable income have sought out updates to their wardrobes. The company -- which earlier this year struggled with too-high inventory levels that pressured margins -- attributes its sales strength to what it calls unique, differentiated merchandise.

Operating profit margins rose to 18.2 percent of revenues from 9 percent of revenues a year earlier.

Looking ahead, J Crew said it expects fourth-quarter earnings per share to range between 37 cents to 42 cents.

Shares rose 5 percent to $42.90 after hours, after closing at $40.85 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Alexandria Sage; editing by Carol Bishopric)