Sept 29 (Reuters) - Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp (BGFV.O) said it expects third-quarter earnings to be at or near the upper end of its previous forecast, helped by tight expense management and improved merchandise margins.

Photo: www.big5sportinggoods.com

The sporting goods retailer had earlier forecast earnings of 27 cents a share to 34 cents a share for the period ended Sept. 27.

Analysts on average expect the company to earn 31 cents per share, before special items, according to Reuters Estimates.

The El Segundo, California-based company said sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 1.6 percent in the third quarter.

Shares of the company closed at $15.32 Monday 28 September on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal)