Gymboree Corp's (GYMB.O) quarterly profit topped market estimates by a penny, as well-managed discounts helped the children's apparel retailer during the holiday season, and it forecast the first quarter largely above expectations.

For the first quarter, the company, a pricier peer to Children's Place Retail Stores (PLCE.O), expects to earn between 90 cents a share to 94 cents a share.

Analysts, on average, were looking at 90 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Gymboree, which also rivals Gap Inc's (GPS.N) Baby Gap line, has seen strong sales this season, and its Gymbucks coupon scheme, which lets customers redeem coupons for purchases, continues to be popular.

For the fourth quarter, Gymboree earned $33.2 million or $1.11 a share, while analysts were looking at earnings of $1.10 a share.

Sales were up 4 percent to $299.6 million.

Shares of the company were up 1.5 percent at $47.20 after the bell. They had closed at $46.29 Wednesday 10 March on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Maju Samuel)