* Q3 EBIT 55.8 million euros vs 53.8 million forecast
* Sees moderate, uneven market recovery
* Winter sports pre-orders up 15 percent y/y (Adds details, comments)
HELSINKI, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Finnish sporting goods group Amer Sports reported third-quarter profit slightly ahead of forecasts on Thursday, helped by rising sales, and said it expected an moderate, but patchy, recovery.
The owner of the Wilson and Atomic brands posted operating profit up 37 percent to 55.8 million euros ($77.05 million) from 40.1 million a year ago, ahead of expectations for 53.8 million in a Reuters poll.
Net sales rose 14 percent to 467 million, in line with forecasts.
"The sporting goods market is expected to recover moderately, but with significant regional and sports area specific differences," the company said.
Amer said this season pre-orders in winter sports equipment were up approximately 15 percent compared with last year.
"Winter sports equipment market has recovered due to good snow conditions during previous winter season," it said.
Amer repeated that it expects 2010 sales to rise to 1.7 billion euros from 1.5 billion a year ago, and said it targeted an operating margin of 6 percent excluding one-off items.
An earlier forecast was for a full-year margin in the mid-single digits.
Shares were 2.1 percent higher at 9.75 euros by 1021 GMT.
(Reporting by Helsinki Newsroom; Editing by Erica Billingham)