July 23 (Reuters) - Footwear maker Deckers Outdoor Corp (DECK.O) posted a surprise second-quarter profit, helped by cost controls, but forecast a weak fourth quarter, when sales of its trademark sheepskin boots are traditionally strongest.

Ugg Boots Fall 2009

Shares of the maker of UGG boots were down 12 percent in trading after the bell after-hours closing at $77.21 on the Nasdaq.

For the second quarter ended June 30, the Goleta, California-based company posted a profit of $2.9 million, or 22 cents a share, compared with a loss of $3.8 million, or, 29 cents a share, a year ago.

Excluding items, the company posted a profit of 26 cents a share in the quarter, compared with analysts' average expectations of a loss of 8 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Net sales at Deckers, whose rivals include Skechers USA Inc (SKX.N) and Timberland (TMB.N), rose 13 percent to $102.5 million, mostly on a a 23 percent increase in UGG sales that offset declines at its Teva and Simple brands.

The company reiterated its previous full-year outlook for adjusted earnings to be flat to up slightly over 2008 earnings of $7.27 per share, but forecast fourth-quarter revenue to decrease slightly while earnings per share is expected to decline about 4 percent from 2008 levels. (Reporting by Abhishek Takle in Bangalore; Editing by Unnikrishnan Nair)