TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ), owner of clothing brand Uniqlo, booked its third consecutive year of record profit on Thursday, helped by a cheap yen.

Operating profit rose 31% to 500.9 billion yen ($3.35 billion) in the 12 months through August from 381.1 billion yen a year earlier, the apparel maker said in a statement.

That compared with the 478.3 billion yen average of 15 analyst estimates compiled by LSEG.

Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) lifted its own forecast to 475 billion yen in July citing strong performance in the second half of the year.

($1 = 149.2500 yen)