Oct 24 (Reuters) - Edwards Lifesciences ( EW ) on

Thursday forecast fourth-quarter sales below Wall Street

estimates, hurt by softer demand and fierce competition for its

artificial heart valves.

Investor expectations for medical device makers have

risen in recent quarters as demand for surgical procedures,

especially among older adults, remains high.

The company's third-quarter sales of $1.35 billion also

fell short of analysts' average estimates of $1.52 billion,

according to data compiled by LSEG.

Edwards' lead product is the transcatheter aortic valve

replacement (TAVR) device, which enables minimally invasive

heart surgeries.

Sales from the TAVR unit increased 6.5% to $1.02 billion in

the quarter ended Sept. 30 in line with analysts' estimates.

In July, the company acquired heart device makers JenaValve

Technology and Endotronix in deals valued at $1.2 billion as it

looks to cement its position as a pure-play structural heart

company.

However, its TAVR devices face fierce competition from

Abbott, Boston Scientific ( BSX ), and Medtronic ( MDT )

.

These results contrast with larger peer Boston Scientific ( BSX ),

raised its annual profit forecast and exceeded Wall Street's

estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, driven by

robust demand for its heart devices.

California-based Edwards reaffirmed its full-year sales

growth guidance of 8% to 10%.

The medical device maker anticipates fourth-quarter sales to

be between $1.33 to $1.39 billion, lower than analysts' average

estimates of $1.44 billion. It expects profit of 53 to 57 cents

per share.

On an adjusted basis, Edwards earned 67 cents per share for

the quarter ended Sept. 30, beating analysts' expectations by 3

cents.