NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Polo Ralph Lauren Corp (RL.N) reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday 3 November, helped by cost cuts and tight inventory.

Ralph Lauren

Net income was $177.5 million, or $1.75 per share, in the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 26, up from $161.0 million, or $1.58 per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average were expecting $1.31 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net revenue fell to $1.37 billion from $1.43 billion a year earlier, hurt by lower domestic wholesale sales and a decline in retail sales at stores open at least a year. (Reporting by Martinne Geller, editing by Dave Zimmerman)