BANGALORE, India--Infosys Ltd. Friday beat market expectations with a 13% rise in fiscal-third quarter net profit and maintained its revenue growth outlook for the year through March, thanks to strong growth in outsourcing orders.

India's second-largest software exporter by sales said net profit for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose to 32.50 billion rupees ($522 million) from 28.75 billion rupees a year earlier. Revenue grew 5.9% to 137.96 billion rupees.

The Bangalore-based company's profit was better than the 31.62 billion rupees forecast in a poll of 12 analysts by The Wall Street Journal. Revenue was in-line with the 137.88 billion rupees estimate in the poll.

Chief Executive Officer Vishal Sikka said the company's business volumes grew 4% during the quarter, one of the strongest pace of expansion in the last three years, helping boost profitability.

The company, which is listed in New York and Mumbai, also maintained its forecast of a 7%-9% rise in revenue in dollar terms in the current fiscal year. It posted revenue of $8.25 billion last year.

Many analysts had expected Infosys to lower the forecast hurt by a slowdown in demand and sharp fluctuations in global currencies.

Last month, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, India's largest software exporter, warned of weak third quarter results, citing poor business sentiment, underscoring the challenges faced by the Indian outsourcing industry.