The Japanese operator of the global Uniqlo clothing chain said on Thursday that first-quarter operating profit rose 7.4%, a solid start to its plan to achieve record profits for a fourth-straight year.

The operator of the global clothing chain Uniqlo reported first-quarter results on Thursday that, while showing a rise in profits, fell slightly short of analyst expectations. A sharp decline in profit in China overshadowed strong sales in its home market of Japan,

Japan-based Fast Retailing, the operator of the Uniqlo global clothing brand, reported first-quarter results on Thursday, posting a sharp decline in profit in China, which overshadowed strong sales in Japan.

Fast's Uniqlo business in China was impacted by incorrect inventory allocation, while the Southern U.S. region was cited for strong growth.