Keysight Technologies profit and revenue grew in its latest quarter helped by higher commercial communications sales, and boosted its outlook for the fourth quarter.

The software and hardware maker on Tuesday posted a third-quarter profit of $397 million, or $2.30 a share, compared with $191 million, or $1.10 a share, a year earlier.

Adjusted earnings per share were $3.07, above estimates of $2.48 a share according to analysts polled by FactSet.

Revenue rose to $1.85 billion from $1.35 billion, topping analyst estimates of $1.75 billion.

The company's communications solutions group reported revenue of $1.35 billion, up 43% from last year, with particularly strong growth in commercial communications. Its electronic-industrial solutions group recorded revenue of $501 million, up 21% on growth across the semiconductor, general electronics and automotive and energy markets.

For the current fourth quarter, the company guided for adjusted earnings of $3.34 to $3.40 a share and sales of $1.93 billion to $1.95 billion. Analysts expected adjusted earnings of $2.68 a share and revenue of $1.83 billion.