Oct 31 (Reuters) - Federal Realty Investment Trust FRT.N on Friday posted third-quarter revenue above estimates, helped by higher rents and resilient tenant demand for its grocery-anchored shopping centers.

Real estate investment trusts like Federal Realty have benefited from leasing to necessity-based tenants, as inflation prompts consumers to prioritize essential purchases.

Federal Realty, whose portfolio includes grocers such as Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Safeway, has weathered economic uncertainty like shifting tariff policies helped by the concentration of its shopping centers in densely populated metropolitan areas.

With the availability of retail spaces shrinking, commercial real estate firms have been able to raise rents.

Peer Regency Centers REG.O raised its annual FFO target this week, citing strong leasing demand.

The company's total revenue rose to $322.3 million in the quarter ended September 30, from $303.6 million a year ago. Analysts had expected revenue of $315 million, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Federal Realty reported FFO, or funds from operations – a key REIT metric, of $1.77 per share, in line with analysts' estimates.

The company also raised the lower end of its annual FFO forecast, now sees FFO per share between $7.20 and $7.26, compared with its previous target of $7.16 to $7.26.

It also narrowed its annual profit forecast to between $3.93 per share and $3.99 per share, compared to previous expectations of $3.91 to $4.01.

(Reporting by Anshi Sancheti and Neil J Kanatt in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

((Anshi.Sancheti@thomson.reuters.com))