UPDATE 1-Diamond Foods earnings top estimates

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Diamond Foods Inc reported a higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit on Friday, excluding costs related to an accounting probe and earnings restatement.

On a net basis, the maker of Emerald nuts and Kettle chips posted a loss of $32.9 million, or $1.52 per share, in the three months ended July 31. In the year ago period it had a net profit of $2.8 million, or 12 cents per share.

Excluding charges related to restating its financial results and a plant closure, the company earned 5 cents per share. On that basis, analysts on average were expecting a profit of 3 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Diamond, which also sells Pop Secret popcorn, said quarterly net sales fell 5 percent to $224.0 million. Analysts expected$219.1 million.

The company was recently rocked by an accounting scandal that ultimately resulted in a restatement of financial results that wiped away $56.5 million in profits from fiscal 2010 and 2011.