May 15 (Reuters) - British catering firm Compass Group raised its 2024 profit forecast on Wednesday after reporting first-half underlying operating profit slightly ahead of market view.

Compass, the world's largest caterer, said its underlying operating profit rose nearly 19% to $1.47 billion for the six-month period ended March 31.

Analysts, on average, had expected an underlying operating profit of $1.46 billion, according to a company-compiled consensus.

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in ; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)