Guess Inc. said Thursday that same-store sales grew 9.6 percent in the final month of 2006, closing out a banner year for the Los Angeles-based apparel maker and retailer.

Sales for the year’s final quarter grew 10.8 percent, while total retail sales grew 15.8 percent, the company said. For the year ended Dec. 31, same-store sales grew 12.2 percent. The results beat Wall Street’s forecast for 5 percent growth, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.

For the year, shares in Guess have nearly doubled and on Thursday, shot up $2.32 to $67.02 in midday trading.