FILE PHOTO: A Domino's Pizza restaurant is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. July 18, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

(Reuters) -Domino's Pizza posted better-than-estimated profit and U.S. same-store sales for the third quarter on Tuesday, driven by promotions and new menu items as consumers tighten their budgets amid economic uncertainty.

The company's shares rose 4.5% in premarket trading. The results come at a time when persistent inflation, economic uncertainty and repeated menu price hikes have prompted consumers to prioritize value when dining out or ordering in.

To cater to the shift in consumer spending, Domino's revived its "Best Deal Ever" promotion on August 25, offering any-topping pizzas for $9.99. It also introduced other items such as the parmesan-stuffed-crust pizza.

Companies like PepsiCo have also responded by introducing more affordable smaller packs for its salty snacks to cater to shoppers feeling the pinch, especially in lower-income households.

U.S. same-store sales for the world's largest pizza chain grew 5.2% during the quarter, beating analysts' expectations of a 4.0% rise, according to data compiled by LSEG. Domino's also benefited from its delivery partnership with DoorDash.

Domino's has been rolling out more deals under its rewards program as it faces rising competition from fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King, which have introduced steep discounts to draw in diners.

"While many quick-service chains are struggling to grow sales, Domino's seems to have found the right recipe for success," said Zak Stambor, analyst at EMarketer.

Its earnings per share for the quarter ended September 7 were $4.08, beating estimates of $3.97, helped by higher order volumes.

International same-store sales rose 1.7%, missing estimates of a 1.9% rise, as demand remained choppy in markets like Japan and Australia.

U.S. company-owned store gross margin fell 0.5 percentage point from a year earlier, hurt by higher costs of some commodities such as cheese and pork.

(Reporting by Anshi Sancheti and Juveria Tabassum in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Shilpi Majumdar)