Macy’s yesterday said it swung to a first-quarter profit on higher sales, as the retailer touted a successful strategy to tailor its merchandise to local tastes.

However, the nation’s largest department-store chain didn’t raise its profit outlook for the year, citing “macroeconomic uncertainty.” Further growth will have to come at the expense of competitors, execs said.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet told analysts.

Sales rose 7.2 percent to $5.6 billion, driven by demand in men’s apparel and home furnishings, as well as strength at Bloomingdale’s.

For the quarter ended May 1, Macy’s had net income of $23 million, or 5 cents per share, compared with a year-ago loss of $88 million, or 21 cents a share.

Shares rose 80 cents to $24.70.