Ask Jeeves’ Profit Up 74% on Ad Sales

Ask Jeeves Inc., owner of the Ask.com Internet search site, said first-quarter profit rose 74% as it sold more advertising. Revenue jumped 73%.

Net income rose to $13.4 million, or 23 cents a share, from $7.69 million, or 16 cents, a year earlier, the company said. That exceeded analysts’ average estimate of 18 cents, Thomson First Call said.

Revenue at the Emeryville, Calif.-based company rose to $39.2 million from $22.7 million.

Ask Jeeves shares rose $1.26 in extended trading after the report.

Earlier they fell $2.36 to $36.90 on Nasdaq.