CHICAGO — Shares of consulting firm Navigant Consulting Inc., which advises companies on restructuring and regulatory issues, climbed Thursday after the company said first-quarter profit and sales rose.

The company earned $13.8 million, or 26 cents per share, up 8 percent from $12.8 million, or 25 cents per share, during the same period a year ago.

Sales jumped 24 percent to $166.3 million from last year's $134.6 million.

Analysts, on average, were looking for earnings of 26 cents per share on sales of $158.6 million, according to a poll by Thomson Financial.

The company said its financial, insurance, health care and construction disputes practices helped boost sales.

"Our Financial and Insurance Services teams continue to experience strong demand, driven by the increased focus of our clients on regulatory compliance, risk management, financial reporting and accounting policy issues," said William M. Goodyear, chairman and chief executive, in a statement.

Shares rose $1.44, or 7.1 percent, to $21.81 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock changed hands between $15.29 and $24.25 in the past 52 weeks.

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© 2006 The Associated Press