Intel Corp reported a 44 percent surge in first-quarter revenue and delivered a current-quarter forecast ahead of Wall Street expectations, boosting the chipmaker's stock by 4 percent.

Intel said its gross profit margin in the first quarter was 63 percent, and forecast margins of 64 percent -- plus or minus a couple percentage points -- in the current quarter.

The company said on Tuesday net income totaled $2.4 billion or 43 cents a share in the three months ended March 27, up sharply from $629 million or 11 cents a share in the year-ago period. That exceeded average expectations for 38 cents a share.

Revenue rose to $10.3 billion, above the Wall Street target of roughly $9.84 billion.

Intel forecast revenue for the current quarter of 10.2 billion, plus or minus $400 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, on average, expect current-quarter revenue of $9.68 billion.

Shares of the Santa Clara, California-based company rose 4.1 percent to $23.70 in after-hours trading after closing Tuesday's regular trading session at $22.76 on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Ian Sherr; Editing by Richard Chang)

Intel