McDonald's Corp reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday, as global sales at established restaurants rose despite a recession, and the company said its April same-store sales are trending at least as strong or better than results from the first quarter.

The world's largest hamburger chain said first-quarter net income rose to $979.5 million, or 87 cents per share, from $946.1 million, or 81 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding a 4-cent per share gain from the sale of its interest in Redbox Automated Retail LLC, it reported earnings of 83 cents per share, compared with analysts' average estimate of 82 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Total revenue fell to $5.08 billion from $5.61 billion.

Sales at restaurants open at least 13 months rose 4.3 percent globally. Same-store sales rose 5.5 percent in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa markets, rose 3.2 percent in Europe, and increased 4.7 percent in the United States.

Its shares rose 0.4 percent to $55.87 in pre-market trade.

(Reporting by Nicole Maestri)