Cerner Corp. announced its earnings on the first quarter were of $39.1 million or 47 cents a share surpassing forecasts of analysts who expected 44 cents a share.

The healthcare information technology company announced on Tuesday its revenue for the first period of 2008 rose 5 percent to $384.8 million from $365.9 million as software, managed services and support revenue grew.

We are pleased with our results in the first quarter, said Neal Patterson, Cerner co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer according to a Press release.

Cerner expects earnings in 2008 of $2.17 a share compared with expectations of $2.13 a share of analysts.

Shares of Cerner Corp. rose 7.79 percent to $42.60 a share in after trading, compared to $39.52 a share at the closing of the trade, Tuesday.