CLEVELAND, Ohio (Bloomberg) ? Ingersoll-Rand Co., the maker of Bobcat machinery and Thermo-King refrigerated trucks, said on Friday that first- quarter profit rose 13 percent, led by sales of equipment used in commercial construction. The company raised its 2006 profit forecast.

Net income increased to $253.2 million, or 76 cents a share, from $223.10 million, or 64 cents a share, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said in a statement. Sales rose ten percent to $2.71 billion.

Chief executive officer Herbert Henkel has sold units for about $3 billion over the past five years to focus on faster-growing areas such as refrigeration and security.

An increase in commercial construction spending has helped bolster revenue.

?Ingersoll will benefit across numerous segments including the compact vehicle segment, construction technologies and security technologies,? Nicole Parent, a New York-based analyst with Credit Suisse said in a report. She rates Ingersoll ?overweight?.

The company said second-quarter net income will be 90 cents to 95 cents a share. Profit from continuing operations will be 92 cents to 97 cents.

For the year, net income will be $3.42 to $3.52 a share, and profit from continuing operations will be $3.50 to $3.60, the company said.

Ingersoll-Rand said on January 26 it expects 2006 net income of $3.34 to $3.44 a share and profit from continuing operations of $3.40 to $3.50.