Ask Jeeves reported first-quarter profits on Wednesday that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, but it guided analysts lower for the next quarter.

The outlook weighed on shares of both the Oakland, California-based search engine and on IAC/Interactive, the firm led by Barry Diller that agreed last month to buy Ask Jeeves for $1.85 billion.

The company reported a pro forma profit of $25.8 million, or $0.37 per share, excluding amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation. That surpassed the $0.34 consensus estimate of 17 analysts polled by Thomson Financial, and it compared well with the $13.5 million, or $0.23 per share, reported a year ago.

Net income rose 35 percent to $18.1 million from $13.4 million, and revenue more than tripled to $94.9 million from $39.2 million in the same period a year ago.

But Ask Jeeves also said it expected to generate pro forma income of $0.31 per share on revenue of $94 million in the next quarter. Analysts had been expecting earnings of $0.33 on sales of $92.6 million, according to Thomson Financial.

The outlook sent shares of Ask Jeeves down $0.16 to $27.42 in after-hours trading. IAC Interactive’s shares dropped $0.12 to $21.89.

Still, CEO Steve Berkowitz appeared very bullish on the future of his company. He believes the ideas emerging in his company, coupled with the financial resources of IAC, will enable Ask Jeeves to close in on industry leaders Google and Yahoo.

“It’s no longer the question of resources,” he said. “We’re part of a big company.”

Mr. Berkowitz credited the growth to a number of factors, such as the acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings last year, the performance of the company’s flagship properties, and an increase in the number of users. “It’s all based on search technology and search experience improving dramatically,” said Mr. Berkowitz. “We increased user satisfaction across properties.”

Ask Jeeves drew 41.1 million visitors in March, up from 17.5 million visitors a year ago, according to comScore Media Metrix. The increase stemmed, in large part, from the Interactive Search Holdings acquisition in May 2004.