United States' second-largest life insurance company, Prudential Financial said on Wednesday that it pocketed a net profit of $538 million or $1.25 per share, down from $566 million or $1.32 per share, in the year ago period.

Life insurer's first quarterly net profit after reporting losses for three straight quarters sent its shares up by more than 2% in the after-hours trading.

Prudential Financial adjusted operating income worth $817 million or $1.88 per share, down from $845 million or $1.96 per share in the same quarter a year earlier.

Speaking on the issue, Alan Rambaldini, an analyst at Morningstar Inc said, "Compared to six months ago, basically every part of their business has improved."

It may be noted here that, Prudential Financial raised around $2.4 billion in proceeds from public stocks plus notes offerings after turning down aid from the government's financial rescue program.

Prudential Financial now hopes to earn adjusted operating income between $5 and $5.20 per share, up from its prior forecast of $4.80 to $5.20 per share.

Prudential shares gained $1.12 to close at $48 on the NYSE.