Canadian oil producer Imperial Oil posted a rise in first-quarter profit on Friday, driven primarily by stronger margins in its refining and fuel sales business, sending its U.S.-listed shares up nearly 6% before the bell.

Imperial Oil Ltd. reported a first-quarter profit of $1.29 billion, up from $1.20 billion in the same quarter last year. The company says the profit amounted to $2.52 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, up from $2.23 per diluted share a year earlier.