General Electric topped Wall Street’s profit and revenue forecasts for the first quarter, helped by strong demand for energy equipment and railroad locomotives.

The largest US conglomerate said yesterday industrial orders had risen 20 percent in the quarter and that selling prices had improved in most of its businesses.

GE’s transportation unit, which makes locomotives, posted 41 percent sales growth, while revenue at the GE Capital arm it is trimming declined 12 percent.

GE rose 1.9 percent to close at $19.51.

Shares were up 6.6 percent for the year, trailing the 10 percent rise of the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index.