Palm Inc.’s fiscal first-quarter loss — its ninth in a row — widened to $161.1 million, or $1.17 a share, as smart-phone sales fell despite the launch of its new Pre model.

But shares rose 3.1 percent, to $14.89 in after-hours trading, as its earnings topped Wall Street’s expectations though the revenue fell short. The stock has soared from its all-time low of $1.14 in December, but is still down about 15 percent from a two-year high in July.