Autodesk jumps after topping 3Q estimates

Autodesk shares rallied up $3.69, or 18 percent, to $24.69 Friday after the software developer topped analysts' estimates by 4 cents a share in its third quarter.

In the quarter, Autodesk (Nasdaq: ADSK) earned $21.9 million, or 38 cents a share, on sales of $221.8 million.

First Call Corp. consensus pegged it for a profit of 34 cents a share in the quarter.

The $221.8 million in sales marks a 10 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it earned $16.7 million, or 27 cents a share, on sales of $202.1 million.

Autodesk shares soared up to a 52-week high of $56.06 in March before falling to a low of $19.44 in October.

Seven of the eight analysts following the stock maintain a "buy" recommendation.

First Call Corp. consensus expects it to earn $1.80 a share in the fiscal year.