ATLANTA — Atlanta-based Aaron’s Inc.’s first-quarter profit soared 60 percent as it got some money back from what was set aside for a lawsuit and had more customers.

The furniture and appliance rental company also increased its full-year adjusted earnings and revenue outlooks.

Its shares rose more than 4 percent in midday trading.

Aaron’s reported on Thursday that its net income rose to $71.2 million, or 92 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31. That’s up sharply from $44.4 million, or 55 cent per share, a year earlier.

Aaron’s said that it had a $36.5 million charge in 2011’s second quarter, which represented a $41.5 million accrual for the judgment and associated legal fees and expenses for a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former Aaron’s worker, minus $5 million in insurance coverage. The parties settled the lawsuit in 2012’s first quarter. Aaron’s final settlement was $6 million, so the company said it realized $35.5 million in income during its first quarter.

Removing $35.5 million for the reversal of the lawsuit expense, earnings were 64 cents per share.

The performance beat the 60 cents per share that analysts surveyed by Fact Set predicted.

Revenue rose 10 percent to $586.9 million from $532.7 million with its homesmart unit and sales and lease ownership divisions posting higher sales. Wall Street expected $568.3 million.

Revenue at company-run stores open for both the current and prior-year periods gained 4.8 percent.

Aaron’s said it had about 1 million customers at quarter’s end, up 14 percent from a year ago.

For fiscal 2012, the company now anticipates adjusted earnings of $2.24 to $2.36 per share on revenue of about $2.2 billion. It previously predicted adjusted earnings of $1.88 to $2.04 per share on revenue of approximately $2.15 billion.

Analysts forecast earnings of $1.96 per share on revenue of $2.15 billion.

Aaron’s expects second-quarter earnings of 44 cents to 48 cents per share on revenue of about $525 million.

Wall Street foresees earnings of 45 cents per share on revenue of $513 million.

Aaron’s has more than 1,960 company-run and franchised stores in 48 states and Canada.

Its stock rose $1.09, or 4.1 percent, to $27.46 in midday trading Friday. Its shares have traded in a range of $22.17 to $31.78 over the past 52 weeks.