May 1 (Reuters) - GoDaddy ( GDDY ) on Thursday reported a nearly 8% increase in

first-quarter revenue, as the addition of artificial intelligence features boosted demand for

its internet hosting services.

The company also announced a share repurchase program of up to $3 billion through 2027.

GoDaddy ( GDDY ), which helps businesses set up online domains, payment systems and expand their

online presence, has been rolling out AI features to gain traction for its services.

Analysts see GoDaddy ( GDDY ) increasingly becoming the one-stop shop for small business needs across

a growing set of solutions.

They see GoDaddy ( GDDY ) as having less direct tariff exposure due to its mix of service offerings

and steady domains business.

In 2024, the company launched GoDaddy Airo, an AI-powered tool for designing and building a

business' online presence.

In April, it announced the launch of GoDaddy Agency, a partner program to connect digital

agencies with small- and mid-sized business leads and providing access to comprehensive tools,

services and support to grow client offerings.

For the quarter ended March 31, GoDaddy ( GDDY ) reported revenue of $1.19 billion, in line with

analysts' estimates, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The company forecast second-quarter revenue in the range of $1.20 billion to $1.22 billion,

with the midpoint coming in line with analysts' average estimate of $1.21 billion.

It reaffirmed its full-year revenue forecast.