French group JCDecaux Q1 underlying sales up 5.8 pct

(Adds share price, background)

PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) - JCDecaux (JCDX.PA), the biggest outdoor advertising company in Europe, said on Wednesday its first-quarter underlying sales rose 5.8 percent and affirmed its goal for full-year growth of between 7 and 8 percent.

Sales rose to 473.1 million euros ($640.4 million) from 442.2 million in the first quarter of 2006, driven mostly by its billboard division.

"We continue to expect that our organic revenue growth in 2007 will be similar to that in 2006, within a likely range of 7-8 percent, reflecting the good opportunities in our markets and an acceleration of revenue growth in transport," Chairman and Chief Executive Jean-Charles Decaux said in a statement.

JC Decaux shares closed up 2.1 percent at 23.68 euros before release of the figures. The stock has risen around 9 percent since the start of 2007, compared to a 7 percent gain in the DJ Stoxx European media sector.

((Writing by Dominique Vidalon, editing by Quentin Bryar; Reuters Messaging: rm://dominique.vidalon.reuters.com@reuters.net; email: dominique.vidalon@reuters.com; Telephone: +33 1 49 49 54 32))

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