BUZZ-Walgreens set for its best day since 1980 after Q1 profit beats estimates

Updates

** Shares of pharmacy chain operator Walgreens Boots Alliance WBA.O rise 24.4% to $11.45, on track for the largest one-day gain since at least 1980

** Company beats lowered first-quarter adj. profit estimates as it benefited from CEO Tim Wentworth's efforts to turn around its business

** WBA reports adj. profit of 51 cents per share for the quarter ended November 30, beating estimates of 37 cents, according to data compiled by LSEG

** Company maintains 2025 adj. profit forecast of $1.40 to $1.80 per share

** It reports Q1 sales of $30.9 bln in its U.S. retail pharmacy unit, beating estimates of $29.10 bln

** Shares of the company were down 18.1% in the past six months and the stock was the worst performer on the S&P 500 index in 2024

** WBA fell 64.2% in 2024

(Reporting by Sneha S K)

((Sneha.SK@thomsonreuters.com;))