** Shares of pet food maker Freshpet FRPT.O rise 3.9% to $79.30

** Company posts Q1 net sales of $263.3 mln, compared with analysts' expectation of $260.1 mln - data compiled by LSEG

** Jefferies says company lowered FY forecast due to soft start driven by consumer uncertainty; still expects positive free cash flow in 2026

** "Shares today offer a good entry point to a balanced growth/profit story" - brokerage

** FRPT lowers FY net sales forecast to $1.12 bln-$1.15 bln from previous projection of $1.18 bln-$1.21 bln

** "Our growth year-to-date has not been as robust as we had anticipated so we are adapting our growth plans to the current economic challenges that our consumers are facing...," CEO Billy Cyr

** Thirteen out of 18 analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher and five "hold"; median PT is $122.50 - data compiled by LSEG

** Including session moves, FRPT shares down almost 47% YTD

(Reporting by Twesha Dikshit)

((Twesha.Dikshit@thomsonreuters.com))