** Teladoc Health Inc TDOC.K stock up 11.2% to $9.43. The stock earlier reached $9.77, highest since early March

** Citron Research posted on X on Friday that "we were not wrong, just early." Citron first noted Teladoc's potential in February

** On Friday, Citron cited a 55% year on year increase in the usage of Livongo, Teladoc's Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that Citron says is the backbone of the firm's recurring, insurance-based growth

** "Once we get past this government shutdown, the stock could rip. The largest telehealth company in the U.S. trades cheap. Telehealth still an AI mega trend waiting to happen," Citron said in the X post

** Vast majority of Wall Street analysts are neutral on the stock, with 21 'hold' recommendations, 4 "buy" recommendations and one 'strong buy'; the median price target is $8.25, according to LSEG data

** With the move on Fri, stock up ~4% YTD, but still well off its 1-year high of $15.21 hit in mid-February

(Reporting by Karen Brettell)

((karen.brettell@tr.com))