** Shares of frozen potato products firm Lamb Weston LW.N up 7.1% at $58 and among top S&P 500 .SPX performers early Thurs after qtrly results please Wall Street

** LW on track for biggest one-day pct gain since Oct 18. Stock hit session high of $60.92, highest since Jan 31

** Eagle, Idaho-based firm early Thurs posted adj EPS of $1.10 above LSEG estimate of $0.87

** Rev in qtr increased 4% y/y to $1.52 bln, just above analysts' expectation of $1.49 bln

** Co reaffirmed fiscal 2025 adj EPS guidance of $3.05-$3.20

** “As a result of the actions we took in early fiscal 2025 to drive operational and cost efficiencies, we closed the quarter with sequentially improved volume trends and profitability metrics that were in line with our previously updated fiscal 2025 outlook,” CEO Mike Smith said in statement

** Co said it has engaged global advisory firm AlixPartners to assist in evaluating near- and long-term value creation and cost savings opportunities

** On Dec 19, LW shares slumped 20% after co slashed its annual EPS forecast and named Smith as new chief, following pressure from activist investor Jana Partners

** With move on Thurs, stock off ~13% YTD and down >40% over the past 12 months. S&P 500 Consumer Staples index .SPLRCS up 6% in 2025 and up roughly 11% over the past year

(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)

((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))