BUZZ-Tractor Supply rises after D.A. Davidson cites sales pickup

** Tractor Supply's TSCO.O shares up 2.3% at $54.71, a three-week high, and bucking broader weakness in equities on Mon after D.A. Davidson cites accelerating point-of-sales data

** Brokerage says farming supplies retailer's point-of-sales are up 4.7% in 1Q25 to date, up from 1.1% growth last qtr, with growth in all three months

** Stronger sales this qtr could provide some upside to its comp store sales estimate for 0.7% increase, D.A. Davidson says

** In Jan, the Brentwood, Tennessee-based firm missed Q4 net sales and profit estimates, hurt by tepid demand for big-ticket items like garden equipment and power tools

** D.A. Davidson rates TSCO 'buy' with $65 PT vs median of $60, per LSEG data

** Of 34 analysts covering TSCO, recommendation breakdown is 16 "strong buy" or "buy", 15 "hold" and 3 "sell"

** With moves on the session, stock up 3% YTD compared to 16% drop in S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary sector .SPLRCD and 6% slide in S&P 500 .SPX

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

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