Walgreens Boots Alliance posted a wider quarterly loss, hit by the costs of closing stores and weaker retail sales, but shares surged after a smaller-than-expected drop in adjusted earnings. Walgreens shares soared more than 28% to$11.

Walgreens was the worst stock in the S&P 500 last year. An analyst writes that it’s still “premature to say that Walgreens is on a stable path to growth” despite upbeat earnings.

The company's turnaround plan will continue, and though Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth said it will take time, he also said "our early progress reinforces our belief in a sustainable, retail pharmacy-led operating model.