Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:
Bank of America (BAC) – Bank of America shares rallied 3.2% in the premarket after it beat estimates by 6 cents with a quarterly profit of 82 cents per share. Revenue was slightly below forecasts, but the bank’s overall performance was helped by strength in investment banking.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) – UnitedHealth earned an adjusted $4.48 per share for the fourth quarter, 17 cents above estimates, and the health insurer’s revenue also topped forecasts. UnitedHealth saw particular strength from its Optum unit’s drug benefits management business.
Morgan Stanley (MS) – Morgan Stanley jumped 3.5% in the premarket after beating estimates by 10 cents with a quarterly profit of $2.01 per share, and revenue essentially in line with forecasts. Results got a boost from robust deal advisory fees on a very active quarter for merger and acquisition deals.
Procter & Gamble (PG) – P&G added 1% in the premarket after beating estimates on the top and bottom lines for its fiscal second quarter and raising its organic growth outlook. P&G beat estimates by a penny with a profit of $1.66 per share, as consumers shrugged off price hikes for the company’s household staples.
Sony (SONY) – Sony fell 3.9% in premarket trading on top of a 7.2% skid Tuesday. The drop followed news of Microsoft‘s (MSFT) deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI) for $68.7 billion, a transaction that would increase competitive pressure on Sony’s PlayStation operation.
Alliance Data Systems (ADS) – Alliance Data lost 1.7% in premarket action, following news that warehouse retailer BJ’s Wholesale (BJ) is moving its co-branded credit card account to Capital One (COF). Alliance is also being sued by BJ’s, which claims the store credit card specialist is slowing down the transfer process. Alliance said it believes it is in full compliance with its contract.
SoFi Technologies (SOFI) – SoFi surged 18% in premarket action after the financial technology company won regulatory approval to become a bank holding company.
Zogenix (ZGNX) – Zogenix soared 65.9% in the premarket after agreeing to be acquired by Brussels-based biopharmaceutical company UCB for $26 dollars per share, compared with the $15.64 Tuesday closing price for Zogenix. UCB would also pay an extra $2 per share if the Zogenix drug fintepla – a treatment for a rare type of epilepsy – wins EU approval by the end of 2023.
Tegna (TGNA) – Tegna is close to finalizing a $9 billion deal to be bought out by private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Standard General, according to sources familiar with the situation who spoke to the New York Post. The paper said the TV station operator was initially holding out for a roughly $500 breakup fee if the deal did not receive FCC approval in a timely manner, but has now backed off that demand. Tegna rallied 4.9% in the premarket.
ASML (ASML) – ASML shares rose after reporting a better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit. The Dutch chipmaker also issued an upbeat 2022 sales growth forecast, with shares adding 2.2% in premarket trading.
Pearson (PSON) – Pearson raised its full-year forecast amid strength across its education publishing portfolio and better-than-expected prospects for U.S. higher education courseware. Pearson shares jumped 7.2% in the premarket.