Control out the companies making headlines before the bell:
General Electric – In a new set forth, Cowen recommends avoiding GE stock ahead of an upcoming restatement of earnings and its prime quarter report scheduled for Apr. 20. Cowen feels a first-quarter earnings gal is “probable,” and doesn’t feel the already-cut dividend is necessarily safe.
Facebook – CEO Signpost Zuckerberg will be back on Capitol Hill Wednesday for a second day of asseveration before lawmakers, this time appearing before the House Power & Commerce Committee. Facebook saw its best one-day gain in nearly two years Tuesday on bullish investor reaction to Zuckerberg’s Senate appearance.
CBS – CBS CEO Leslie Moonves may be an hitch to a potential purchase of Viacom, according to a Reuters report, which alleged controlling shareholder Shari Redstone wants Moonves to run the combined attendance with Viacom CEO Bob Bakish as his No. 2. Moonves is said to be resisting that suggestion.
Fiat Chrysler – Fiat Chrysler is in talks with the Justice Pivot on to settle accusations that the automaker used software to skirt diesel emissions preconditions in vehicles sold since 2014. A Fiat Chrysler lawyer conveyed a settlement is likely to be reached during the summer.
Newell Brands – Activist investor Starboard Value will-power seek four board seats at Newell, according to an SEC filing. Investor Carl Icahn already has four gaming-table seats at Newell, but Starboard said even more work is want to be done to set the company on the right course.
USG – USG shareholders are being urged by Germany’s Gebr Knauf to insist upon the building materials maker to engage in deal talks. USG rebuffed a $5.9 billion bid by its German equal in late March.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals – Alexion is offering $788 million for Swedish treat maker Wilson Therapeutics. Directors at Wilson, which specializes in treatments for rare infections, have unanimously recommended that shareholders accept the offer.
Hilton Worldwide – Hilton worth a secondary offering at $73 per share. A seller linked to China’s HNA Accumulation – Hilton’s largest shareholder – is selling the shares, and the hotel operator is not gain any proceeds from the sale.
Analogic – Analogic will be bought by hermit-like equity firm Altaris Capital Partners in a $1.1 billion extent worth $84 per share in cash. The price is below Tuesday’s bring together of $96.05, but above where it was last June when the maker of medical imaging and refuge screening systems said it was exploring strategic alternatives.
Mattel – The toymaker’s handle was upgraded to “hold” from “underperform” at Jefferies, saying near phrase risks for the toy maker are known and priced into the stock, but Jefferies also said its nerve in a longer term recovery is low.
Altice USA – The cable operator was rated “outperform” in new coverage at Evercore, which cited fetch discipline and healthy free cash flow among the positive representatives for the stock.