Check out the companies making headlines before the bell. Chart Industries — Shares of the gas equipment manufacturer surged 16% after it agreed to be acquired by Baker Hughes for $13.6 billion. Chart Industries had previously been in merger talks with power equipment supplier Flowserve , which was last up 8%. Baker Hughes shares fell 3%. The deal news comes as Chart reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, excluding items. Sarepta Therapeutics — The biopharmaceutical stock soared 38% after announcing that the Food and Drug Administration had recommended removing its voluntary hold on Elevidys for use with ambulatory patients, which was instated following a recent patient death. On Tuesday, Oppenheimer upgraded the stock to an outperform rating from perform, while JPMorgan upgraded shares to neutral from underweight. Cadence Design Systems — Shares gained 8% after the computer software company posted second-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.65 per share on $1.28 billion in revenue. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected earnings of $1.55 per share and revenue of $1.25 billion. The company also lifted its full-year earnings and revenue guidance. Nucor — The steel producer fell 4% after posting adjusted earnings and revenue for its second quarter that missed analysts’ expectations, per LSEG. Nucor also anticipates its third-quarter earnings will be ” nominally lower ” than those of its second quarter. Amkor Technology — Shares popped 11% after the semiconductor packager reported second-quarter earnings of 22 cents per share on revenue of $1.51 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had penciled in earnings of 16 cents per share and $1.42 billion in revenue. Stellantis — U.S.-listed shares fell 3% after the automaker reported a first-half net loss of 2.3 billion euros, or $2.65 billion. Over the same period in 2024 it had reported a net profit of 5.6 billion euros. The company also reinstated its financial guidance. UnitedHealth Group — The health insurer shed 2% after sharing a 2025 outlook that missed analysts’ expectations . UnitedHealth forecast adjusted earnings for fiscal year 2025 of $16 per share, coming below the $20.91 per share consensus estimate per LSEG. The company’s anticipated fiscal-year revenue of $448 billion was also less than the expected $449.16 billion. United Parcel Service — Shares sank 5% after the shipping company said it earned $1.55 per share, after adjustments, slightly missing the $1.56 per share analysts polled by LSEG had expected. The company also did not provide revenue guidance, citing macroeconomic uncertainty. Merck — Shares dropped 4% after the pharmaceutical giant missed revenue expectations for the second quarter. Revenue of $15.81 billion was less than the LSEG consensus estimate of $15.89 billion. The company also said it would cut $3 billion from costs by the end of 2027. Whirlpool — The home appliance stock stumbled 17% after missing analysts’ second-quarter estimates due to pressure from tariffs. The company also projected full-year adjusted earnings that were below consensus and slashed its dividend. Following the report, Bank of America downgraded the stock to an underperform rating from neutral. Union Pacific , Norfolk Southern — Union Pacific shares rose 1%, while Norfolk Southern slid 3% after the two companies said they’re merging in a $250 billion stock and cash agreement, creating the first transcontinental railroad . PayPal — The stock slid 4% after PayPal issued third-quarter earnings guidance that fell short of expectations. The payments company expects adjusted per-share earnings of $1.18 to $1.22, on the lower end of the LSEG consensus estimate of $1.20. On the other hand, the company beat earnings and revenue expectations for the second quarter and raised its full-year forecast, implying a stronger fourth quarter. Novo Nordisk — U.S.-listed shares tumbled 20% after the Danish pharmaceutical giant slashed its full-year sales and profit guidance . Novo Nordisk expects weaker growth in the U.S. for its obesity drug, Wegovy. The company also named internal candidate Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new CEO. Boeing — The aerospace and defense company rose more than 1% after posting a second-quarter adjusted loss of $1.24 per share, which was narrower than the expected loss of $1.48 per share, according to LSEG. Boeing’s $22.75 billion revenue exceeded expectations of $21.84 billion. Last quarter, Boeing delivered the most airplanes it had since 2018 . Corning — The materials science and technology stock added more than 6% after posting second-quarter adjusted earnings of 60 cents per share, beating the 57-cent LSEG estimate. Corning’s $4.05 billion revenue also beat estimates for $3.86 billion. — CNBC’s Michelle Fox, Alex Harring and Sarah Min contributed reporting.
