Yum Brands - The restaurant operator's shares have been upgraded by Goldman Sachs to "buy" from "neutral," citing increased potential for Yum's operations in China.
Ciena - The networking equipment maker reported a quarterly loss of $0.07 per share, one cent wider than analyst estimates. Ciena and its rivals have been hurt by spending cuts and delayed purchases by telecommunications service providers.
Pier 1 Imports - The retailer earned $0.25 per share, excluding items, for its latest quarter, one cent above estimates. Revenue also exceeded consensus and Pier 1 raised its full-year earnings view, as well as profit margins expanded.
MetLife - The insurer says 2013 earnings may be well below prior Wall Street expectations because of the continued impact of the low interest rate environment. It also says it needs to accelerate its strategic plans, including the sale of its banking business.
Legg Mason - The investment firm has joined the ranks of those accelerating quarterly dividend payments. Its payout will come on Dec. 28 rather than the previously announced Jan. 7 date.
Boston Beer - The beer maker has raised its 2012 earnings and 2013 sales guidance. The maker of Sam Adams beer now sees 2012 earnings of $4.30 to $4.60 per share, compared to Street estimates of $4.21 a share and a previous range of $3.80 to $4.20 a share. (Read More: Epic 12-12-12 Party on Tap to End a Craft Beer Era)
SolarCity - The solar panel maker has priced its initial public offering at $8 per share, and will begin trading today on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The company — backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk — had initially expected an IPO price between $13 to $15 per share, but issued a scaled-down estimate Wednesday morning amid thinner-than-expected investor demand.
Google - The Google Maps application has returned to Apple's iOS devices. Google Maps had been replaced as the default mapping application when Apple upgraded to the iOS 6 operating system, but Apple's replacement mapping app was the subject of widespread criticism.
AstraZeneca - The drugmaker's experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug has proven inferior to Humira, the best-selling medication made by Abbott Laboratories, in a clinical study. That's seen as a blow to AstraZeneca, because the drug is one of its few late-stage products in its pipeline.
Pep Boys - Pep Boys has authorized a $50 million share repurchase program. CEO Mike Odell says the auto parts retailer's stock is undervalued and that the repurchase program is a good investment.
Nabors Industries - Jefferies has downgraded the stock to "hold" from "underperform," citing lower day rates among the negative factors for the oilfield services company.
(Read More: See CNBC's Market Insider Blog)
—By CNBC's Peter Schacknow
Questions? Comments? Email us at marketinsider@cnbc.com
