Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:
JPMorgan Chase—Bernstein raised its rating on the bank's shares to "outperform" from "market perform," saying it looks attractively valued and pointing to a 2.9-percent dividend yield, among other factors.
Informatica—The software company will be bought Permira and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board for $5.3 billion or $48.75 per share, in the largest U.S. leveraged buyout so far this year.
Shire—The London-based drug company struck an agreement with the FDA on steps it would take to submit its new hyperactivity drug for U.S. approval. Shire hopes to launch the treatment for patients with ADHD in the second half of 2017.
Alcatel-Lucent, Accenture—The two companies struck a four-year deal with Spain's Telefonica to deploy Alcatel's customer service software for Telefonica's European and Latin American residential customers.
Carnival Corp.—The cruise line operator's stock was upgraded to "outperform" from "market perform" at Wells Fargo, which pointed to improving fundamentals and a recovery in pricing.
FedEx—FedEx will buy Europe's TNT Express for $4.8 billion, pending regulatory approval. That approval was not forthcoming two years ago when FedEx competitor UPS tried to buy TNT but was rebuffed by competition officials.
BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto—The two mining companies are targets of Australian tax authorities, who are reportedly pursuing multibillion dollar tax claims against both related to a shift in reported profits to Singapore-based tax shelters.
Axalta Coating Systems—An affiliate of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is buying 20 million shares of the coatings maker from certain affiliates of private equity firm The Carlyle Group for $560 million, or $28 per share.
Viacom—The media company announced a realignment that will result in a new structure, job cuts, and a $785 million pre-tax charge for the second quarter.
General Motors—Canada is selling its remaining stake in the automaker to Goldman Sachs for an undisclosed amount.
Starbucks—Starbucks will expand its college tuition assistance program to cover the total cost of an online bachelor's degree.
United Technologies—United Technologies won reversal of a $657 million judgment related to alleged overcharging of the government for jet engines. The case goes back to 1983, when the company's Pratt & Whitney division was vying for a contract to supply engines for F-15 and F-16 fighter jets.
Ocular Therapeutix—The drug maker saw its cataract pain drug fail to meet one of its primary goals in a late-stage study.
HRG Group—The consumer products company formerly known as Harbinger Group said it is exploring strategic alternatives for Fidelity & Guaranty Life, in which it holds an 80.6-percent stake.
Intel—Intel will change its financial reporting structure, effective on the presentation of its fiscal first quarter results on April 14. The changes reflect the combination of the chip maker's PC Client Group and Mobile and Communications Group to form its new Client and Computing Group.
A. Schulman—The plastics manufacturer posted an unexpected quarterly loss, due largely to the effects of the stronger dollar.
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