Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:
General Electric — The company announced its intent to conduct an exchange offer which involves swapping three existing series of preferred stock to a new class of preferred. Separately, GE reached an agreement to sell its Japan leasing business to a unit of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group for $4.8 billion.
SiriusXM — Howard Stern announced on his radio show that he would be remaining with the satellite radio operator. His current contract is due to expire at year's end.
3M — The company cut its full-year 2015 guidance to $7.55 per share from a prior range of $7.60 to $7.65 a share, compared to consensus estimates of $7.63 a share. 3M said the update reflects the reality of a slow-growing global economy. The company also expects 2016 profit of $8.10 to $8.45 a share, compared to consensus estimates of $8.40 a share.
Norwegian Cruise Line — The cruise line operator priced a secondary offering at $57.65 per share, compared to yesterday's close of $59.46. The shares are being sold by current holders and the company will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
FireEye — Evercore began coverage of the cybersecurity software company's stock with a "buy" rating, noting that companies are realizing in increasing numbers that their computer system defenses are inadequate. Evercore calls FireEye and Palo Alto Networks its favorites in the sector.
Coach — Cowen upgraded Coach to "outperform" from "market perform," citing greater conviction of increased sales for the luxury goods maker.
AIG — KBW upgraded the insurance company's stock to "outperform" from "market perform." The firm said a recent senior management shakeup pushed the shares down far enough to create a valuation opportunity, although KBW also expressed some doubts about the company's current strategy.
Visa — Goldman added the credit card issuer's shares to its "conviction buy" list, pointing to increased growth opportunities in Europe and benefits from new deals with Costco and insurer USAA.
Pacira Pharmaceuticals — The drug maker struck an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which will drop restrictions on the company's Exparel drug. The pact resolves a lawsuit against the FDA involving use of Exparel, which is designed to deal with post-surgery pain.
Boeing — The jet maker increased its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to $1.09 per share, and raising its stock buyback program to $14 billion from the prior $12 billion.
Pfizer — Pfizer increased its quarterly dividend by 7.1 percent, with the drug maker upping its quarterly payout to 30 cents per share from the prior 28 cents.
F5 Networks — Chief Executive Manuel Rivelo has resigned for reasons related to "personal conduct." He'll be replaced on an interim basis by former CEO John McAdam, who had stepped down from that post at the networking company in July.
Xerox — Investor Carl Icahn raised his stake in the technology provider to 8.13 percent from the prior 7.13 percent.
Lumber Liquidators — Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson covered his short position in the flooring retailer. Tilson, who had said the stock would likely go to zero, has now changed his mind based on new information indicating that management wasn't aware of formaldehyde levels in flooring that came from China-based sources.
Nvidia — Nvidia was unsuccessful in its appeal before the International Trade Commission (ITC) in a patent case against Samsung and Qualcomm. The case involved use of Nvidia's graphics chip technology, with the ITC upholding a prior decision that no patent violations had occurred.
VMWare — Privately held computer maker Dell said in an SEC filing that it had the financial flexibility to buy back at least $3 billion in shares of a VMW tracking stock. Dell plans to issue those shares in relation to its planned acquisition of EMC, which owns part of VMWare.
Merck — Merck failed to win the backing of an FDA panel in a case involving its cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin. The panel recommended that the drug maker not be permitted to claim that Vytorin reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in coronary heart disease patients.
Sanofi — Sanofi is in talks with Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim about a potential $20 billion asset swap. Sanofi would get Boehringer's consumer health unit while the German company would take over Sanofi's animal health business.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals — The embattled drugmaker has struck a deal to distribute some of its medicines at a discount through Walgreens pharmacies, 6 weeks after cutting ties with a specialty pharmacy accused of questionable business practices.