Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell on Thursday:
UnitedHealth – The health care provider reported third quarter profit of $1.53 per share, matching estimates. It also raised the bottom end of its full-year forecast, but it still falls below analyst estimates.
Verizon – The telecom giant earned 77 cents per share, excluding certain items, for the third quarter, topping estimates by three cents. Revenue also beat consensus, with the contribution from wireless services rising by 8.4 percent.
Goldman Sachs – Goldman earned $2.88 per share for the third quarter, well above estimates of $2.43, and also raised its quarterly dividend by 10 percent. Revenue, however, was well below estimates, due largely to weak bond trading volumes.
Supervalu – The supermarket chain reported fiscal second quarter profit of 13 cents per share, excluding certain items, two cents above estimates. Revenue also beat forecasts, and the company was helped by a drop in operating expenses.
Blackstone – The asset management firm reported earned net income of 56 cents per share, beating estimates by a penny. Year-over-year earnings were up by three percent on increased fee revenue, among other factors.
Winnebago – The maker of recreational vehicles earned 38 cents per share, excluding certain items, for its fourth quarter, 11 cents above estimates, with revenue above consensus as well.
Amarin – Amarin shares are under pressure following an FDA statement that its Vascepa drug, which is designed to lower triglycerides, shouldn't be approved for a broader patient population yet. The agency said results from an additional study need to be analyzed.
IBM - The computing big reported quarterly profit of $3.99 per share, excluding certain items, beating estimates by three cents. However, its revenue of $23.73 billion was more than a billion dollars short of estimates.
American Express – The credit card giant reported third quarter profit of $1.25 per share, three cents above estimates, with revenue above consensus as well. Consumers spent more using Amex credit cards during the quarter, and fewer defaulted on payments.
EBay – EBay earned 64 cents per share, excluding certain items, for the third quarter, beating estimates by one cent. However, the online auctioneer's current quarter guidance falls below current consensus, with eBay pointing to a weak U.S. economic environment.
Sallie Mae – The student loan company reported third quarter profit of 60 cents per share, one cent above estimates, with loan originations surging during the quarter. Sallie Mae also raised its full-year forecast.
Xilinx – Xilinx earned 58 cents per share for its fiscal second quarter, excluding certain items, beating consensus by six cents. The chipmaker's revenue also beat analyst forecasts. However, Xilinx's current quarter forecast is below Street estimates, on more cautious spending by communications market customers.
Select Comfort – Select Comfort fell seven cents short of estimates with third quarter profit of 36 cents per share, and its revenue was also well short of consensus. The mattress maker cut its full year outlook, citing the uncertain economy. Select Comfort's results are also impacting the stocks of rival mattress companies Tempur Sealy and Mattress Firm.
SanDisk – SanDisk earned $1.59 per share for the third quarter, excluding certain items, beating estimates by 27 cents. The memory chip maker's profits were more than triple year-earlier results, as prices rebound and SanDisk makes headway in the enterprise market.
USG — The maker of building products is projecting third quarter profit of about 21 cents per share, seven cents below estimates, with projected revenue short of consensus as well. USG also announced a joint venture with Australia's Boral Ltd.
Berkshire Hathaway – Berkshire exercised warrants to buy shares of General Electric common stock, with 10.7 million shares to be delivered today, according to an SEC filing.
Harley-Davidson – Harley recalled more than 29,000 2014 motorcycle models because of possible issues with the hydraulic clutch system.
Lockheed Martin – The defense contractor will lay off 600 workers, with the defense contractor citing a challenging business environment. The company said the job cuts are not related to the now-ended government shutdown.
Costco – The warehouse retailer said it is cooperating with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in a probe of prescriptions for controlled substances.
Citrix Systems - Chief executive officer Mark Templeton is taking a leave of absence, following the death of his son. Chief financial officer David Henshall will serve as interim CEO during Templeton's absence.
—By CNBC's Peter Schacknow
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