Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell on Tuesday:
Aetna – The insurance company reported third quarter profit of $1.50 per share, excluding certain items, missing estimates by three cents. Revenue, however, was above estimates, as sales of recently approved cancer drugs rose.
Pfizer – The largest U.S. drug maker said it earned $2.59 billion, or 39 cents per share in the quarter, compared with $3.21 billion, or 43 cents per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding special items, Pfizer earned 58 cents per share, which beat Wall Street's estimates.
Sears Holdings – The retailer is considering a separation of its Lands' End and Sears Auto Center businesses, as a way of optimizing its overall operation and increasing shareholder value. It also reported that comparable store sales fell 3.7 percent for the 12 weeks ending October 26.
Archer Daniels Midland – The grain processor earned 46 cents per share for the third quarter, excluding certain items, missing estimates by a penny. Revenue did exceed Street estimates, and the company said it was pleased with the results even amid lingering effects from the 2012 drought.
Occidental Petroleum– The oil company reported third quarter profit of $1.97 per share, excluding certain items, seven cents above estimates, with revenue also above consensus. The results came amid increased domestic production by Occidental.
Nokia– Nokia earned an unexpected profit for the third quarter, though revenue was shy of expectations. The company made positive comments about its future in light of the recently completed sale of its handset operation to Microsoft.
Air Products – The maker of industrial gases matched estimates with third quarter profit of $1.47 per share, but revenue was short of Street consensus.
Waste Management – The company earned 65 cents per share for the third quarter, beating estimates by three cents. Revenue was above estimates as well. Waste Management said it faced headwinds in its recycling business, but its traditional waste management operations were strong.
Apple – The iPhone maker reported fourth quarter profit of $8.26 per share, beating estimates of $7.96. Revenue was also above consensus, but projected gross margins for the current quarter are below Street expectations.
Seagate Technology – Seagate reported first quarter profit of $1.29 per share, excluding certain items, missing estimates by a penny. Revenue also fell short, although the hard disk drive maker did deliver some positive news with a quarterly dividend hike to 43 cents per share from 38 cents. Its quarterly results were impacted by the ongoing drop in personal computer sales.
Herbalife– Herbalife earned $1.41 per share for the third quarter, excluding certain items, beating estimates of $1.14. Revenue was slightly above estimates, but its current quarter projection is largely short of consensus. The maker of nutritional supplements did raise its full year guidance, as worldwide sales increase.
General Growth Properties – General Growth reported third quarter funds from operations of 29 cents per share, two cents above estimates. The mall operator's revenue was short of estimates, but General Growth also raised its full year projection for funds from operations, the key measure of profitability for REITs.
Riverbed Technology – Riverbed beat estimates by three cents with third quarter profit of 26 cents per share, excluding certain items, though revenue fell short of consensus. The maker of networking equipment points to a mixed economic environment, particularly where government sales were concerned, but nonetheless terms the quarter a "solid" one.
Hartford Financial – Hartford reported third quarter profit of $1.03 per share, excluding certain items, 20 cents above estimates, with revenue also scoring a solid beat. The insurer saw a drop in property/casualty profits, but its payout ratio for claims and expenses improved from a year earlier.
Masco – Masco earned 27 cents per share, excluding certain items, for the third quarter, beat estimates by two cents. The building products maker also saw revenue beat consensus, thanks to increased renovation activity among homeowners as well as more new home construction.
Michael Kors – The luxury goods seller will be added to the S&P 500 Index after the close of trading this Friday. It will replace NYSE Euronext, which is being acquired by IntercontinentalExchange.
U.S. Steel – The steel maker lost 14 cents per share for the third quarter, a smaller loss than the 43 cents analysts had been predicting. Revenue, however, was below forecasts, as the company deals with weaker prices and a drop in demand.
—By CNBC's Peter Schacknow
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