Early Movers: LOW, SPLS, PETM, DRI, DG, NFLX & more

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell: Lowe's (LOW)-The home-improvement chain reported third quarter profit of 59 cents per share , 1 cent above estimates, with revenue beating forecasts as well. Same-store sales rose 5.1 percent during the quarter, above estimates of a 4.0 percent increase. Lowe's also raised its full-year forecast. Target (TGT)-The retailer reported adjusted earnings of 54 cents a share on revenue of $17.73 billion, topping estimates. Staples (SPLS)-The office supplies chain beat estimates by a penny with adjusted quarterly profit of 37 cents per share , with revenue slightly above consensus. Staples did see a comparable store sales drop of 4.0 percent, matching estimates and marking its seventh straight quarter of falling sales. J.M. Smucker (SJM)-The food maker reported quarterly profit of $1.53 per share , matching current estimates and the revised guidance it had given on November 12. Revenue was slightly below estimates, with the company saying its shortfall was driven by its coffee business and that its issues are the results of short-term challenges. Tesla (TSLA)-Morgan Stanley (MS) slashed 2015 EPS estimates for the automaker to $2.45 per share from $4.39, on reduced delivery estimates for Tesla's Model X. However, Morgan Stanley's rating on Tesla remains at "overweight." Mallinckrodt (MNK)-The drug maker scored sizable beats on both the top and bottom lines with its latest quarter, with the company benefiting from a series of acquisitions. PetSmart (PETM)-Private equity firms KKR (KKR) and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice are preparing a joint bid for the pet supplies retailer, according to the New York Times. Barrick Gold (Toronto Stock Exchange: ABX-CA)-The gold miner named mining industry executive Shaun Usmar as its new chief financial officer, replacing Ammar Al-Joundi. Colony Financial (CLNY)-The real estate company is buying Cobalt Capital Partners, which specializes in light industrial properties, for about $1.6 billion. La-Z-Boy (LZB)-The furniture maker reported adjusted quarterly earnings of 36 cents per share, 2 cents above estimates, though revenue did come in below forecasts. The company also raised its quarterly dividend by 33 percent to 8 cents per share. Jack In The Box (JACK)-The restaurant chain beat estimates by 1 cent with adjusted profit of 54 cents per share, with revenue also above estimates and operating margins improving. Jack in the Box saw same-store sales rise 3.1 percent compared to a year earlier. Vipshop Holdings (VIPS)-The China-based online retailer reported adjusted quarterly profit of 8 cents per share, beating estimates by 1 cent, with revenue also well above analyst projections. Vipshop said it saw strong growth in both active customers and total orders. Darden Restaurants (DRI)-The restaurant operator unveiled a cost-cutting plan that will cut out a management layer at its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steak house restaurants, saving about $10 million this year. Darden also said Chief Financial Officer Brad Richmond will retire no later than March. Netflix (NFLX)-The company announced plans to launch in Australia and New Zealand in March 2015. Dollar General (DG)-The discount retailer may have to divest more than 4,000 stores to win FTC approval for its acquisition of Family Dollar (FDO), according to the New York Post. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)-The company is seeking more than $5 billion in damages from Boston Scientific (BSX) in a breach of contract case that begins today in New York. The case involves the bidding war that eventually saw Boston Scientific buy Guidant. Paramount Group-The owner and operator of office real estate raised $2.29 billion in its initial public offering, pricing it at $17.50 per share. That represented the midpoint of the expected $16 to $19 per share range. Nielsen (NLSN)-The company will begin measuring viewing on Netflix and other streaming services next month, according to the Wall Street Journal. Microsoft (MSFT)-Microsoft shareholders should vote "no" on CEO Satya Nadella's pay package, according to a recommendation from proxy adviser ISS. The firm pointed to what it calls a "mega" grant of restricted stock that it said is worth $65 million. -By CNBC's Peter Schacknow Questions? Comments? Email us at marketinsider@cnbc.com