Try the businesses making headlines earlier than the bell Wednesday.

Johnson & Johnson — The pharmaceutical big climbed 2.6% after saying Tuesday it can pay $8.9 billion over the subsequent 25 years to settle claims that the talc in its child powder and different merchandise precipitated most cancers. J&J additionally refiled for chapter safety for its LTL Administration subsidiary and mentioned it continues to imagine the claims lack advantage.

Zions Bancorporation — Shares of Zions Bancorporation rose 3.2% after Baird upgraded the regional financial institution inventory to an outperform ranking. The agency mentioned shares are buying and selling at enticing ranges not seen because the world monetary disaster.

Clear Vitality Fuels — The inventory was 3.6% greater after Raymond James upgraded Clear Vitality Fuels to outperform and assigned it a $6 value goal, suggesting shares stand to realize about 42.8% from Tuesday’s shut.

Albemarle — Albemarle shed 3.3% after Financial institution of America downgraded the chemical compounds manufacturing inventory to underperform from impartial. The financial institution considerably reduce its earnings forecast for Albemarle and lowered its value goal to $195. The brand new goal implies the inventory may fall about 7% from Tuesday’s shut.

Lamb Weston — Shares of the potato processing big have been up about 1% forward of the corporate’s scheduled earnings launch on Thursday. Financial institution of America included Lamb Weston in its latest listing of short-term inventory picks for the second quarter, saying it’s optimistic the corporate will beat consensus earnings estimates.

FedEx — Shares of the transport firm gained 3.1% in premarket buying and selling after FedEx introduced a dividend hike and a company reorganization. FedEx mentioned it can increase its dividend by 10%, consolidate its totally different enterprise divisions and alter its govt compensation packages.

Exelixis — Shares of the biotech firm added 1% after The Wall Avenue Journal reported that hedge fund Farallon Capital Administration is planning to wage a proxy battle at Exelixis.

— CNBC’s Jesse Pound, Samantha Subin and Michelle Fox Theobald contributed reporting.