Early movers: MMM, CAT, DD, MRK, PG, UTX, GM, UA, LLY & more

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

3M (MMM) — 3M came in one cent a share above estimates, earning $2.15 per share for its latest quarter. Revenue was in line with estimates. 3M did lower the top end of its full-year forecast, although it continues to call its business strong.

Caterpillar (CAT) — The heavy equipment maker beat estimates by nine cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 85 cents per share. Revenue missed forecasts, however, and the company also cut its full-year guidance, saying most of its end markets "remain challenged."

DuPont (DD) — The chemical maker reported adjusted quarterly profit of 34 cents per share, beating estimates of 21 cents a share. Revenue also beat estimates. DuPont raised its full-year forecast to an adjusted $3.25 compared to a consensus estimate of $3.19. The company's results were helped by expanding sales and profit margins.

Merck (MRK) — The drugmaker came in eight cents a share above estimates, with per share profit of $1.07 per share. Revenue also exceeded forecasts. The company raised its 2016 outlook, as well, with cancer drug Keytruda contributing to its success.

Procter & Gamble (PG) — The consumer products giant earned an adjusted $1.03 per share for its fiscal first quarter, compared to consensus estimates of 98 cents a share. Revenue exceeded analysts' forecasts. Organic sales increased in all five of P&G's business segments during the quarter.

United Technologies (UTX) — The industrial conglomerate earned an adjusted $1.76 per share, beating estimates by 10 cents a share. It also beat on the top line and raised both the lower end of its full-year guidance, as well as its organic sales growth outlook.

General Motors (GM) — The automaker reported adjusted profit of $1.72 per share, well above estimates of $1.45 a share. Revenue also beat estimates on the continued popularity of crossovers and trucks. GM said it expects to end the year at the high end of its prior earnings forecast.

Under Armour (UA) — Under Armour beat estimates by four cents a share, with quarterly profit of 29 cents per share. Strong apparel sales helped boost revenue above forecasts, but profit margins fell from a year ago.

Eli Lilly (LLY) — The drugmaker missed forecasts by eight cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of 88 cents per share. Revenue also fell short of estimates.

Baker Hughes (BHI) — The oilfield services company reported a quarter loss of 15 cents per share, smaller than the 44 cents a share loss expected by analysts. Revenue was short of forecasts, however, and Baker Hughes said it is making progress reducing costs and increasing efficiency in its operations in the midst of a challenging environment.

Whirlpool (WHR) — The appliance maker fell 20 cents a share shy of estimates, with adjusted quarterly profit $3.66 per share. Revenue also missed estimates. Whirlpool's full-year profit forecast of $14 to $14.25 per share fell short of the $14.61 consensus estimate, as well, with the company pointing to a competitive external environment. Whirlpool did say that its fundamentals are strong.

Twitter (TWTR) — Twitter is planning to cut eight percent of its workforce, or about 300 jobs, according to a Bloomberg report. The announcement could come early Thursday as the company reports its quarterly numbers before the bell.

Visa (NYSE:V) — The credit card issuer reported adjusted quarterly profit of 78 cents per share, five cents a share above estimates. Revenue was slightly above forecasts. The company said it was seeing notable contributions from its acquisition of Visa Europe as well as increased spending by credit card customers. Its 2017 earnings and revenue guidance was somewhat shy of analyst forecasts, however.

Syngenta (Swiss Exchange: SYNN-CH) — Syngenta said its $43 billion takeover by ChemChina will go ahead as planned, but the approval of the deal and subsequent closure will stretch into 2017. The pesticides maker had originally hoped the deal would close by the end of the year.

IBM (IBM) — IBM issued an apology to the government of Australia after a cyberattack disrupted a national census. IBM had been the lead contractor for the survey, although the government is blaming the incident on two domestic internet service providers.

Netflix (NFLX) — Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said he approved of AT&T (NYSE:T)'s planned $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner (TWX), as long as Netflix continues to be treated fairly.

Novartis (Swiss Exchange: NOVN-CH) — Novartis reported quarterly profit of $1.23 per share, three cents a share above estimates. Revenue was essentially in line with estimates. The drugmaker reaffirmed its prior 2016 outlook.

Sonic (SONC) — Sonic came in one cent a share above estimates, with adjusted quarterly profit of 45 cents per share. The restaurant chain gave a full-year outlook that disappointed investors, however, citing weak consumer spending and a competitive environment for pressuring its recent sales figures.

Rambus (RMBS) — Rambus topped estimates by three cents a share, with quarterly profit of 16 cents per share. The chipmaker's revenue also exceeded Street forecasts in its latest quarter. The company gave strong fourth-quarter sales guidance, as it enjoys the benefits of a recent licensing agreement with specialty chipmaker Xilinx (XLNX).

Zions Bancorp (ZION) — Zions reported quarterly profit of 57 cents per share, seven cents a share above estimates. The regional bank's revenue also came in above consensus, helped by a rise in its net interest margin.