GM races ahead after big beat, Tesla's master plan, Mattel's Barbie comeback

Here are some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

General Motors (GM) raised its outlook for the year after second-quarter results raced way ahead of Wall Street estimates as profits more than doubled from a year ago as demand for trucks and SUVs drove up US sales.

Tesla (TSLA) and SolarCity (SCTY) are in the spotlight after Elon Musk, the founder of both companies, laid out part two of his master plan late Wednesday, which includes rolling out electric trucks, buses and a ride-sharing service, as well as an integrated solar and battery product.

Mattel (MAT) reported a narrower than expected loss, and revenue also topped analysts’ estimates as Barbie made a comeback in the second quarter with sales jumping 23%. However, other girl brands and boys’ toys weighed on overall sales.

Intel (INTC) posted earnings per share that beat expectations, but revenue was a tad shy of estimates due to slower-than-expected growth in chip sales for data centers and a charge related to its efforts to restructure and cut costs.

Joy Global (JOY) shares soared in early trading. Japan’s construction machinery giant, Komatsu, said it’s buying its US rival for $2.9 billion dollars in cash. That translates to $28.30 a share. This announcement comes as it looks to compete with industry leader Caterpillar and as more Japanese firms seek growth in the US market.