Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Warner Bros. Discovery — The owner of the HBO and CNN cable networks rallied more than 4% after WBD rejected a takeover bid of about $20 a share from Paramount Skydance and said the suitor could respond with a higher offer, make a hostile bid or find a partner, citing people familiar with the matter. Bloom Energy — The energy stock soared 26% after the maker of fuel cell generators entered into a $5 billion partnership with Brookfield Asset Management to install fuel cells in an artificial intelligence data center. Shake Shack — The burger chain added 2% after Jefferies received an upgrade to lift it out of a slump. Jefferies said the risk-reward ratio is more balanced following the recent share price decline. Estée Lauder — The Clinique and Origins cosmetics maker soared 4% after Goldman Sachs upgraded the stock to buy. The bank also called for a 30% rise in Estée Lauder’s stock, noting that it was approaching a fundamental inflection point. Rocket Lab — The rocket company soared nearly 6% premarket after Morgan Stanley raised its price target to the highest price on the market. The Wall Street company said the initial launch of the Neutron program will be the next big catalyst for the stock. U.S. Rare Earths — Shares of U.S. rare earth mining companies soared after President Donald Trump threatened retaliation over China’s strict export controls. U.S. rare earths soared more than 18%, critical metals soared more than 18%, energy fuels soared more than 11% and MP Materials rose about 8%. StubHub — The online ticketing platform rose about 5% after its initial public offering on Sept. 17 as bullish research coverage began on some Wall Street. Goldman Sachs, which rated StubHub a “buy,” said ticket agencies will continue to grow as consumers prioritize experiences over products. Sprouts Farmers Market — The specialty grocery store chain rose about 2% after RBC Capital raised its investment rating on the battered stock, saying it could rise 44% from Friday’s close if same-store sales growth exceeds pre-pandemic levels. —CNBC’s Alex Harring, Michelle Fox, Fred Imbert and Scott Schnipper contributed reporting. (Learn the best strategies for 2026 from inside the NYSE with Josh Brown and others on CNBC PRO Live. Tickets and information here.)
