Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday's session are FedEx Corp. (FDX), American Apparel Inc. (APP) and Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ASPX)

FedEx, in the midst of its holiday shipping rush, reported earnings for its November quarter that increased less than expected, though the shipping giant benefited from higher volumes and margins. Shares fell 3.9% to $167.50 premarket.

American Apparel said it terminated the employment of Chief Executive Dov Charney and named veteran fashion executive Paula Schneider as his successor. Shares rose 16% to 67 cents premarket.

Auspex Pharmaceuticals reported favorable results from a Phase 3 trial evaluating its SD-809 treatment for chorea related to Huntington's disease. Shares surged 84% to $46.10 premarket.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) has begun showing progress in turning around its ailing Olive Garden chain, posting on Tuesday the first positive quarter of same-store sales in more than a year and beating analysts' expectations. Shares rose 1.8% to $56.90 premarket.

General Mills Inc. (GIS) said its sales fell in the most recent quarter amid continued weakness in the U.S. food industry and slowing growth in emerging markets. Earnings for the period topped the company's outlook, reflecting a shift in the timing of expenses, while sales fell below analysts' projections. Shares rose six cents to $51.19 premarket.

Joy Global Inc. (JOY) more than doubled its earnings in the fourth quarter, but the struggling mining-equipment maker warned that 2015 would be another challenging year amid an unfavorable pricing environment and falling industry investment in new equipment. Shares fell 1.7% to $45.25 premarket.

Pentair PLC (PNR) offered a weak outlook for next year on expectations for modest growth in global gross domestic product. Still, the water-treatment and technical products company expects next year's results will be solid, including margin growth, despite expected modest global economic growth next year. Shares fell 55 cents to $60.41 premarket.

Pharmaceutical company Pozen Inc. (POZN) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration again denied approval for its aspirin drug Yosprala. Shares fell 13% to $7.90 premarket.

SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (SEAS) plans to cut about 300 jobs in an effort to save roughly $50 million a year by the end of 2015. The theme-park operator continues to deal with the backlash from animal-rights activists and consumers about its treatment of animals, especially killer whales. Shares rose 1.4% to $15.65 premarket.

 
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Investor Mario Gabelli is considering nominating candidates to the board of Brinks Co. (BCO), saying the security-services company "trades at a significant discount to its private market value."

Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc.'s (PLAY) loss narrowed in the third quarter as the arcade and restaurant chain said it sees the long-term potential to nearly triple its store count in North America.

21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) reached a preliminary deal to acquire the online advertising technology company TrueX Media. TrueX Media licenses to media companies a digital ad product that allows Web consumers to opt to briefly interact with a full-screen, multifaceted ad rather than seeing a series of standard ads while streaming video content. Financial terms weren't provided.

MasTec Inc. (MTZ), which has most of its business in communications and oil-and-gas construction, lowered its guidance for next year due to tumbling oil prices and expected lower levels of wireless activity. Separately, its board authorized the repurchase of $100 million of stock.

Moody's Corp. (MCO) said boosted its quarterly dividend by 21% and authorized a new $1 billion stock-buyback program, as the company continues to benefit from strong demand for its credit ratings and market analytics.

Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) has received a U.S. Air Force contract to provide unmanned surveillance aircraft for South Korea, the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday.

Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RT) said sales and customer traffic at its restaurants, excluding recently opened and closed ones, missed the company's expectations in its latest quarter.

State Street Corp. (STT) appointed Michael F. Rogers as its chief operating officer and also promoted two other company veterans to its management committee.

United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR) slashed its top executive's long-term pay after coming under shareholder pressure this summer to rein in its compensation. The company also promoted its chief operating officer, Roger Jeffs, to co-chief executive, to serve alongside current CEO Martine Rothblatt starting Jan. 1.

Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) said Tuesday it was abandoning a proposed $650 million deal to acquire EagleView Technology Corp. in the face of an antitrust challenge by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com and Tess Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com

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