7 Stocks you need to know for Thursday

Syntax-Brillian (BRLC | charts | news | PowerRating) missed earnings on Wednesday, announcing $0.11 EPS versus expectations of $0.12 EPS.

Pier 1 Imports (PIR | charts | news | PowerRating) reports earnings on Thursday before the market opens; look for -$0.44 EPS.

Amgen (AMGN | charts | news | PowerRating) rose over 4% on Wednesday after Merrill Lynch and UBS upgraded the drug company on the heels of a favorable FDA decision for an anemia drug.

Diana Shipping (DSX | charts | news | PowerRating) fell 5% on Wednesday, after the company announced plans to issue 10 million additional stock shares to the public.

Humana (HUM | charts | news | PowerRating) rose over 5% Wednesday on news that the U.S. Congress may drop plans to cut Medicare payments for certain children's health insurance programs.

Sirius (SIRI | charts | news | PowerRating) gained over 4% on speculation that the proposed XM Satellite (XMSR | charts | news | PowerRating) merger could be approved by October.