7 Stocks You Need to Know for Thursday

CNBC reported late on Wednesday that Verizon (VZ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is allegedly in talks to buy Alltel for $27 billion.

Bob Evans Farms (BOBE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) beat analyst estimates on Wednesday as the food producer reported fourth-quarter earnings gains of 5%. Shares were up more than 17% on the day.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) was up more than 5% on news that the semiconductor maker's latest chips provide a considerably improved high definition viewing experience for users of notebook computers.

Up more than 13% on the day, Guess? (GES | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) provided an annual forecast of profits and revenues on Wednesday that was greater than analysts had expected.

Will Lehman Brothers (LEH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) have to post a "For Sale" sign? Or are fears of the company's capital shortfall overblown? Merrill Lynch weighed in, at least implicitly, by upgrading the stock from "underperform" to "buy."

The potential for higher ad revenues from its ABC broadcasting led investors to bid shares of Walt Disney (DIS | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) higher by more than 3% on Wednesday.

Shares of American Express (AXP | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) closed higher by 3% on Wednesday on news that the company's 2008 profits were likely to be greater than previously thought.