Must Watch Stocks for December 23, 2016

Some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are:

• Cintas Corporation CTAS reported weak earnings for its second quarter. However, the company raised its forecast for fiscal 2017. Cintas shares fell 2.83 percent to $116.69 in the after-hours trading session.
• Dipexium Pharmaceuticals Inc. DPRX announced plans to merge with privately-held PLx Pharma Inc in an all-stock deal. Dipexium Pharmaceuticals shares jumped 65.62 percent to $2.65 in after-hours trading.
• Cal-Maine Foods Inc CALM posted in-line loss for its second quarter, but sales missed expectations. Cal-Maine shares rose 0.24 percent to $42.10 in the after-hours trading session.

Find out what's going on in today's market and bring any questions you have to Benzinga's PreMarket Prep.

• Synergy Pharmaceuticals Inc SGYP announced after Thursday's closing bell that its drug plecanatide, a daily pill to fight irritable bowel syndrome, had achieved positive top-line results from the second of two pivotal phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of the drug. Synergy Pharmaceuticals shares climbed 11.39 percent to $5.28 in the after-hours trading session.
• Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. II HCAC and Daseke, Inc. disclosed that they have entered into a merger agreement. Hennessy Capital Acquisition shares rose 0.41 percent to $9.91 in after-hours trading.