Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies are having unusual price changes in U.S. trading today. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 4:22 p.m. in New York.

CenturyTel Inc. (CTL US) dropped 13 percent to $25.62, the most since January 2001. The provider of phone service in rural areas of Alabama and Missouri agreed to acquire larger carrier Embarq Corp. (EQ US) for about $5.8 billion in stock. The purchase will nearly quadruple CenturyTel's subscriber base and raise the company's subscribers in regions with higher foreclosure rates such as Nevada and Florida. Embarq added 2.2 percent to $30.38.

Coach Inc. (COH US) lost 8.7 percent to $16.09. The largest U.S. maker of luxury leather handbags had its share-price estimate and its 2009 and 2010 full-year estimates lowered at Credit Suisse Group AG, which citing the prospect of lower same- store sales.

Dillard's Inc. (DDS US) advanced 35 percent to $4.52. the most since at least 1980. Two shareholders of the department- store chain asked three independent board members to work with other directors to replace Chief Executive Officer William Dillard II.

DineEquity Inc. (DIN US) soared 54 percent to $9.06, the most since at least 1991. The owner of Ihop and Applebee's restaurant chains said it lowered debt and arranged the sale of 110 Applebee's restaurants to franchisees, providing cash to further reduce debt.

General Motors Corp. (GM US) fell for a fourth day, dropping 8.4 percent to $5.45. GM's rating on $43 billion in debt was dropped one grade further below investment status by Moody's Investors Service for the second time in about two months because of mounting concern over access to cash.

Hess Corp. (HES US) lost 13 percent to $43.37, the lowest since November 2006. The fifth-biggest U.S. oil producer fell on concern that falling oil prices will delay projects aimed at replenishing reserves.

Humana Inc. (HUM US) fell 15 percent to $30.80, the lowest since January 2005. The second-biggest provider of U.S.-funded health insurance reported a 39 percent decline in quarterly profit on investments in financial companies and rising costs in its drug plans for the elderly. Humana lowered its fourth-quarter and 2008 profit forecasts.

Loews Corp. (L US) lost 18 percent to $25.65, the most since at least 1980. The holding company run by New York's Tisch family said it plans to inject $1.25 billion into CNA Financial Corp. (CNA US) after the insurer reported a third-quarter loss because of falling prices for commercial insurance, hurricane claims and investment declines.

Loews owns 90 percent of CNA, the Chicago-based business insurer. CNA shares slid 33 percent to $11.90.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ONXX US) lost 12 percent to $24.40. The drugmaker was cut to ``underweight'' from ``overweight'' at Morgan Stanley.

Thoratec Corp. (THOR US) plunged 13 percent to $21.68, the most since February 2006. The company said five people died while using its mechanical heart that is smaller than a D-cell battery and urged doctors and patients to check the devices for damage.

Savient Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SVNT US) plunged 73 percent to $3.07, the most since 1990. The developer of a treatment for severe gout reported cardiovascular ``adverse events'' during clinical trials for the drug.

U.S. Steel Corp. (X US) retreated for a fifth day, falling 11 percent to $30.82. The second-largest producer by market value was cut to ``sell'' from ``buy'' at UBS AG, which said it is ``increasingly cautious on earnings for U.S. Steel'' as conditions in the U.S. deteriorate.

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ US) rose the most on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, gaining 10 percent to $27.61. The second-largest U.S. phone company said third-quarter profit advanced 31 percent on an increase in subscribers and sales of more expensive services. Sales rose 4.1 percent to $24.8 billion, topping the average analyst estimate of $24.5 billion, according to Bloomberg data.

To contact the reporter on this story: Elizabeth Campbell in New York at ecampbell11@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 27, 2008 16:44 EDT