Dollar Tree buys Family Dollar; Going crazy for El Pollo Loco; Tyson mixed results

Here is a look at some of the stocks the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you today.

Family Dollar (FDO) shares soared in early trading. Dollar Tree (DLTR) is buying its larger rival in a cash and stock deal valued at about $8.5 billion. The combined company will have over 13,000 stores and more than $18 billion in sales. Activist investor Carl Icahn, who has a 9.4% stake in Family Dollar, has been pressuring the company to put itself up for sale.

Earnings continue to roll in this morning. Tyson Foods (TSN) reported earnings of $0.75 a share, missing analysts' estimates by three cents as margins narrowed. However, sales rose 11% from a year ago, topping expectations thanks to higher prices and volumes. The company sees better-than-expected earnings growth of 10% next year. It will also sell its poultry businesses in Mexico and Brazil to help repay debt connected with the acquisition of Hillshire Brands (HSH).

Investors still seem to have an appetite for shares of El Pollo Loco (LOCO). The stock rose before the bell after shares of the Mexican fast-food chain soared more than 60% on its market debut on Friday. The stock was priced at the high-end of its expected range of $15 a share.

Hospira (HSP) shares were higher in the pre-market. The Financial Times reported that the company is in talks with French company Danone to buy its medical-nutrition unit in a cash-and-stock deal that could be worth nearly $5 billion. The deal is seen as a tax inversion move because it would allow Hospira to move its tax base to Europe.