Stocks opened lower on Wednesday as investors booked profits after a sharp rally in the previous session.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 22.70 points, or 0.20 percent, to 11,154.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 1.69 points, or 0.15 percent, to 1,160.66. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 4.08 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,441.98.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak)