Stocks in the news: Walt Disney, AutoNation, Constellation Energy

The following post rounds up the companies making headlines today:

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) posted a 26 percent plunge in quarterly earnings late Thursday. While it managed to beat Wall Street estimates by the proverbial penny, the results underline the continued effects of the recession on the entertainment company. Disney was also hit by a downgrade from JPMorgan to Underweight from Neutral and set a December 2010 price target on Disney shares of $22. DIS shares declined over 3 percent in pre-market trade.

Ford Motor Co. (F), the Wall Street Journal reports, "has slowed the bidding process for its Volvo unit in an effort to get a better price for the Swedish car brand, according to a person close to the U.S. company." Ford will wait until GM sells it Open unit before starting the bidding on Volvo again, a source told the WSJ.