Check out which companies are making headlines ahead of the bell Friday:
J.C. Penney shares rose nearly 3 percent in early New York trading after the retailer's Thanksgiving night opening, its earliest Black Friday opening yet.
Target - The discount retailer's shares climbed in pre-market trading after it reported a strong start to the Black Friday shopping weekend.
Wal-Mart Stores - Shares of the discount retailer also rose on reports of strong sales and traffic.
Renren - The Chinese social-networking company's shares fell sharply after it late Wednesday reported a larger-than-estimated loss for the third quarter.
—By CNBC's Kate Gibson.
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