J.C. Penney Posts Profit, Sales Strong  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Department store operator J.C. Penney  Co. Inc. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=JCP.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;JCP.N&lt;/A&gt; on Tuesday posted a quarterly operating  profit, reversing a year-earlier loss, on inventory controls  and strong sales of jeans, home furnishings and career clothes.