text: J.C. Penney Posts Second-Quarter Profit  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 second-quarter profit,  reversing a year-earlier loss, helped by inventory controls and  strong department store sales.