J.C. Penney falls short in third quarter, looks home for improvements in 2010

Expect a Kohl's vs. Penney's remodeling face-off next year, and new additions in their home departments. While reporting their third-quarter results this week, the department store rivals both said they're planning to focus on remodeling stores in 2010, and will pay more attention to their housewares departments, which have not been as profitable during the housing downturn.

After posting mildly disappointing results for the third quarter, J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) told analysts it plans to stick to its knitting by adding brands and remodeling stores, rather than opening news ones.