SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    ---------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

          Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 9, 2005


                           J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Delaware                         1-15274                     26-0037077
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File No.)         (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation )                                      Identification No.)

6501 Legacy Drive
Plano, Texas                                                  75024-3698

(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 431-1000


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[  ] Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13d-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 1.01         Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

     2005 Incentive Plan Performance Goals. Annual profit incentive compensation
can be earned  under the J. C. Penney  Corporation,  Inc.  Management  Incentive
Compensation Program ("Incentive  Program") by management  employees,  including
the  executive  officers  who  are  anticipated  to  be  named  in  the  Summary
Compensation Table of the J. C. Penney Company,  Inc. ("Company") 2006 Notice of
Annual  Meeting and Proxy  Statement  (each a "named  executive  officer").  The
Incentive Program ties incentive  compensation to Company  performance,  with no
incentive  payment for  performance  well below plan and up to 200% of incentive
targets for superior results. The goals for the Incentive Program are set at the
beginning of each fiscal year  consistent  with the Company's  business plan. On
May 9, 2005, the Company's Human Resources Committee approved the 2005 Incentive
Plan performance goals,  including those for the named executive  officers.  For
2005,  in the event the Company's  performance  meets the criteria for incentive
compensation  payouts,  the named  executive  officers'  incentive  payouts  are
measured (1) 50 % based upon total Company sales and operating profit results of
continuing  operations,  and (2) 50% based upon each named  executive  officer's
individual performance.

     Agreement  with New Executive.  On May 9, 2005, the Company  announced that
Michael T. Theilmann  will be joining the Company as Executive  Vice  President,
Chief Human Resources and  Administration  Officer  beginning June 1, 2005. (See
Press  Release  of May 9,  2005  attached  as  Exhibit  99.1).On May 9, 2005 the
Company and Mr. Theilmann entered into terms of agreement ("Terms of Agreement")
describing the terms of his employment with the Company.  A copy of the Terms of
Agreement are attached as Exhibit 10.1 and  incorporated  by reference into this
report.

Item 8.01  Other Events

On May 9, 2005, J. C. Penney Company,  Inc. ("Company")  announced that, through
an indirect wholly owned subsidiary,  it has filed with the Brazilian Securities
Commission  preliminary  offering materials that could result in the sale of all
or a portion of its controlling interest in the Brazilian department store Lojas
Renner S. A., as part of a primary and  secondary  offering of common  shares of
Lojas Renner S. A. (See News Release of May 9, 2005 attached as Exhibit 99.2)


Item 9.01(c)      Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 10.1     Terms of Agreement  between  Michael T. Theilmann and J. C. 
                 Penney Company, Inc., dated May 9, 2005.

Exhibit 99.1     News Release, dated May 9, 2005, announcing appointment of 
                 Michael T. Theilmann.

Exhibit 99.2     News Release, dated May 9, 2005, announcing the filing of
                 preliminary offering materials regarding Brazilian operations.






                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.



                                        By:  /s/ Joanne L. Bober      
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Joanne L. Bober
                                          Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary


Date:  May 13, 2005



                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number    Description

     10.1         Terms of Agreement between Michael T. Theilmann and J. C. 
                  Penney Company, Inc., dated May 9, 2005.

     99.1         News Release, dated May 9, 2005, announcing appointment of
                  Michael T. Theilmann.

     99.2         News Release, dated May 9, 2005, announcing the filing of 
                  preliminary offering materials regarding Brazilian operations.