Last Thursday, Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) reported fourth-quarter results that were better than some analysts feared. The company was particularly proud of achieving positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for the first time in three years. Still, it's one thing to earn a slight "profit" -- excluding major expenses like interest, pension costs, and capital investment costs -- in the seasonally strong holiday quarter.