Fourth Quarter

AEGON N.V., the Dutch-based parent of Baltimore insurer Monumental General Insurance Group, posted a better-than-expected earnings increase in 1994, thanks to a strong showing in the fourth quarter.The company said yesterday that it earned $632 million (1.2 billion Netherlands guilders) last year, 17 percent higher than the $541 million earned in 1993.L Earnings per share rose to $6.15, from $5.20 a year earlier.AEGON had told analysts this week to expect earnings more than 12 percent higher than 1993's.

Marking a rapid turnaround after a money-losing third quarter, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. reported stronger-than-expected earnings yesterday for its fourth quarter, which ended Jan. 31. The men's clothing retailer, with headquarters in Hampstead, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.5 million, or 36 cents a share, before one-time charges, compared with $2.2 million, or 32 cents a share, in the corresponding quarter last year. With the one-time charges, earnings were $1.9 million, or 28 cents a share.

NEW YORK -- For New York Knicks guard John Starks, it was a matter of watching and waiting.Even though an ineffective first half had led to his being benched the entire third quarter, Starks knew he would get his chance.And everyone knew it wouldn't take long for him to start cranking up the shots."It was just a matter of when they would call my number," Starks said. "And when I came in, it was just a matter of taking the first shot available."So Starks fired away, scoring eight straight points during a decisive fourth-quarter run in the Knicks' 96-91 win over the Chicago Bulls last night at Madison Square Garden.

Bethlehem Steel Corp. said yesterday that prices driven lower by imports resulted in a fourth-quarter loss of $38.1 million -- 64 percent more than the $23.2 million loss reported for the comparable period a year earlier. The Bethlehem, Pa.-based steel giant said the loss might have been steeper if not for higher shipments than in the year-earlier period. The company, which operates a major plant in Sparrows Point in Baltimore County, also said that import-driven pressure on prices had started to ease.

Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss of $43.5 million as national and local television advertisers curtailed spending after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The loss of 55 cents per share compared with net income of $59.1 million, or 64 cents per share, inr the corresponding period a year earlier. With recession hammering media companies nationwide last fall, Sinclair reported that sales for the three months that ended Dec. 31 fell 15 percent, to $184.6 million from $216.

Bolstered by a 26 percent gain in orders for homes to be delivered early this year, Ryland Group Inc. of Columbia said its fourth-quarter profits rose 10 percent.But the news caused a muted reaction on Wall Street, where the stock backed off from a 52-week high reached Wednesday after a Salomon Inc. analyst recommended the stock of the nation's third-biggest homebuilder.Ryland shares closed at $24.625, down 62.5 cents, on the New York Stock Exchange.Ryland said it earned $7.6 million, or 45 cents a share, during the three months that closed 1993.

Wait a second, what locker room was this? Sure, the Ravens had just won, but the talk floating from corner to corner didn't seem to match up with the game they had just played, a 26-23 hold-your-breath victory over the Arizona Cardinals. "It was a great win," coach Brian Billick said. Really? Are you referring to the same game in which the Ravens blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and needed a last-second field goal to salvage the second win of the young season? "Feels good to be able to help them out," Kyle Boller said.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. reported fourth-quarter operating earnings yesterday that were 160 percent higher than a year ago. Earnings per share also jumped -- 138 percent -- according to an earnings statement released by the company.The Hampstead-based marketer of tailored and casual clothing said earnings from continuing operations were $1.3 million, or 19 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, compared with a profit of $500,000, or 8 cents per share, in the year-earlier quarter.

LANDOVER -- It was a situation that money players dream of being in. And so, with the Washington Bullets trailing by one point with just over a second left in regulation, there was Juwan Howard -- at $105 million over seven years one of the biggest money players in the league -- at the line with a chance to beat the Miami Heat.Make two free throws, and the Bullets overcome a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit for an incredible win. But after making the first, Howard missed the second, which forced an overtime, in which the Heat eventually came away with a 108-105 win last night before a sellout crowd at USAir Arena.

Black & Decker Corp. shares plunged 16 percent yesterday after the company said sluggish growth in power-tool sales would hurt earnings in the fourth quarter and the first quarter next year.The Towson-based company said it would not meet analysts' earnings estimate of $1 per share for the fourth quarter and $2.40 for the year. Black & Decker's first-quarter earnings in 1997 will be down from first-quarter earnings this year of 35 cents per share, the company said.Black & Decker's chairman and chief executive, Nolan D. Archibald, said earnings for 1996 would still exceed last year's total of $2.01 per share.