INSURANCE

Transamerica Earnings Up 92%: Transamerica Corp. said its fourth-quarter profit nearly doubled, boosted by strong performances by its Los Angeles-based life insurance operations and real estate services businesses. The company earned $22.8 million, or 24 cents a share, for the three months ended Dec. 31. Net income was $11.9 million, or 6 cents a share, for the same period of 1992. The results included the effect of extraordinary loss for debt retirement and investment losses in 1993, investment gains in 1992 and discontinued operations in both years. Revenue totaled $1.2 billion for the final quarters of both 1992 and 1993. For the year, Transamerica’s profit rose to $377.4 million, or $4.51 a share, 55% above 1992’s earnings of $243.2 million, or $2.83 a share. Revenue for the year edged up 4% to $4.8 billion from $4.6 billion.