CSX Corp.

This Richmond, Va.-based transportation company reported yesterday that an improving economy and gains by its railroad operations boosted its performance during the first quarter.

The company said it earned $62 million, up from $57 million on comparable operations in the same quarter a year ago. After an accounting charge for employee retirement benefits, the company reported a loss of $139 million during the first quarter last year.

"We saw signs of an economic upturn in the quarter, most notably in March, when traffic levels strengthened at CSX Transportation, our rail unit," said John W. Snow, chairman and chief executive officer of CSX. "Rail revenue was up $74 million, and 35 percent of that increase was brought to the rail unit's bottom line."

Three months ended 3/31/91

.. .. .. .. Revenue .. .. .. ..Net .. ... ... ..Share

'92 .. .. .2,086,000,000 .. .62,000,000 .. ..0.60

.. .. .2,030,000,000 .. .(139,000,000) (1.40)

% change .. +2.7 .. .. .. .. ..-- .. .. .. .. .. .--

Martin Marietta Corp.

This Bethesda-based defense contractor reported earnings of million for the first quarter, a slight gain over the $71.1 million it earned in the same quarter last year.

The company said it won more than 60 percent of the contracts it pursued, although its backlog at the end of the first quarter was down to $10.2 billion, compared with $11.2 billion a year ago.

Norman R. Augustine, Martin Marietta's chairman and chief executive, said positive developments in the first quarter included increased international business, the Air Force's need for more Titan IV launch vehicles, work from the Department of Energy and signs of recovery in the construction markets.

The Titan program, Martin Marietta's largest, received a boost during the quarter with the announcement by the Air Force that it would need 30 more Titan IVs than the 41 under contract.

The latest order, expected to be received in 1993, will support the Titan program "well into the next century," the company said.

Three months ended 3/31/92

.. .. .. ..Revenue .. .. .. .. ..Net .. .. ..Share

'92 .. .. 1,371,500,000 .. .. .74,600,000 1.51

.. .. 1,400,400,000 .. .. .71,100,000 1.44

change ..-2.1 .. .. .. .. .. ..+4.9 .. .. .+4.8