Sears, Roebuck & Co. reported a $97.9-million...

Sears, Roebuck & Co. reported a $97.9-million loss for the first quarter because of huge earthquake damage claims paid out by its Allstate Corp. insurance division.

Analysts were impressed, however, by the performance of Sears stores, where sales rose strongly and profit more than doubled from a year ago.

Sears’ loss for the three months ended April 2 equaled 27 cents a share, contrasted with a profit of $435 million, or $1.13 a share, in the comparable period a year ago.

Sears reported overall sales and interest income of $12.3 billion, up 8.6% from $11.3 billion in the first quarter of 1993.

Allstate, which is 20% publicly owned, lost $275.2 million in the first quarter, contrasted with a profit of $320.1 million a year ago. The loss applicable to Sears’ bottom line was $220.5 million.