MAY <MA> REPORTS STRONG 1ST QTR START May Department Stores Co, reporting record results for the fourth quarter ended January 31, said it is encouraged about the new fiscal year by a strong start in February and March. The company said its merger last year with Associated Dry Goods, which was accounted for as a pooling of interests, is "going very well." May said "We are acting more like one company every day. Our expansion schedule is on track." May said it plans to invest more than 600 mln dlrs this year to open 11 department stores, eight discount stores and more than 240 specialty outlets. The company reported fourth quarter earnings of 213 mln dlrs, or 1.38 dlrs a share, up from 195 mln dlrs, or 1.24 dlrs a share a year earlier. Revenues advanced to 3.37 billion dlrs from 3.12 billion dlrs.