GE’s Outlook Strong Despite Earnings Drop

Article Excerpt

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $19 (New York symbol GE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.0 billion; Market cap; $190.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) earned $0.45 a share in the third quarter of 2008, down 10% from $0.50 a year earlier. That’s mostly due to a 33% drop in profits at GE’s finance division, which accounts for about 45% of its overall earnings. Revenue grew 11.1%, to $47.2 billion from $45.5 billion, thanks mainly to strong demand for power turbines and other energy infrastructure equipment. GE should benefit from the Federal Reserve’s plan to buy back commercial paper from non-banks, including GE’s finance division. The sale of $3 billion of new preferred shares to Warren Buffett plus $12 billion of common stock to the public will also help strengthen GE’s finances, and possibly let it take advantage of acquisition opportunities. GE is a buy. buy…