Spinoff plans enhance their prospects

Article Excerpt

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $8.98 (New York symbol GE, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 8.7 billion; Market cap: $78.1 billion; Dividend yield: 0.5%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.ge.com) recently announced a major restructuring that will narrow its focus to three main businesses: aviation operations (jet engines and aircraft electronics); electrical power equipment (such as turbines and related equipment for gas-fired and nuclear power plants); and renewable power equipment (wind farms and hydroelectric plants). As a result, GE will spin off its healthcare operations as a separate firm. That business makes a variety of electrical equipment for hospitals and medical clinics, including magnetic resonance imaging machines. The company will probably sell 40% of the healthcare business through an IPO, and hand out the remaining shares some time later. GE also plans to sell its 62.5% stake in subsidiary Baker Hughes, a GE Co. (New York symbol BHGE) over the next two to three years. That business sells a variety of services and products to help exploration…