General Electric said today its first-quarter earnings excluding exceptional charges rose 16 per cent from a year earlier to $3.017 billion.
The industrial-media-finance conglomerate said per-share earnings amounted to 30 cents - in line with Wall Street forecasts.
GE said its first-quarter revenues were $30.5 billion, up from $29.9 billion a year earlier.
Chairman and chief executive Mr Jack Welch said: "GE's broad-based portfolio strength was again demonstrated in the first quarter."
Long-cycle businesses, such as medical equipment and aircraft components, showed operating profit growth of 36 per cent, Mr Welch said. "GE Capital Services had a strong quarter with ongoing earnings growth up 16 per cent."
The short-cycle businesses, such as NBC and appliances, were "impacted by the US economic slowdown" and reported operating profit down 5 per cent, Mr Welch said.
AFP