JEDDAH – GE announced Monday fourth-quarter 2013 operating earnings of $5.4 billion, with earnings per share of $0.53, up 20 percent from the fourth quarter of 2012. GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $5.0 billion, with earnings per share of $0.49, up 20 percent. Revenues were $40.4 billion for the quarter, up 3 percent from the year-ago period, and $146.0 billion for the year. “GE ended the year with strong fourth-quarter earnings and margin growth in an improving but mixed environment,” said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. “We saw good conditions in growth markets, strength in the US, and a mixed environment in Europe. We had strong operating performance for the year and are pleased with our execution in 2013, taking $1.6 billion of cost out, growing margins, reducing the size of GE Capital, and returning more than $18 billion to shareholders.” Industrial segment profits rose 12 percent to $5.5 billion. Six of seven Industrial segments had positive earnings growth. Industrial segment margins improved 100 basis points over the prior-year period. Infrastructure orders for the quarter were $30.7 billion, up 8 percent. GE's backlog of equipment and services at the end of the quarter was its highest ever at $244 billion, up $15 billion from the third quarter. Industrial segment revenues grew 6 percent, with organic growth of 5 percent. Growth market revenues were up 10 percent for the quarter, with double-digit growth in six of nine growth regions, and growth market orders were up 13 percent. Services revenue grew 6 percent, with gains in most segments. Fourth-quarter operating earnings were $5.4 billion, up 16 percent from fourth-quarter 2012, and operating EPS was $0.53, up 20 percent. GAAP earnings from continuing operations (attributable to GE) were $5.0 billion, up 16 percent, or $0.49 per share, up 20 percent from the fourth quarter of 2012. Including the effects of discontinued operations, fourth-quarter net earnings attributable to GE were $4.2 billion ($0.41 per share) in 2013 compared with $4.0 billion ($0.38 per share) in the fourth quarter of 2012. This included Grey Zone charges of $0.04 per share, WMC charges of $0.01 per share, and charges for a disposition in Russia of $0.02 per share. Fourth-quarter revenues increased 3 percent to $40.4 billion. Industrial sales of $28.8 billion increased 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. GECC revenues of $11.1 billion decreased 5 percent from last year. Full-year operating earnings were $16.9 billion, up 5 percent, from $16.0 billion in 2012, and operating EPS was $1.64, up 9 percent from $1.51 in 2012. GAAP earnings from continuing operations (attributable to GE) were $15.2 billion, or $1.47 per share, up 4 percent and 7 percent respectively from 2012. Including the effects of discontinued operations, full-year net earnings attributable to GE were $14.1 billion ($1.36 per share) in 2013 compared with $13.6 billion ($1.29 per share attributable to common shareowners) in 2012. Full-year revenues were $146.0 billion, flat with last year. Industrial sales of $101.0 billion were flat with last year. GECC revenues of $44.1 billion were down 3 percent from 2012. Cash generated from GE operating activities in 2013 totaled $17.4 billion excluding $3.2 billion of NBCUniversal deal-related taxes. Cash generated from Industrial operating activities, excluding the NBCUniversal deal-related taxes, totaled $11.5 billion. During the quarter, GE and CFM (a 50/50 joint venture between GE and Snecma) announced Dubai Airshow wins of more than $40 billion at list price, including GE's largest airline commitment ever, valued at $11 billion at list price, for 300 GE9X engines for Emirates. GE also announced a nearly $700 million contract with Saudi Electricity Company for F-class combined-cycle gas turbines and services, and was awarded 545 megawatts of commitments for wind turbines in Brazil's A-3 auction. GE's investment in research & development continued to yield new products in 2013, including the release of 14 new Industrial Internet technologies to help airlines, energy companies, hospitals and other customers cut downtime, improve productivity, save fuel and reduce emissions. GE Capital continued to execute on its strategy of becoming a smaller, more focused financial services business. GE Capital earnings rose 38 percent including gains from the IPO of our Swiss consumer business, and the BAY disposition. ENI (excluding cash and equivalents) was $380 billion at quarter-end. Volume was up 5 percent for the quarter, with attractive returns. General Electric Capital Corporation's (GECC) estimated Tier 1 common ratio (Basel 1) rose 1.2 percent to 11.4 percent, and net interest margin was strong at 5 percent. During the quarter, GECC paid $2 billion in dividends to the parent. Full-year cash from GE operating activities (CFOA), excluding NBCUniversal deal-related taxes, was $17.4 billion. GE ended the quarter with $89 billion of consolidated cash and cash equivalents. GE's strong cash performance for the quarter and the year supported its balanced capital allocation plan. The Company returned $18.2 billion to shareowners in 2013, including $7.8 billion of dividends and $10.4 billion of stock buyback. During the quarter, GE announced a 16 percent increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.22 per share, the fifth increase in just over three years. GE also completed $9 billion of acquisitions in 2013. GE made a number of investments in the quarter to strengthen the company in 2014 and beyond. The Company recorded $0.05 per share of Industrial restructuring and other charges, partially offset by $0.03 per share of Industrial gains. This, and other moves, should allow GE to increase its planned cost-out efforts in 2014 to more than $1 billion. GE Capital strengthened its balance sheet, reduced non-core assets and took portfolio actions to decrease ENI, per the company's plan. – SG
