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Press Release

GE Reports Record First-Quarter Financial Results with Double-Digit Increases in 2006 Earnings, Revenues and Cash Flow

April 03, 2006

FAIRFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2006--Financial Highlights (Continuing Operations):

-- Revenues of $37.8 billion, up 10%; organic revenue growth of 9%

-- Earnings of $4.0 billion, up 14%; earnings per share (EPS) of $.39, up 18%

-- Total orders up 33%

-- Five of GE's six businesses deliver double-digit earnings growth

-- Cash from GE's operating activities (CFOA) up 132% to $6.7 billion; Industrial CFOA up 24%

-- Return on average total capital (ROTC) increasing 1.4 percentage points to 17%

GE announced today record first-quarter 2006 earnings from continuing operations of $4.0 billion or $.39 per share, up 14% and 18%, respectively, from first-quarter 2005. Revenues from continuing operations were also a record $37.8 billion, up 10% from last year's first quarter. Cash flow from GE's operating activities was a record $6.7 billion.

"We had a strong performance in the quarter highlighted by double-digit growth in earnings, revenues and cash flow," said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. "Driven by demand for our industrial equipment, momentum in healthcare and continued performance in our financial services businesses, we achieved 9% organic revenue growth. Five of six of GE's businesses delivered double-digit earnings growth.

"Importantly, orders were strong across the company, growing 33%. Our orders for equipment and services were particularly robust, growing 67% and 20%, respectively. This gives us good visibility going forward," added Immelt.

"Our solid fundamentals are delivering strong cash flow growth. For the quarter, we generated $6.7 billion in CFOA, an increase of 132% over the first quarter of last year, bolstered by the proceeds from the sale of our remaining stake in Genworth. With our healthy cash position, we acquired 88 million shares of GE common stock, which accounts for $3 billion of the $7-9 billion stock repurchase we have planned for this year. We also increased ROTC by 1.4 percentage points over the first quarter of 2005 to 17% - good progress toward our long-term goal of exceeding 20%," said Immelt.

"The first quarter results are a good reflection of our strategic execution," added Immelt. "Our products are winning in the global infrastructure markets, creating a high-margin installed base. We have sustained our high-return growth in financial services in an increasing interest rate environment. Our diversified healthcare franchise is winning globally with technical leadership that is providing consistent growth. We improved our operating performance in the Industrial segment. And we are improving NBC Universal's performance based on a diversified business mix and quality programming," added Immelt.

First-Quarter 2006 Financial Highlights:

Earnings from continuing operations were $4.042 billion, up 14% from $3.560 billion in first quarter 2005. EPS from continuing operations were $.39, up 18% from last year's $.33. Five of GE's six businesses contributed double-digit earnings growth for the quarter.

Continuing revenues of $37.8 billion were 10% higher than last year's $34.4 billion. Industrial sales increased 11% to $23.1 billion, reflecting core growth, and the effects of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and acquisitions. Financial Services revenues grew 8% over last year to $14.7 billion, reflecting core growth.

Cash generated from GE's operating activities in the first three months of 2006 totaled $6.7 billion compared with $2.9 billion last year, reflecting a 24% increase from the industrial businesses. The GE Capital Services' dividend of $3.4 billion for the quarter was up $3.2 billion over last year, primarily reflecting $2.5 billion from the sale of our remaining 18% stake in Genworth.

Earnings from discontinued operations were .3 billion and included the results of Genworth, GE Insurance Solutions and, beginning in first quarter 2006, GE Life, which is in the process of being sold. Accordingly, first-quarter 2006 net EPS were $.41, up 11% from the first quarter of 2005.

"Our strategic exit from the insurance business is on track," added Immelt. "We expect to close the sale of Insurance Solutions to Swiss Re in the second quarter of this year and anticipate selling GE Life in the next 12 months. When we complete the Insurance Solutions sale, we will receive up to $3 billion in cash and have a stronger portfolio of higher return, less volatile businesses.

"We are right on plan for the year. Our growth initiatives are performing well, our fundamentals are solid, our orders are up, and we have a healthy cash flow stream fueling our businesses and funding our share repurchase program. The company is well positioned going forward. For the second quarter, we expect double-digit segment profit growth in five of our six businesses and EPS from continuing operations of $.46-.48. We are reaffirming our full-year 2006 guidance of earnings from continuing operations increasing 13-17% to $1.94-2.02," said Immelt.

GE will discuss first quarter results on a conference call and Webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET today. Call information is available at www.ge.com/investor, and related charts will be posted there prior to the call.

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Results are preliminary and unaudited. This document contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties which could adversely or positively affect our future results include: the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and commodity prices; strategic actions, including dispositions; future integration of acquired businesses; future financial performance of major industries which we serve, including, without limitation, the air and rail transportation, energy generation, media, real estate and healthcare industries; unanticipated loss development in our insurance businesses; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Condensed Statement of Earnings

Consolidated

----------------------

Three months ended March 31 2006 2005 V%

----------------------------------------------- -------- -------- ----

Revenues

Sales of goods and services $23,484 $21,405

GECS earnings from continuing operations - -

GECS revenues from services 13,886 12,628

Other income 451 317

-------- --------

Total revenues 37,821 34,350 10%

-------- --------

Costs and expenses

Cost of sales, operating and administrative

expenses 26,698 24,390

Interest and other financial charges 4,361 3,671

Investment contracts, insurance losses and

insurance annuity benefits 749 827

Provision for losses on financing receivables 822 902

Minority interest in net earnings of

consolidated affiliates 238 216

-------- --------

Total costs and expenses 32,868 30,006 10%

-------- --------

Earnings from continuing operations before

income taxes 4,953 4,344 14%

Provision for income taxes (911) (784)

-------- --------

Earnings from continuing operations 4,042 3,560 14%

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of

taxes 263 405

-------- --------

Net earnings $4,305 $3,965 9%

======== ========

Per-share amounts - earnings from continuing

operations

Diluted earnings per share .39 .33 18%

Total average equivalent shares 10,480 10,641 (2)%

Basic earnings per share .39 .34 15%

Total average equivalent shares 10,442 10,597 (1)%

Per-share amounts - net earnings

Diluted earnings per share .41 .37 11%

Total average equivalent shares 10,480 10,641 (2)%

Basic earnings per share .41 .37 11%

Total average equivalent shares 10,442 10,597 (1)%

Dividends declared per share .25 .22 14%

GE Financial Services

(GECS)

--------------------- -------------------

Three months ended March 31 2006 2005 V% 2006 2005 V%

---------------------------- -------- -------- --- ------- ------- ---

Revenues

Sales of goods and services $23,086 $20,833 $555 $674

GECS earnings from

continuing operations 2,270 1,863 - -

GECS revenues from services - - 14,126 12,931

Other income 479 330 - -

-------- -------- ------- -------

Total revenues 25,835 23,026 12% 14,681 13,605 8%

-------- -------- ------- -------

Costs and expenses

Cost of sales, operating and

administrative expenses 20,701 18,320 6,236 6,325

Interest and other financial

charges 384 381 4,107 3,414

Investment contracts,

insurance losses and

insurance annuity benefits - - 805 866

Provision for losses on

financing receivables - - 822 902

Minority interest in net

earnings of consolidated

affiliates 163 186 75 30

-------- -------- ------- -------

Total costs and

expenses 21,248 18,887 13% 12,045 11,537 4%

-------- -------- ------- -------

Earnings from continuing

operations before income

taxes 4,587 4,139 11% 2,636 2,068 27%

Provision for income taxes (545) (579) (366) (205)

-------- -------- ------- -------

Earnings from continuing

operations 4,042 3,560 14% 2,270 1,863 22%

Earnings from discontinued

operations, net of taxes 263 405 263 405

-------- -------- ------- -------

Net earnings $4,305 $3,965 9% $2,533 $2,268 12%

======== ======== ======= =======

Per-share amounts -

earnings from continuing

operations

Diluted earnings per share

Total average equivalent

shares

Basic earnings per share

Total average equivalent

shares

Per-share amounts - net

earnings

Diluted earnings per share

Total average equivalent

shares

Basic earnings per share

Total average equivalent

shares

Dividends declared per share

Dollar amounts and share amounts in millions; per-share amounts in

dollars; unaudited. Supplemental consolidating data are shown for "GE"

and "GECS." Transactions between GE and GECS have been eliminated from

the "consolidated" columns. See note 1 to the 2005 consolidated

financial statements at www.ge.com/annual05 for further information

about consolidation matters.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Summary of Operating Segments (unaudited)

Three Months

Ended March 31

----------------------

(Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 V%

----------------------

Revenues

Infrastructure $10,152 $9,374 8

Industrial 8,140 7,668 6

Healthcare 3,659 3,321 10

NBC Universal 4,482 3,601 24

Commercial Finance 5,484 5,072 8

Consumer Finance 5,090 4,689 9

-----------------

Total segment revenues 37,007 33,725 10

Corporate items and eliminations 814 625 30

-----------------

Consolidated revenues from continuing

operations $37,821 $34,350 10

=================

Segment profit (a)

Infrastructure $1,703 $1,540 11

Industrial 600 526 14

Healthcare 496 409 21

NBC Universal 654 709 (8)

Commercial Finance 1,174 926 27

Consumer Finance 836 735 14

-----------------

Total segment profit 5,463 4,845 13

Corporate items and eliminations (492) (325) (51)

GE interest and other financial charges (384) (381) (1)

GE provision for income taxes (545) (579) 6

-----------------

Earnings from continuing operations $4,042 $3,560 14

-----------------

Earnings from discontinued operations, net of

taxes $263 $405 (35)

-----------------

Consolidated net earnings $4,305 $3,965 9

=================

(a) Segment profit always excludes the effects of principal pension

plans and results reported as discontinued operations and

accounting changes. Segment profit may exclude matters such as

charges for restructuring; rationalization and other similar

expenses; in-process research and development and certain other

acquisition-related charges and balances; technology development

costs; certain gains and losses from dispositions; and litigation

settlements or other charges, responsibility for which preceded

the current management team. Segment profit excludes or includes

interest and other financial charges and income taxes according to

how a particular segment's management is measured - excluded in

determining segment profit, which we refer to as "operating

profit," for Healthcare, NBC Universal and the industrial

businesses of the Industrial and Infrastructure segments; included

in determining segment profit, which we refer to as "net

earnings," for Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance, and the

financial services businesses of the Industrial segment (Equipment

Services) and the Infrastructure segment (Aviation Financial

Services, Energy Financial Services and Transportation Finance).

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Summary of Operating Segments (unaudited)

Additional Information

Three Months

Ended March 31

---------------------

(Dollars in millions) 2006 2005 V%

---------------------

Infrastructure

Revenues $10,152 $9,374 8

================

Segment profit $1,703 $1,540 11

================

Revenues

Aviation $3,041 $2,590 17

Aviation Financial Services 934 817 14

Energy 3,835 3,951 (3)

Energy Financial Services 301 228 32

Oil & Gas 772 641 20

Transportation 1,023 756 35

Segment profit

Aviation $645 $527 22

Aviation Financial Services 206 163 26

Energy 436 577 (24)

Energy Financial Services 117 94 24

Oil & Gas 55 27 F

Transportation 204 82 F

Industrial

Revenues $8,140 $7,668 6

================

Segment profit $600 $526 14

================

Revenues

Consumer & Industrial $3,534 $3,261 8

Equipment Services 1,634 1,574 4

Plastics 1,644 1,648 -

Segment profit

Consumer & Industrial $220 $165 33

Equipment Services 16 10 60

Plastics 225 240 (6)

Commercial Finance

Revenues $5,484 $5,072 8

================

Segment profit $1,174 $926 27

================

Revenues

Capital Solutions $2,820 $2,889 (2)

Real Estate 1,075 898 20

Segment profit

Capital Solutions $339 $286 19

Real Estate 441 310 42

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Condensed Statement of Financial Position

(Dollars in billions)

Consolidated

------------------

Assets 03/31/06 12/31/05

-------- ---------

Cash & marketable securities $53.6 $51.0

Receivables 12.6 14.9

Inventories 11.4 10.5

GECS financing receivables - net 286.8 287.6

Property, plant & equipment - net 67.7 67.5

Investment in GECS - -

Goodwill & intangible assets 83.0 81.6

Other assets 101.2 99.1

Assets of discontinued operations 58.5 61.1

-------- ---------

Total assets $674.8 $673.3

======== =========

Liabilities and equity

Borrowings $376.2 $370.4

Insurance contracts, insurance liabilities

and insurance annuity benefits 33.4 33.1

Other liabilities & minority interest 108.2 110.9

Liabilities of discontinued operations 49.5 49.5

Shareowners' equity 107.5 109.4

-------- ---------

Total liabilities and equity $674.8 $673.3

======== =========

GE Financial Services

(GECS)

------------------ -------------------

Assets 03/31/06 12/31/05 03/31/06 12/31/05

-------- --------- --------- ---------

Cash & marketable securities $2.4 $2.5 $51.4 $48.8

Receivables 12.8 15.1 - -

Inventories 11.2 10.3 0.2 0.2

GECS financing receivables -

net - - 286.8 287.6

Property, plant & equipment -

net 16.4 16.5 51.3 51.0

Investment in GECS 49.3 50.8 - -

Goodwill & intangible assets 59.1 57.8 23.8 23.8

Other assets 36.4 36.8 70.8 68.1

Assets of discontinued

operations - - 58.5 61.1

------- --------- --------- ---------

Total assets $187.6 $189.8 $542.8 $540.6

======= ========= ========= =========

Liabilities and equity

Borrowings $11.2 $10.2 $366.7 $362.1

Insurance contracts, insurance

liabilities and insurance

annuity benefits - - 33.8 33.4

Other liabilities & minority

interest 68.9 70.2 43.3 44.5

Liabilities of discontinued

operations - - 49.7 49.8

Shareowners' equity 107.5 109.4 49.3 50.8

------- --------- --------- ---------

Total liabilities and equity $187.6 $189.8 $542.8 $540.6

======= ========= ========= =========

March 31, 2006 information is unaudited. Supplemental consolidating

data are shown for "GE" and "Financial Services (GECS)." Transactions

between GE and GECS have been eliminated from the "consolidated"

columns. See note 1 to the 2005 consolidated financial statements at

www.ge.com/annual05 for further information about consolidation

matters.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Financial Measures That Supplement GAAP

We sometimes use information derived from consolidated financial

information but not presented in our financial statements prepared in

accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Certain of these data are considered "non-GAAP financial measures"

under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Specifically,

we have referred to organic revenue growth for the three months ended

March 31, 2006, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2005,

the increase in cash from operating activities from our industrial

businesses (or Industrial CFOA) for the three months ended March 31,

2006, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2005 and return

on average total capital invested (ROTC), which is calculated using

average total shareowners' equity, excluding effects of discontinued

operations. The reasons we use these non-GAAP financial measures and

their reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP financial

measures follow.

(Dollars in millions)

Three months

ended March 31

-------------------------

Organic Revenue Growth 2006 2005 V%

---------------------- --------- --------- ----

GE consolidated revenues as reported $37,821 $34,350 10%

Less the effects of:

Acquisitions, business dispositions (other

than dispositions of businesses acquired

for investment) and currency exchange

rates 227 413

The 2006 Olympics broadcasts 684 -

GE consolidated revenues excluding the

effects of acquisitions, business

dispositions (other than dispositions of

businesses acquired for investment),

currency exchange rates and the effects of

the 2006 Olympics broadcasts (organic -------------------

revenues) $36,910 $33,937 9%

===================

Three months

ended March 31

-------------------------

Growth in Industrial CFOA 2006 2005 V%

------------------------- --------- --------- ----

Cash from GE's operating activities as

reported $6,712 $2,890 132%

Less: GECS dividends 3,404 224

-------------------

Cash from GE's operating activities

excluding dividends from GECS (Industrial

CFOA) $3,308 $2,666 24%

===================

We believe that meaningful analysis of our financial performance

requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance

and our judgments about the likelihood that particular factors will

repeat. In some cases, short-term patterns and long-term trends may be

obscured by large factors or events. For example, events or trends in

a particular segment may be so significant as to obscure patterns and

trends of our industrial or financial services businesses in total.

For this reason, we believe that investors may find it useful to see

our 2006 growth in revenues without the effects of acquisitions,

business dispositions and currency exchange rates and without the

effects of the 2006 Olympics broadcasts. We also believe that

investors would find it useful to compare our op

Russell Wilkerson
GE Capital Managing Director of Communications and Public Affairs
[email protected]
1-203-840-6420
1-203-581-2114


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