Final Results
General Electric Company
14 March 2002
The following announcement was released by the company on 17 January 2002
GE Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results;
2001 Earnings Grow 11% To $14.1 Billion;
Cash from Operating Activities Grows 12% to $17.2 Billion
Fairfield, Conn., January 17, 2002 -- GE achieved record earnings and cash
generation in 2001, the Company announced today, with 11% increases in earnings
and earnings per share (EPS) and 12% growth in cash flow from operating
activities.
'2001 was an especially challenging year,' said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt.
'Despite a global recession and the September 11 terrorist attacks, we delivered
double-digit earnings growth. This is a tribute to our great global team and the
strength of the GE business model.'
Highlights of preliminary 2001 results include:
EPS rose 11% to $1.41 from last year's $1.27, and earnings grew to a record
$14.1 billion. After the first quarter 2001 accounting changes required by FASB,
EPS was $1.37, up 8% from last year, and earnings were $13.7 billion, up 7%.
Cash generated in 2001 from GE's operating activities was a record $17.2
billion, up 12% from last year's $15.4 billion; excluding progress payments,
growth was 13% to $13.8 billion.
Revenues of $125.9 billion increased 4% on a comparable basis over 2000.
Reported revenues, down 3%, reflected the effects in GE Capital Services of
previously announced strategic repositioning activities. Industrial revenues
increased 6% in 2001, principally on the strength of GE's long-cycle businesses,
which grew revenues 20% to $40.7 billion.
Operating margin for 2001 was a record 19.6% of sales, up from last year's
comparable 18.9%. The margin expansion reflects the increase in benefits from
GE's digitization initiatives and growth in product services. Full-year pre-tax
savings from digitization totaled $1.6 billion, and revenues from sales of
high-margin product services grew 13% over last year to $18.8 billion.
GE Capital Services (GECS) earnings grew 8% in 2001, to $5.586 billion from last
year's $5.192 billion. GECS earnings growth was broad-based, with double-digit
growth in the Consumer Services, Mid-market Financing and Equipment Management
segments more than offsetting Sept. 11-related insurance losses of $400 million.
GECS grew assets by $54 billion, or 15%, to $425 billion from last year's $371
billion. Reported revenues declined 12% to $58.4 billion, reflecting fourth
quarter 2000 strategic repositioning activities including exiting Wards and Auto
Financial Services and contracting IT Solutions, and restructuring insurance
policies obtained in certain Japanese acquisitions. Excluding these effects,
GECS revenues would have increased 2%.
Fourth quarter earnings grew 10% over fourth quarter 2000 to $3.933 billion, and
EPS was $.39, up 8% from $.36. Both were records for the quarter. Quarterly
revenues of $34.0 billion were up 3% from fourth quarter 2000 revenues on a
comparable basis, but down 3% on a reported basis. Industrial revenues increased
by 4% during the quarter.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board required companies to adopt new
accounting rules for derivatives, warrants, options and other financial
instruments (SFAS 133 and EITF 99-20) by first quarter 2001. The cumulative
effect on GE of these changes for positions held as of December 31, 2000, was a
one-time, non-cash charge of $444 million ($.04 per share), which was recorded
during the first quarter.
Business highlights for the fourth quarter include:
GE Power Systems (GEPS) continued to experience record demand for its products
and services, and ended the year with a total orders backlog of $28.9 billion,
up $3.8 billion or 15% over 2000. GEPS delivered 86 heavy-duty gas turbines in
the quarter, 18% more than in fourth quarter 2000, and 46 aero-derivative units,
up 77%. GEPS Energy Services unit added $4.4 billion in contractual services
agreements in the fourth quarter and ended 2001 with $24.6 billion in
agreements, over 50% higher than at the end of 2000. GEPS continued to improve
its world-class turbine technology, shipping its first 7FB gas turbine and
beginning the installation of its first H SystemO , which will be the world's
most energy-efficient combined-cycle system. Power Systems also strengthened its
service capabilities with several acquisitions, including an agreement to
acquire Bently Nevada Corporation, a global provider of rotor dynamics
technology and remote monitoring and diagnostics.
GE Medical Systems (GEMS) continued to deliver world-class technology, as
reflected in strong demand for its Six Sigma-designed equipment and information
systems. Total equipment orders increased 20% over last year to $6.2 billion.
Orders for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) systems, grew 122%, with sales of
Discovery LS systems up 173%. Sales of GE's revolutionary digital x-ray products
tripled, with orders for the GE Senographe 2000D digital mammography system
doubling, and ultrasound sales grew 35% as GEMS introduced a new family of
radiology and cardiology products. Sales of information technology and
networking systems grew 36% to $450 million, with strong customer acceptance of
Centricity, a new portfolio of offerings to enhance hospital productivity. In
the quarter, GE Medical completed its acquisitions of Imatron, Inc., a
manufacturer of Ultra Fast Tomography systems that are ideal for the growing
area of cardiac CT; Kretztechnik, a leading provider of advanced 3D ultrasound
systems; and Surgical Insights, a developer of image-guided solutions for
surgery. GEMS also announced a broad agreement for collaboration with Amersham
Health to develop tools such as targeted molecular radiopharmaceuticals for
early detection of diseases including cancer and Parkinson's Disease.
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) won $765 million in equipment orders during the
fourth quarter from customers including Japan Airlines, Qantas, Continental
Airlines and China Southwest. GEAE also added approximately $1 billion in
multi-year service agreements during the quarter, ending 2001 with $24 billion
in agreements. During the quarter, GEAE successfully tested its GE90-115B
engine, which will be the exclusive power plant for Boeing's 777 extended-range
jets. In GEAE's military operations, orders from the U.S. military increased
following Sept. 11. In addition, GEAE received more than $450 million in
contracts for engine design and development work for the U.S. Joint Strike
Fighter program.
GE Capital Services (GECS) positioned itself for continued double-digit earnings
growth with strong performance in core operations and robust acquisition
activity. GECS experienced record core volume in its commercial financing
businesses, up 29% over fourth quarter 2000, and continued strong growth in the
Consumer Services segment. GECS completed the previously announced acquisition
of Heller Financial Services in the quarter and announced agreements to acquire
more than $8 billion of assets, including Security Capital, an international
real estate operating company. Aggressive digitization and productivity efforts
continued to improve GECS cost position, reducing operating and administrative
costs to 27.2% of revenue for the year, a 1.2 percentage point improvement from
2000. GECS and SES/Astra completed the formation of their strategic global
satellite partnership in the fourth quarter, with GECS retaining a 30.7% equity
interest and realizing an after-tax gain of $642 million. Also during the
quarter, GECS incurred after-tax costs of $656 million in certain unprofitable
insurance and financing product lines that are being exited; in disposing of and
providing for disposition of several nonstrategic investments and other assets,
including $84 million in losses on investments in Enron bonds; and in
restructuring various global operations.
NBC strengthened its position as the Number 1 network for adults 18 to 49,
winning its seventh consecutive sweep month in this key demographic in November,
and ending 2001 with the largest lead (16 percent) among viewers 18-49 that any
network has had in the past four years. NBC received the most Emmy nominations
and awards of any broadcast network for the seventh consecutive year, and won 16
Emmys, including 8 for The West Wing. The Today Show, Nightly News, and Meet the
Press continued their leadership in key demographics, with Nightly News
finishing first in total viewers for the ninth consecutive quarter. Ratings for
NBC Sports' NASCAR broadcasts grew 34% over last year. CNBC grew its primetime
weekday ratings 4%, and MSNBC's viewership reached record levels in the quarter.
In October, NBC announced the largest strategic acquisition in its history, an
agreement to acquire Telemundo for approximately $2.7 billion. NBC also agreed
to purchase KNTV in San Francisco, the country's fifth-largest TV market.
Immelt said, 'The GE business model works. Our diversity facilitates growth in
every cycle, and our cash flow confirms the quality of our earnings. Our
initiatives are accelerating, and give us strong momentum going into 2002. Our
financial strength gives us the ability to invest in new products and services
and make strategic acquisitions that position the Company for the long term.
These results reflect the efforts of a great GE team that is executing extremely
well in a difficult global environment. We are well positioned to meet our
target of 17-18% earnings growth in 2002, even if the economy does not recover,
and to grow more if a recovery does take place. Our best days are ahead.'
GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, services and manufacturing company
with a commitment to achieving customer success. GE operates in more than 100
countries and employs approximately 310,000 people worldwide. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This document includes certain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and
changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these
expectations due to changes in global political, economic, business,
competitive, market and regulatory factors. More detailed information about
those factors is contained in GE's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
All amounts except per-share earnings are in millions of U.S. dollars
FOURTH QUARTER TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2001
2001 $ 2000 $ V% 2001 $ 2000 $ V%
Revenues 33,975 34,981 (3) 125,913 129,853 (3)
Earnings before accounting changes 3,933 3,585 10 14,128 12,735 11
Effect of accounting changes - - - (444) -
Earnings after accounting changes 3,933 3,585 10 13,684 12,735 7
Per-Share Earnings
Diluted
Before accounting changes 0.39 0.36 8 1.41 1.27 11
Effect of accounting changes - - - (0.04) -
After accounting changes 0.39 0.36 8 1.37 1.27 8
Basic
Before accounting changes 0.40 0.36 11 1.42 1.29 10
Effect of accounting changes - - - (0.04) -
After accounting changes 0.40 0.36 11 1.38 1.29 7
Segment Information
2001 2000 V% 2001 2000 V%
Revenues
Aircraft Engines 2,745 3,009 (9) 11,389 10,779 6
Appliances 1,558 1,436 8 5,810 5,887 (1)
NBC 1,537 1,553 (1) 5,769 6,797 (15)
Industrial Products and Systems 3,042 3,187 (5) 11,647 11,630 -
Materials 1,598 1,999 (20) 7,069 8,020 (12)
Power Systems 5,771 4,392 31 20,211 14,861 36
Technical Products and Services 2,759 2,359 17 9,011 7,915 14
GE Capital Services 15,933 17,582 (9) 58,353 66,177 (12)
Segment profit
Aircraft Engines 670 683 (2) 2,609 2,464 6
Appliances 188 181 4 643 684 (6)
NBC 460 476 (3) 1,602 1,797 (11)
Industrial Products and Systems 481 547 (12) 1,843 2,095 (12)
Materials 285 506 (44) 1,596 2,015 (21)
Power Systems 1,703 934 82 5,182 2,809 84
Technical Products and Services 620 526 18 1,970 1,718 15
GE Capital Services net earnings before 1,407 1,227 15 5,586 5,192 8
accounting changes
Contact: General Electric, Fairfield
David Frail, 203/373-3387
david.frail@corporate.ge.com
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