GE Looks Poised To Further Increase Its Dividend And Make Industrial Acquisitions

This week, Comcast (CMCSA) and General Electric (GE) reported that Comcast shall acquire GE's minority stake in NBC Universal and take sole control of the media business in a deal valued at $16.7 billion. The substantial payday should give GE the capital it needs to make some targeted acquisitions, fuel its share repurchase plans and/or increase the company's dividend in 2013. The company will receive $12 billion in cash, $4 billion in Comcast-backed debt and $700 million in preferred stock. GE now plans to buy back as much as $10 billion in outstanding shares in 2013. The company's already existing share repurchase was also increased and now has about $23 billion in further buybacks remaining through 2015. GE also looks likely to again raise its dividend. At the end of 2012, the company increased its dividend by 12 percent, or $0.02, to $0.19 per share, and has routinely increased... Read more