Fourth-quarter earnings of 17 cents per share missed analysts’ projection of 22 cents per share.
GE stock had plunged 46% in the past 12 months as the company struggled to focus on core industrial operations by jettisoning other businesses, irrespective of their profit-making abilities.
The company said that it has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice to settle the allegations against its account practices through a $1.5 billion penalty.
CEO Larry Culp said, “Our strategy is clear: de-leverage our balance sheet and strengthen our businesses, starting with Power. To do this, we are improving execution, customer focus, and how we set priorities across GE. I’m confident in our team, technology, and the global reach of GE’s brand and relationships.”
Adjusted GE Industrial Free Cash Flows for the full year, meanwhile, fell 19% to $4.5 billion. Culp has been accelerating his predecessor John Flannery’s strategy of selling unwanted assets and using the proceeds to reduce its $115 billion debt burden.
In the last reported quarter, General Electric had missed analysts’ expectations and had slashed its dividend for the second time in a year’s time.