General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is a multinational conglomerate that manufactures large-scale industrial products, produces consumer appliances, and provides financial services. GE's operations now span the financial services, energy, industrial manufacturing and healthcare. In 2010, GE was ranked the second-largest company in the world by Forbes based on a formula that included sales, net income, assets, and market capitalization.^[1]

GE's diversification provides the company with a degree of protection against poor performance in any business segment. Additionally, GE's size enables it to buy and sell companies at opportune times, taking advantage of favorable market conditions. Acquisitions contributed $0.5 billion to net income and $3.4 billion to consolidated revenues in 2009. ^[2] The company aims to integrate acquired businesses as quickly as possible.

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