General Electric Looks to Break From Financials

General Electric may also have gotten a boost from a JPMorgan report Tuesday. Steve Tusa, a JPMorgan analyst, reiterated his "overweight" rating following a meeting with CFO Keith Sherin. Tusa predicted a "dramatic reduction" in losses at GE Capital "longer term." Still, his $17 price target does not seem to offer a great incentive to buy the stock.

Looking ahead to December, General Electric has two important presentations to investors Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 that Goldman Sachs analyst Terry Darling thinks could provide positive catalysts for the stock. Darling argues quarterly updates GE has been providing on the health of its financial services unit have given a boost to General Electric's stock price. Nonetheless, General Electric's stock price has underperformed the broader market since the updates began just over a year ago.

Another positive catalyst for General Electric could come if GE announces it has finalized a deal with Comcast Corp.(CMCSA) in which the cable operator is expected to take a controlling stake in NBC Universal. A recent Financial Times report indicated General Electric and Vivendi, which holds a 20% stake in NBC Universal, may be as much as $1 billion apart on how to value Vivendi's stake.

-- Written by Dan Freed in New York.

Read More

• GE's quest to shed its image as a financial stock
• GE's quest to sell NBC Universal

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