GE Still Bringing Good Things to Life

GE's stock has a current yield-to-price of nearly 3.13% representing a sustainable 52% payout ratio. Which brings me to the latest good news that increases GE's ability to "bring good things" to shareholders.

As Cramer and Link explained it: "GE raised its dividend by 12% and increased its share-repurchase program by $10 billion, to be spent by 2015. We have written that we expected a dividend increase of 10%, so this is a little more than that, but we are surprised with the buyback announcement and are pleasantly surprised."

They went on to explain, "The analyst day is Monday (12/17), and we believe we will hear a fairly upbeat presentation, with clarity on margin expansion for its industrial segment and on the long-term strategy for GE Capital. We could see further shrinkage of this division and an eventual spinoff down the road..."

Shares, in their opinion and in mine, are "compelling at the current valuation." We also look at GE as a play on the energy and industrial infrastructure story as well as the recovery in China. All interested shareholders and potential ones will anticipate hearing what CEO Jeff Immelt has to say on Monday.

Candidly, I find GE a proactive company with some excellent long-term plans. I'm adding to my own holdings of it at around $21.70, hoping to collect the increasing dividend and anticipating the ongoing rejuvenation of an old name that knows how to play the "game" of reinventing itself and thriving.

At the time of publication the author had a position in GE.

This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.

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