GE posts strong 1Q on improved aviation-related revenue

Strong sales in its aviation unit lifted General Electric's first-quarter results higher than the expectations of Wall Street, which rewarded the struggling conglomerate with a premarket jump in share price.

The Boston-based company, which swung to a profit from the year-earlier quarter, said Tuesday revenue from its aviation business rose 12 percent to $7.95 billion, topping expectations of $7.86 billion.

First-quarter net income was $3.59 billion and earnings per share (EPS) were 41 cents. Adjusted for one-time events, EPS was 14 cents, higher than the 9 cents per share analysts had anticipated.

Results indicate that GE is not burning through cash as quickly as it had been in recent three-month periods.

Revenue rose to $27.29, higher than the $28.66 billion Wall Street expected.

Aviation orders rose 7 percent, with equipment sales up 3 percent and services revenue jumping 10 percent. The business group's revenue was approximately $8 billion, a 12 percent increase.

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Since the beginning of the year, GE shares have climbed 29 percent, better than the S&P 500's 17 percent gain.