
General Electric Company (GE) is one of the oldest and largest industrial conglomerates in the U.S. It was founded by Thomas Edison in 1892, under the name Edison General Electric Company. In 2023, GE was ranked 64th in the Forbes Global 2000. In November 2021, GE announced plans to split into three separate companies: GE Healthcare, GE Aerospace, and GE Vernova. GE Healthcare is a global leader in medical technology and diagnostics, GE Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace systems and services, and GE Vernova is focused on sustainable energy solutions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1892 |
| Founder | Thomas Edison |
| Original name | Edison General Electric Company |
| Current CEO | Larry Culp |
| Former CEO | Jeff Immelt |
| Former CEO | John Flannery |
| Former CEO | Jack Welch |
| Former CEO | H. Lawrence Culp Jr. |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Business sectors | Aviation, healthcare, renewable energy |
| Former business sectors | Banking, plastics, computers, television broadcasting, appliances, lighting, locomotives, finance |
| Holdings | GE Aerospace, GE Healthcare, GE Vernova |
| Former holdings | Genpact, GE Information Systems, GE Wind Energy, National Broadcasting Company, Inc., GXS, GE Capital |
| Shareholders | N/A |
| Revenue | $19 billion |
| Net earnings | $8.8 billion |
| Market cap | $175 billion |
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What You'll Learn
- General Electric was founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison
- GE split into three separate companies in 2024
- GE Vernova, GE's energy company, trades under the ticker symbol GEV
- GE Aerospace, a leading provider of aerospace systems, retains the GE ticker symbol
- GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology, trades under the ticker symbol GEHC

General Electric was founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison
General Electric Company (GE) is one of the oldest industrial conglomerates in the United States. It was founded in 1892 by Thomas Edison, under the name Edison General Electric Company. By 2000, it had become the nation's largest company, with a market capitalization of over $600 billion.
Thomas Edison was an inventor with many groundbreaking technologies to his name, including the light bulb and the jet engine. In the late 1880s, Edison had business interests in several electricity-related companies, including the Edison Lamp Company, Edison Machine Works, Bergmann & Company, and the Edison Electric Light Company. In 1889, Drexel, Morgan & Co. financed Edison's research and helped merge several of his companies under one corporation, forming the Edison General Electric Company.
In 1892, Edison's company merged with the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, creating the General Electric Company (GE). This merger was supported by Drexel, Morgan & Co., and led by a committee that included D.O. Mills, T.J. Coolidge, Hamilton M. Twombly, and Frederick L. Ames. The merger resulted in the largest electrical company in American industry, with its original plants continuing to operate under the GE banner to this day.
Over the years, GE has been a leader in various industries, including aviation, healthcare, renewable energy, and television broadcasting. The company has been responsible for significant innovations such as the first American jet engine, the first commercial nuclear power plant, and the first synthetic diamonds. GE has also had interests in banking, plastics, and computers.
In recent years, GE has undergone changes, spinning off or selling many of its subsidiaries and focusing on its core divisions of aviation, energy, and healthcare. In 2024, the company split into three separate public companies: GE Aerospace, GE Healthcare, and GE Vernova.
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GE split into three separate companies in 2024
General Electric (GE), one of the oldest industrial conglomerates in the US, has completed its breakup into three separate companies as of April 2024. The three new publicly traded companies are GE Aerospace, GE HealthCare, and GE Vernova.
GE Aerospace, the aerospace company, is GE's legal successor and retains the GE ticker symbol. It is a leading provider of aerospace systems and services, with a focus on commercial and military aircraft. The company's products include engines, avionics, and other systems that help aircraft operate safely and efficiently. GE Aerospace shares rose about 2% in mid-afternoon trading on its debut.
GE HealthCare, the healthcare company, was spun off from GE in 2023 and trades under the ticker symbol GEHC on the NASDAQ. It is a global leader in medical technology and diagnostics, offering products and services such as medical imaging systems, patient monitoring devices, and diagnostic equipment.
GE Vernova, the energy company, was formed when GE finalized the split. It trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol GEV. GE Vernova is focused on sustainable energy solutions, including wind, solar, and other renewable energy technologies. The company has an extensive installed base, with over 7,000 gas turbines and approximately 55,000 wind turbines, and helps generate about 30% of the world's electricity.
The breakup of GE marks the end of the 132-year-old conglomerate, which was once the largest in the United States and a global symbol of American business power and innovation. The split is the culmination of years of paring down and selling off various divisions and assets, including appliances, lighting, and financial capital divisions, as the company struggled with weak profits, debt, and the impact of the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the split, GE Aerospace, led by CEO Larry Culp, will be the remaining core of GE, focusing solely on the aviation industry.
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GE Vernova, GE's energy company, trades under the ticker symbol GEV
General Electric (GE), the well-known multinational conglomerate, has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the spin-off of several business segments into independent entities. One such spin-off is GE Vernova, GE's energy company, which now trades under the ticker symbol "GEV". GE Vernova was formed to focus specifically on the energy industry, leveraging GE's extensive experience and technology in this sector. The spin-off allows GE Vernova to operate as a separate and specialized entity, better equipped to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the energy market.
The decision to establish GE Vernova as an independent company reflects GE's strategic shift towards a more focused and streamlined portfolio. By separating its energy business from other segments, GE can direct resources and attention to its core areas of strength, including aviation, healthcare, and renewable energy. This move also enables GE Vernova to make strategic decisions more agilely and form targeted partnerships to drive innovation in the energy industry.
GE Vernova encompasses GE's previous energy businesses, including GE Gas Power, GE Power Portfolio, and GE Steam Power. These businesses have a long history of providing technology and solutions for the energy sector, particularly in the areas of gas turbines, power generation, and energy storage. With the spin-off, GE Vernova can concentrate exclusively on advancing these technologies, serving its customers, and addressing the evolving energy landscape's demands.
The choice to use the ticker symbol "GEV" for GE Vernova trading is strategic and symbolic. The symbol "GEV" serves as a connection to the parent company, GE, indicating the shared heritage and technological expertise between the two entities. At the same time, the distinct ticker symbol establishes a separate identity for GE Vernova, emphasizing its specialization in the energy industry and its focus on driving innovation and sustainability within this vital sector.
Investors and industry stakeholders now have a clear and dedicated avenue to invest in GE's energy business through GE Vernova. The separation allows for a more targeted investment approach, providing investors interested in the energy sector with direct exposure to a leading company in this field. This focused investment opportunity is expected to attract those seeking to support the transition to a more sustainable and renewable energy future.
In conclusion, the creation of GE Vernova as an independent entity, trading under the ticker symbol GEV, signifies GE's commitment to adapting to market demands and industry trends. This strategic move enables a sharper focus on the energy sector, allowing GE Vernova to drive innovation, form strategic partnerships, and address the world's evolving energy challenges and opportunities. As GE Vernova establishes its path, investors and customers can look forward to a more specialized and agile approach to the energy industry's unique needs.
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GE Aerospace, a leading provider of aerospace systems, retains the GE ticker symbol
General Electric Company (GE) is one of the oldest industrial conglomerates in the US. It was founded by Thomas Edison in 1892 as the Edison General Electric Company. Over the years, GE has had multiple divisions, including aerospace, energy, healthcare, lighting, locomotives, appliances, and finance.
In November 2021, GE's then-CEO Larry Culp announced that the company would be broken up into three separate, public companies by 2024. These companies are GE Aerospace, GE Healthcare, and GE Vernova. GE Aerospace is the legal successor to the original General Electric Company and has retained the GE ticker symbol. The old General Electric conglomerate ceased to exist following these transactions.
GE Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace systems and services, with a focus on commercial and military aircraft. The company manufactures and designs engines, engine components, and electric power and mechanical aircraft systems for commercial, military, business, and general aviation aircraft. GE Aerospace also offers aftermarket services and support for its products. The company's most successful partnership is with CFM International, the world's leading supplier of aircraft engines. CFM International holds 39% of the world's commercial aircraft engine market share, while GE Aerospace holds a further 14%.
GE Aerospace has been responsible for several innovations in the aviation industry. The company built the first US jet engine, the I-A, in 1941, and the J47, the most-produced jet engine in history, in 1949. GE Aerospace has also incorporated 3D printing technologies into its engines, including the manufacturing process of the GE9X, the largest jet engine in the world.
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GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology, trades under the ticker symbol GEHC
General Electric Company (GE) is one of the oldest industrial conglomerates in the United States. Founded in 1892, it has since ventured into multiple divisions, including aerospace, energy, healthcare, lighting, locomotives, appliances, and finance. In 2023, GE's CEO Larry Culp announced that the company would be broken up into three separate, public companies by 2024: GE Aerospace, GE Healthcare, and GE Vernova.
GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology, was spun off from GE in 2023. It engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of products, services, and complementary digital solutions used in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Imaging, Advanced Visualization Solutions (AVS), Patient Care Solutions (PCS), and Pharmaceutical Diagnostics (PDx). Its portfolio includes patient monitoring, diagnostic cardiology, consumables and services, digital solutions, maternal infant care, and anesthesia products.
GE Healthcare's Imaging segment offers molecular imaging, computed tomography (CT) scanning, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, image-guided therapy, X-ray systems, and women's health products. The AVS segment provides ultrasound, image-guided therapies, and interventional solutions for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of certain diseases in clinical areas such as women's health, cardiovascular, and comprehensive care ultrasound. The PCS segment provides medical devices, consumables, services, and digital solutions, while the PDx segment supplies diagnostic agents, including CT, angiography, and X-ray, MR, and molecular imaging agents to the radiology and nuclear medicine industries.
GE Healthcare trades under the ticker symbol GEHC on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Following the split, GE Aerospace retained the original GE ticker symbol, while the old General Electric conglomerate ceased to exist.
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Frequently asked questions
General Electric Company (GE) was an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892. In 2024, it split into three separate companies: GE Healthcare, GE Aerospace, and GE Vernova.
After transitioning from its conglomerate-centric model, General Electric focused on three main business components: energy solutions, jet engines, and healthcare technologies.
General Electric offers a wide range of products and services, including electrical and electronic equipment, aircraft engines, financial services, and renewable energy solutions.





































