General Electric Reports 4 Different EPS Numbers

General Electric Co. reported second-quarter results Friday that included four different earnings-per-share numbers. The conglomerate has said year-over-year comparisons are difficult as the company has recorded both gains and losses from sales of several businesses as part of its GE Capital exit plan, acquired Alstom and recognized pension costs and restructuring charges. The actual bottom line based on generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was earnings of $2.74 billion, or 30 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.36 billion, or 13 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. EPS from continuing operations came in at 36 cents, while operating EPS was 39 cents. Non-GAAP, or EPS from industrials operating and verticals was 51 cents. The FactSet EPS consensus, which is often compared with what can be described as EPS from continuing operations, operating EPS or non-GAAP EPS, was 46 cents. GE The stock slipped 0.4% in premarket trade. It has tacked on 4.6% year to date through Thursday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained 6.3%.