The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which Brendan Byrnes discusses topics around the investing world.

In today's edition, Brendan discusses General Electric and its year so far. As we approach the half-year mark, 2012 has been kind to GE shareholders overall, as it has risen more than 11% versus the Dow's 4% gain. Much of this rise is attribuatble to the announcement that GE Capital will begin pushing a regular dividend and a special $4.5 billion dividend to the parent company. The special dividend will be used on share repurchases. GE has also been reducing risk in its GE Capital unit and focusing more on the industrial side of its business, which shareholders prefer. In the following video, Brendan talks more reasons why GE is a compelling long-term play.

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