The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 1.56%) is trading 0.39% higher as the market digests economic data and earnings reports today. U.S. housing starts fell 9.8% to 999,000 in December from the previous month. Despite the drop, it was still higher than economists' expectations of 975,000 starts. To keep this in perspective, housing starts in 2013 were up 18.3% from 2012 levels. In other news, U.S. industrial production rose 0.3% in December from the previous month, which was in line with expectations, and production was up 3.7% for the year. Keeping with the theme, here are some industrial companies making headlines Friday as we close out the trading week.
General Electric (GE 5.74%) is 2.7% lower in midafternoon trading despite posting a strong fourth-quarter earnings result. General Electric reported this morning that revenue was up 3% in the fourth quarter to $40.4 billion, and up to $146 billion for the full year. The company also posted operating earnings of $5.4 billion, or earnings per share of $0.53.
Two things stuck out in GE's report: value returned to shareholders and its industrial business. GE's industrial segment profit rose 12% to $5.5 billion, with six of its seven segments reporting positive earnings growth. Moreover, GE's backlog of equipment and services hit a record high at $244 billion; that's a $15 billion increase from the last quarter.
As far as returning value to shareholders goes, General Electric has been consistent. As it continues to repurchase shares and increase its dividend, it will form an "X" when charted.
GE Dividend data by YCharts.
During the fourth quarter GE announced a 16% boost in its quarterly dividend, which was its fifth increase in slightly more than three years. GE also repurchased $10.4 billion of stock. Between the buyback and dividend payouts, the company dished out $18.2 billion in value back to shareholders.
Johnson Controls (JCI 3.39%) is down slightly after agreeing to sell off its automotive electronics business for $265 million to Visteon. This comes after Johnson Controls sold its HomeLink product, also part of its electronics business, to Gentex for $700 million in September. Johnson Controls is also expected to sell its automotive interiors business, which generates $4.2 billion in sales but at a low profit margin. As such, these aren't moves that will change Johnson Controls' yearly guidance too much. The electronics and interiors businesses were expected to contribute only $0.05 per share out of its annual $3.27 per-share earnings.
