Another line, the GE Profile, automatically streams water into containers of any size using sound waves.

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So Depot convinced Rheem, a division of Japan's Paloma Industries and the biggest water-heater maker, to slap GE's name on a line of water heaters.

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Manning of investment research firm Value Line forecasts a dividend hike at GE this year.

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Another new line of business: water purification, which GE entered a few years ago with several acquisitions.

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Over the 80 or so quarters he was in charge, GE's profits grew so consistently they were almost a straight line.

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General Electric (GE) is looking to make China a bigger contributor to its bottom line.

FORBES: GE Looking To Double China Revenue By 2014

The cut is more than meets the eye though, as the lower top-line forecast is largely the result of success in cutting down the size of GE Capital faster than anticipated.

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But the crucial element may be that, in contracting manufacturing out to Chinese factories, GE lost control over, and input into, the foundation of the manufacturing process, the assembly line.

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General Electric delivered strong bottom-line growth in its earnings, released before the bell on Thursday, with a strong performance from GE Capital and increased demand for its industrial and infrastructure products.

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