Since 2008, operating earnings have grown at a compounded rate of 21.5%.

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This is largely because, as Bill Hester noted in his research article last week, forward operating earnings are heavily determined by extrapolating the most recent year-over-year growth rate for earnings.

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Its criteria include: a better than average price-earnings ratio over the past five years, a positive growth rate in earnings per share over the past 12 months, and a positive operating margin over the past 12 months.

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We thus expect Q2 revenue to increase significantly, and earnings to grow at a faster rate than sales, due to our continued restraint of operating expenses.

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Over the past 15 years Jack Welch has leveraged his prime credit rating and reshuffled GE's portfolio of operating companies, but 40% of GE's earnings come from financial services, which for me rate just a midteens valuation.

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