- As GE starts spinning off its consumer credit card business, some on Wall Street are hoping it eventually will slim down its GE Capital finance unit even further, with commercial real estate - which GE Capital expects to make up 10%-15% of its portfolio in the future - another major potential area for GE to trim.
- GE Capital does plan to sell off assets in which it holds an equity stake, such as buildings, but it still sees providing financing for commercial real estate properties including refinancings and loans for new buildings as a core function; GE says it's an asset class it knows well, but some analysts, such as Morningstar's Daniel Holland, says, "You have to think really hard about a good reason for them owning that business."
- Thursday's earnings report from GE presents the next chance for analysts to address the company's strategy.