General Electric Capital Corp.'s (GECC) risk portfolio is very diverse, both geographically and by product line, thus enabling the company to maintain consistency in its consolidated profitability throughout the business cycle, despite difficult operating environments in several of its businesses. The global and business-type diversity provides the company with a variety of income sources so that gains in one or several sectors can offset weaker performance in other sectors. GECC experienced strong double-digit earnings growth in four of its five business segments, with the strongest performance in Equipment Management and Specialty Insurance. Earnings in the Specialized Financing Segment, however, declined dramatically, heavily influenced by the impact of the weak economy on its core markets in telecommunications, energy, transportation, and industrial.
