GE 4Q profit falls, sales miss estimates

NEW YORK — General Electric says its fourth-quarter earnings fell 18 percent as sales fell after its sale of its stake in the NBC network.

The Fairfield, Conn., industrial conglomerate said Friday it earned $3.73 billion, or 35 cents per share, compared with $4.54 billion, or 36 cents per share a year earlier.

Revenue fell 8 percent to $37.97 billion. Last year, GE sold a majority stake in NBC Universal to Comcast. The company also saw slower growth in Europe.

Excluding discontinued businesses and certain pension costs, earnings were 39 cents a share. Analysts had forecast 38 cents. Revenue fell below Wall Street’s $40.05 billion estimate and shares fell 3 percent in premarket trading.

General Electric Co. says infrastructure orders rose 15 percent in the quarter, leaving it with its biggest-ever order backlog.