5 Stocks With a Green Advantage

Article Excerpt

Growing interest in the environment continues to prompt changes in consumer spending habits. Here are five companies with the technology and size to profit from this trend. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $37 (New York symbol GE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.0 billion; Market cap: $370.0 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) is one of the world’s largest industrial corporations. GE’s products include major appliances; lighting products; medical imaging equipment; power generation and delivery products; and aircraft jet engines. It also owns 80% of media company NBC Universal, which operates the NBC television network, Universal Studios and several cable and Internet properties. GE sells a wide range of environmentally friendly consumer products, including low-wattage light bulbs and energy-efficient appliances. It also supplies wind turbines and solar panels to electrical utilities. As well, its expertise with nuclear power plants should help it profit from the construction of new plants around the world. Nuclear plants generate fewer emissions than gas and coalfired…