Clarient’s technology adds to GE’s appeal

Article Excerpt

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $16 (New York symbol GE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.7 billion; Market cap: $171.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 3.0%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) is buying California-based Clarient Inc. (Nasdaq symbol CLRT). Clarient’s advanced technology helps identify genes and other markers in cancer cells. This helps doctors tailor their treatments to individual patients. Demand for accurate cancer diagnoses is rising, and Clarient will help strengthen GE’s health-care operations, which supply about 25% of its revenue. The $580-million price is just 18% of the $3.2 billion, or $0.29 a share, that GE earned in the three months ended September 30, 2010. GE aims to close the deal by the end of this year. GE is a buy. buy…