(Bloomberg) — General Electric Co. predicted slow gains in operations this year and next after the coronavirus pandemic battered results in the second quarter.The jet-engine division has tracked “early signs of improvement” in flight departures on the path to a lengthy recovery, GE said in a presentation Wednesday as it reported results. The company burned through $2.1 billion in industrial free cash in the second quarter, less than the $3.3 billion drain expected by analysts.“It’s really about sequential improvement from here,” Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp said on a call with analysts. “The environment remains challenging. But with respect to those things that are within our control, we think health care is well-positioned to lead, the turnarounds in power and renewables continue, and we’re expecting a multiyear recovery in aviation.”Culp is trying to get GE back on track after the pandemic upended a turnaround he began after taking the reins in 2018. GE posted double-digit declines in orders across all its industrial businesses in the second quarter, with comparable declines in sales in all units except renewable energy. Revenue in the aviation business plunged 44% as the virus gutted air travel and dimmed the long-term outlook for aircraft sales.What Bloomberg Intelligence Says:“Negative order trends across General Electric’s portfolio and high decremental margins are a stark reminder that it will take years for the company to achieve credit-protection measures more consistent with its Baa1/BBB+/BBB rankings.”Joel Levington, Director of Credit ResearchClick here to read the research.GE recorded a $1.8 billion unrealized pretax gain during the quarter on its plan to sell its stake in Baker Hughes over the next three years. The company will use the proceeds to pay down debt.The company’s shares dropped 3.3% to $6.66 at 9:52 a.m. in New York, erasing gains made in premarket trading. GE tumbled 38% this year through Tuesday, while a Standard & Poor’s index of industrial companies fell 12%.The second-quarter results generally matched investors’ low expectations, John Inch, a Gordon Haskett analyst, wrote in a note to clients.“It seems apparent that GE’s fundamentals including cash flow challenges are likely to persist for many quarters/years with no obvious recourse as the company has largely sold what it can,” Inch said.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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