General Electric Co., the world's largest company by market value, reported today that its first-quarter profit rose 25% helped by a big gain from the sale of Genworth Financial stock.

 

Profit rose to $4.04 billion, or 38 cents a share, from $3.24 billion, or 32 cents last year.

 

Revenue rose 19% to $39.8 billion. Financial-services revenue rose 13% to $19.1 billion.

 

"GE is off to a terrific start in 2005," GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt said in a statement. "Our businesses and our end-use markets are seeing continued strong growth. We exceeded the high end of our initial expectations for the first quarter and built solid momentum for the full year."