P/E Ratio: 15
Yield: 3%
CEO Jeffrey Immelt has been leading a successful makeover at General Electric, though you wouldn't know it from GE 's flaccid stock price. Our bet is that in a stormy market investors will gravitate toward the ultimate blue chip and finally give Immelt the credit he deserves. Since replacing Jack Welch six years ago, Immelt has sold off laggard operations such as insurance and plastics, putting more emphasis on manufacturing and infrastructure businesses. The timing has been excellent. Though achieving double-digit earnings growth will always be a challenge for a company so big and diversified, GE seems well positioned to slough off whatever economic challenges may exist in the United States.
Last updated January 02 2008: 5:32 PM ET
