GE Healthcare reported flat revenues for the company's fourth quarter (end-December 31) as segment profit dipped 4%. The company reported strong order growth in the U.S. for the period, however.
In results released on January 22, GE reported sales in its healthcare segment of $5.133 billion, essentially flat compared with revenues of $5.117 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013. The company reported quarterly profit for the segment of $1.02 billion, down 4% from a profit of $1.062 billion the year before.
For the year, GE Healthcare reported sales of $18.299 billion, up 1% from sales of $18.2 billion in 2013. The division's profit for 2014 was $3.047 billion, essentially flat compared with profit of $3.048 billion in 2013.
Despite the flat overall numbers, GE said that fourth-quarter revenue from the U.S. grew 7%. There were "encouraging signs in [the] U.S. healthcare market," with overall U.S. orders in the fourth quarter rising 9% and equipment orders up 17%. The growth was driven by the launch of the company's Revolution CT scanner, which began shipping in 2014, as well as its new Voluson E10 women's health ultrasound scanner.
Outside the U.S., orders fell 4% in emerging markets and were down 1% in Europe.
