The Olympics have been a moneymaker for NBC for years, with some Games, such as Atlanta's 1996 event, generating $75 million.
Meanwhile, GE has sold more than $700 million worth of products, including security equipment for a Beijing subway line and an airport terminal, medical equipment at the Olympic Village General Hospital and 120 wind turbines north of Beijing.
GE declined to say exactly how much profit it expects the Games to generate. But its infrastructure businesses typically produce more than 15% profit margin, according to a person familiar with the company's finances. At that rate, GE should reap about $120 million in profit from those product sales.
The Olympics are "just one of the many benefits of having NBC as part of the GE portfolio," GE spokesman Russell Wilkerson said.
Investors have punished GE stock this year after a disappointing first quarter that saw $4.3 billion in earnings on revenue of $42.2 billion. But shares have risen since mid-July when the company posted second-quarter profit of $5.07 billion on revenue of $46.9 billion.
Shares rose 31 cents Monday to $29.95.
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meg.james@latimes.com
