General Electric Co. shocked investors Friday, first as the transforming industrial conglomerate missed profit expectations for the first time in 2 1/2 years, then as the stock managed a post-earnings gain for the first time in eight quarters. GE’s stock GE, +1.06% tumbled as much as 6.3% minutes after the open—it had plunged as much as 8.8% in premarket trade—but bounced sharply to close up 1.1%. Volume ballooned to about 190 million shares, almost four times the full-day average, and enough to make the stock the most actively traded on major U.S. exchanges. GE reported before the open an adjusted profit of 29 cents a share, well below the average analyst estimate compiled by FactSet of 49 cents. GE also provided a full-year adjusted EPS outlook of $1.05 to $1.10, which was below the FactSet EPS consensus at the time of $1.54. Investors could take some comfort, however, in knowing GE’s dividend was still safe, for at least the next few weeks. via